610-340 Inorganic Chemistry IIIA

Chemistry 610-240 or (610-241 and 610-245) (1998: (610-240 or 610-241) and 610-245).

Upon completion of the subject 610-340 students should comprehend the main types of reactions of coordination compounds; cluster molecules; organometallic species and biomolecules; the reasons for the different types of structures observed for such molecules; the procedures for determination of the structures via spectroscopic and related techniques; and the mechanisms of the more important reactions.

Students should have also developed time and resource management skills; skills to synthesise a range of inorganic molecules; knowledge of the application and interpretation of a range of spectroscopic and physical techniques; and experience in reporting the results of an experimental study.

The lecture course covers the topics symmetry, group theory, and their applications; metal and main group chemistry; coordination, cluster and organometallic species; reactivity, including redox and catalytic processes; applications of nuclear magnetic resonance and related structural techniques.

The practical course will consist of a number of experiments involving the synthesis and/or chemical and/or instrumental investigations of important classes of main group and transition metal coordination and organometallic compounds.

One 2-hour written examination at the end of semester. Assignments and tests may constitute up to 10% of the final assessment. Practical work will be continuously assessed in the form of short reports. Practical work must be completed satisfactorily before credit can be granted.