6 ECTS credits
155 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1017278BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Students who want to enroll for this course, must have passed for "Chemistry: Structure of Matter and Chemical Reactions I" and "Chemistry: Structure of Matter and Chemical Reactions II".
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Chemistry
Educational team
Frederik Tielens (course titular)
Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
39 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
Course Content

HOC :
Part 1. Basic principles and theories of inorganic chemistry
- Atomic structure : Electronic structure of the elements – Hydrogenic atoms (radial distribution function, angular functions) – Many electron atoms – Atomic properties (covalent, ionic and Van der Waals radius, ionisation energy, electron affinity, electronegativity, charge capacity – hardness and softness)
- Molecular structure : Lewis structures and molecule shape : the VSEPR model – Valence bond theory and the hybridisation concept – Molecular orbital theory (bonding and antibonding orbital’s, homonuclear diatomic molecules, heteronuclear diatomic molecules, ligand group approach, polyatomic molecules)
- Structure of solids : Close packing of spheres, unit cell and the description of crystal structures, Structures of metals - Ionic solids (characteristic structures, radius ratio, energetics of ionic bonding) - Zeolites - Molecular orbital theory of metals and semiconductors
- Acids and bases : Brønsted acidity – Hydrated cations – Oxo acids – Acidic and basic oxides – Polyoxocompounds - Lewis acids and bases – Hard and soft acids and bases
- Oxidation and reduction : Extraction of the elements by oxidation and reduction - Redoxpotentials – Diagrammatic representation of redox data (Latimer, Frost and Pourbaix diagrams)
- d-metal complexes : Structures en symmetries – Bonding and electronic structure (Crystal field and ligand field theory) – Organometallic compounds

WPO :
- Exercises : application of the different concepts and principles from Part 1 of the course.

- Presentation: The students need to choose a chemical element, look up the information about this element and give an oral presentation of 15 minutes with use of the computer
- Molecular symmetry and group theory : introductory concepts and applications (symmetry elements and operations, point groups and character tables).
- Practical exercises : spectroscopy of d-block complexes.

Course material
Course text (Required) : Anorganische scheikunde, Deel I, F. De Proft, VUB, 2220170001159, 2015
Handbook (Recommended) : Shriver and Atkins' Inorganic Chemistry, Hoofdstukken 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 en 18, P. Atkins, T. Overton, J. Rourke, M. Weller, and F. Armstrong, 5de, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 9780198768128, 2018
Handbook (Recommended) : Chemical Applications of Group Theory, Hoofdstukken 3, 4 en 6, F.A. Cotton, 3de, Wiley-Interscience, 9780471510949, 1990
Digital course material (Required) : Transparanten hoorcolleges, Canvas
Digital course material (Required) : Studiemateriaal WPO, Canvas
Course text (Required) : Syllabus Anorganisch Chemie – Practicum en Oefeningen, Practicum en Oefeningen, F. Tielens, VUB, 2220170008318, 2021
Additional info

No extra additional information.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Learning aims :
This course gives an introduction to the field of inorganic chemistry.  An important aim for the students is the acquirement of insight into the structures, properties and reactivity of inorganic compounds and solids.  Starting from the first year Bachelor of Chemistry courses, this course elaborates on the atomic structure and chemical bond for many-electron atoms, molecules and solids.  Next, acid-base and redox reactions are treated.  Finally, the elements of the d-block are studied, where, next to their general properties, attention is devoted to bonding in d-metal complexes.  Also d-block organometallic compounds are treated.
In the part on “systematic chemistry of the elements”, next to a chapter on the element hydrogen, the chemical structure and properties of a series of prototypical elements of the p block and their compounds are investigated, with special attention to vertical, horizontal and diagonal relationships in the periodic table.
In an assignment devoted to the systematic chemistry of the elements, the students choose an element or a group of elements (more specifically a metal or a group of elements that were not treated in the course) and search for information on this topic, interpret the information found and communicate this information, both written and orally.

Competences:
- The student has acquired knowledge about the following topics and can apply this knowledge :
(a) most important concepts, theories and laws from modern inorganic chemistry
(b) structure, bonding and reactivity of inorganic compounds
(c) structure and chemistry of the main group elements, transition metal complexes and organometallic compounds
(d) introductory notions of molecular symmetry and group theory
- The students can assess the possibilities and restrictions of certain models en have developed a critical attitude towards the introduction of certain simplifications
- The students can independently look for new basic information linked to the content of the course and can communicate this information both written and orally.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 66% of the final mark.
LEC Practical Assignment determines 12% of the final mark.
PRAC Lab Work determines 22% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Deel 1 Hoorcollege with a relative weight of 66 which comprises 66% of the final mark.

    Note: Score op vragen handelend over Deel 1 van het hoorcollege

Within the LEC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Presentatie en rapport with a relative weight of 12 which comprises 12% of the final mark.

    Note: Een opdracht aangaande de "Systematische chemie van de elementen", gebaseerd op een mondelinge presentatie en een schriftelijk rapport handelend over de eigenschappen en de chemie van een door de student gekozen chemisch element of groep van elementen. Hierbij wordt er voor gezorgd dat de verschillende regio’s van de periodieke tabel aan bod komen (met uitzondering van het p-blok).

Within the PRAC Lab Work category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Labo Practica with a relative weight of 22 which comprises 22% of the final mark.

    Note: Score op vaardigheden, attitude en verslaggeving tijdens de Practica

Additional info regarding evaluation

The evaluation consists of the following:
Oral exam for 66% of the final grade
Paper and presentation 12% of the final grade
Practicals 22% of the final grade

Oral exam:

  • 66% of the final grade based on questions asked on topics given during the lectures

    Presentation and paper
  • 12% of the final mark. The students make a written report on the properties of a chemical element and present this report.
     

Practicals

  • 22% of the final mark based on the skills, attitude and reporting done during the practicals
Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Chemistry: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: biologie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: geografie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: fysica (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: wiskunde (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: ingenieurswetenschappen (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)