Topic 1. Atomic Structure – 2 lectures
Reading: MP & T Sections 2.1 and 2.2.
Periodic Table of the Elements
Atomic Number, Mass Number, and Isotopes
Atomic Orbitals and Quantum Numbers
Topic 2. Periodic Trends – 2 lectures
Reading: MP & T Sections 2.2 and 2.3; Section 8.1.
Many-electron Atoms
Ground-state Electron Configurations
Electron Penetration and Shielding
Ionization Energies and Electron Affinities
Atomic Radii
Topic 3. Molecular Structures – 4 lectures
Reading: MP & T Chapter 3 and Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3; Section 8.1;
Appendix C.
Lewis Structures
VSEPR and Molecular Shapes
Electronegativity and Dipole Moments
Covalent Bond Lengths
Symmetry Operations, Elements, and Point Groups
Character Tables and Introductory Group Theory
Topic 4. Bonding Theories: Simple Molecules – 4 lectures
Reading: MP & T Sections 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
Valence Bond Theory
Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals
Molecular Orbital Theory
Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules
Heteronuclear Diatomic Molecules
Topic 5. Bonding Theories: Polyatomic Molecules – 4 lectures
Reading: MP & T Sections 5.4 and 5.5.
Valence Bond Theory Multiple Bonding in Polyatomic Molecules
Molecular Orbital Theory Polyatomic Molecules
Topic 6. Hydrogen – 5 lectures
Reading: MP & T, Section 8.2.
Isotopes and Isotope Effects (Kinetics and IR Spectroscopy)
Multinuclear NMR Spectroscopy
Activation of H2 on Metal Surfaces; Catalytic Hydrogenation
Hydrogen Economy – 1 lecture (Summarized on Handout)
Binary Hydrogen Compounds – 1 lecture
Topic 7. p-Block Chemistry – General Trends – 4 lectures
Reading: MP & T Chapter 8, Section 3.4.
Thermodynamic versus Kinetic Stability
Multiple Bonding
Inert Pair Effect
Hydrides; Hydrogen Bonding
Chemical Properties
Topic 8. p-Block Chemistry – Group 13 Elements – 3 lectures
Reading: MP & T Sections 8.5 and 15.4.
The Elements
Boron Hydrides; 11B NMR Spectroscopy; Higher Boranes; Wade’s Rules
Reactions of Boranes
Hydrides, Halides, and Alkyls of the Group 13 Elements
Boron-Nitrogen Compounds
Topic 9. p-Block Chemistry – Group 14 Elements – 2 lectures
Reading: MP & T Section 8.6.
The Elements and their Hydrides and Halides
Organosilanes; Silicon-Oxygen Compounds
Compounds with Si=Si and Si≡Si Multiple Bonds
Topic 10. p-Block Chemistry – Group 15 Elements – 2 lectures
Reading: MP & T Section 8.7.
The Elements; Historical Aspects and their Hydrides and Halides
Phosphorus-Nitrogen Compounds; Polyphosphazenes
Triple-Bond Reactivity of the P≡P Molecule
MP & T refers to the required textbook for this course, namely “Inorganic Chemistry”, Fifth Edition, by Gary L. Miessler, Paul J. Fischer, and Donald A. Tarr, Pearson Prentice Hall Publishers, 2013. Textbook material is often augmented by online handouts.