Specific sections for reading in the textbook WILL BE INDICATED prior to each lecture.
Topic 1. Atomic Structure – 2 lectures
Reading: M & 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: M & T Sections 2-2 and 2-3; Section 8-1; Appendices B-2, B-3 and B-4
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: M & T Chapter 3 and Sections 4-1, 4-2 and 4-3; Section 8.1; Appendices C and D.
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: M & 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: M & T Sections 5-4 and 5-5.
Valence Bond Theory
Multiple Bonding in Polyatomic Molecules
Molecular Orbital Theory
Polyatomic Molecules
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
Reading: M & T, Sections 8-3 and 8-4.
Topic 7. p-Block Chemistry – General Trends – 4 lectures
Reading: M & T Chapter 8, Section 3-4.
Thermodynamic versus Kinetic Stability
Multiple Bonding
Hydrides; Hydrogen Bonding
Chemical Properties
Topic 8. p-Block Chemistry – Group 13 Elements – 3 lectures
Reading: M & 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; Inert Pair Effect
Boron-Nitrogen Compounds
Topic 9. p-Block Chemistry – Group 14 Elements – 2 lectures
Reading: M & T Section 8-6.
The Elements
Hydrides and Halides of the Group 14 Elements
Organosilanes; Silicon-oxygen Compounds
Topic 10. p-Block Chemistry – Group 15 Elements – 2 lectures
Reading: M & T Section 8-7.
The Elements; Historical Aspects
Hydrides and Halides of the Group 15 Elements
Phosphorus-nitrogen Compounds; Polyphosphazenes
M & T refers to the required textbook for this course, namely “Inorganic Chemistry”, Third Edition, by Gary L. Miessler and Donald A. Tarr, Pearson Prentice Hall Publishers, 2004.Textbook material is often augmented by online handouts.