610-341 Inorganic Chemistry IIIB

Credit cannot be gained for this subject and 610-340.

Chemistry 610-240 or 610-241. Concurrent enrolment in 610-345 is strongly recommended.

Upon completion of this subject students should comprehend the main types of reactions of coordination compounds, cluster molecules, organometallic species and biomolecules; understand the reasons for the different types of structures observed for such molecules; have developed a knowledge of the procedures for determination of the structures via spectroscopic and related techniques; be able to identify the mechanisms of the more important reactions and evaluate the effect that this has on the chemistry; have an appreciation of the electronic structure and photochemistry of metal complexes; the structure of the solid state; and apply concepts developed in relation to small molecule chemistry to catalysis in biological and non-biological systems.

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.

This subject will provide the student with the opportunity to establish/develop the following generic skills: an advanced understanding of the changing knowledge base, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, an ability to evaluate the research and professional literature, a capacity to apply concepts developed in one area to a different context, and the ability to use conceptual models to rationalise observations.

One 3-hour written examination at the end of semester (90%). Assignment (10%).