Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE CHE2385

 
TITLE Chemistry of Co-ordination Compounds

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Chemistry

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit deals mostly with the principles underlying the physical and chemical properties of transition metal compounds, as well as the descriptive chemistry of the first row transition metals and the lanthanides.

1. Principles of coordination chemistry: Nature of ligands; Nomenclature; Coordination numbers; Isomerism.
2. Crystal field theory: Ligand field splitting; Electronic spectra; Magnetic properties; Spin orbit coupling; High Spin and low spin complexes; Jahn Teller effects; Spectrochemical series.
3. Molecular Orbital Theory: Linear combination of ligand orbitals; Symmetry description of Metal orbitals; Molecular orbital diagrams of metal complexes; Comparision of crystal field and molecular orbital approaches; Effect of π bonding.
4. Spectral properties: Free ion terms; Electronic configurations; Ligand field splitting; Correlation diagrams; Tanabe and Sugano diagrams; Selection rules and spectral intensities.
5. Reaction mechanisms in inorganic chemistry: Reactions of complexes; Classification of mechanism; Ligand substitution in square planar and octahedral complexes; Trans - effect.
6. Descriptive chemistry of first row transition metal series: Occurrence, extraction and metallurgy of the elements; Valence states; Aquo chemistry; Complex formation with ligands containing oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and halogen atoms.
7. Brief descriptive chemistry of the 2nd and 3rd Row transition metal series.
8. Descriptive chemistry of the lanthanides: Occurrence, separation, extraction and metallurgy of the elements; Valence states within the series; Complex formation with ligands containing oxygen and halogen atoms; Comparative chemistry with alkaline earth and transition metal compounds.
9. Laboratory skills in Inorganic Chemistry.

Study-Unit Aims:

To provide the factual basis for an understanding of the coordinative bond and the corresponding coordinative compounds formed.

Students will acquire in-depth understanding of the theoretical background and synthetic chemistry of all transition and f-elements, in particular the first row of transition elements. In depth understanding of transition element chemistry the electrochemical series, charge transfer complexes and spectral properties of coordination compounds are part of this as well.

Furthermore, students will also be trained to perform experiments related to coordination chemistry and to properly report and discuss results.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Describe the chemical properties such as reactions and reactivity of transition metal complexes.
- Explain key theoretical concepts in coordination chemistry and use these concepts in predicting the chemical and spectral properties of transition metal compounds from different groups of the periodic table.
- Explain and know how to work with microstates and Tanabe-Sugano Diagrams.
- Describe the chemical and physical properties of lanthanide compounds.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Visualise three-dimensional inorganic coordination compounds.
- Use the concepts of the electrochemical series, crystal field theory and tanabe-sugano diagrams to analyse, describe and predict coordination compounds.
- Plan and manage tasks.
- Perform practicals in Inorganic Chemistry safely.
- Analyse and interpret practical results appropriately.
- Report results in a coherent manner.
- Scientifically sound discussion of results.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

Inorganic Chemistry, Duward Shriver, Mark Weller, Tina Overton, Jonathan Rourke and Fraser Armstrong, 6th ed., 2014.

Inorganic Chemistry, Catherine E. Housecroft and Alan G. Sharpe, 4th ed., 2012.

Inorganic Chemistry, Gary L. Miessler, Paul J. Fischer and Donald A. Tarr 5th ed., 2013.

Inorganic Chemistry, James E. Huheey, Ellen A. Keiter and Richard L. Keiter, 4th ed., 1993.

Supplementary Readings:

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, F. Albert Cotton and Geoffrey Wilkinson, 6th ed., 1999.

Holleman-Wiberg’s Inorganic Chemistry, Nils Wiberg, A. F. Holleman and Egon Wiberg, 1st ed. in English, 102nd ed. in German, 2001.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite Study-unit CHE1340

Please note that a pass in the Practical component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Tutorial, Practical & Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM2 Yes 10%
Practical [See Add. Notes] SEM2 No 20%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 70%

 
LECTURER/S Ulrich Baisch

 

 
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The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit