CHEM 3503
Inorganic Chemistry I
Symmetry, identification of Raman and infrared active vibrations, symmetry-adapted molecular orbital theory of polyatomic molecules, electron deficient bonding, bonding in coordination complexes, solid state bonding, ionic lattices. Laboratory will introduce the student to a range of synthetic techniques and physical methods of characterization.
2026
Topics
- Course Description
- Symmetry, identification of Raman and infrared active vibrations, symmetry-adapted
- molecular orbital theory of polyatomic molecules, electron-deficient bonding, bonding in
- characterization.
- Topic/Content Subtopics
- Electron counting and the 18 and 16 electron rules
- Thermodynamics of complex formation: formation
- constants, enthalpy, and entropy
- Steric effects and ligand basicity (pKa)
- Hard-Soft Acid-Base Theory
- The chelate effect
- Coordination • Crystal field theory and crystal field stabilization energy
- Chemistry • Strong field and weak field ligands; low spin and high
- spin electron configurations
- Term symbols
- Microstate analysis and the d-orbitals
Readings
- Fischer, Donald A. Tarr ISBN-13: 978-9361593284
Prerequisites & course information
Precludes additional credit for CHEM 3507 . Prerequisite(s): CHEM 2501 . Lectures three hours a week, tutorial one hour a week and laboratory four hours a week.