This LO uses borane and carborane clusters to practice assigning point groups and counting electrons. It also asks students to recall electronegativity trends to predict dipoles, and they can check their predictions against calculated Mulliken charges.
CHEM 405 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry – 4 Credit Hours
This Lattice Structures Visualizer is useful to see simple cubic, body-centered cubic, face-centered cubic, NaCl, CaF2, and hcp lattice structures. You can add atoms/ions layer by layer, break them apart into individual unit cells, and perform other modifications to better observe the structures without physical models. I use this routinely in my general and inorganic chemistry classes.
The second cohort of VIPEr fellows pulled together learning objects that they've used and liked or want to try the next time they teach their inorganic courses.
Kari Stone (Lewis University) and Kyle Grice (DePaul University) discuss the implementation of course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) at their schools.
Chip Nataro (Lafayette College) leads a live discussion at MARM 2022 held at the College of New Jersey. Topics include what is taught in inorganic chemistry courses and labs as well as the IONiC community in general.
Delmar Larsen (UC - Davis) and Kathryn Haas (Duke) describe the Libretext project with a particular focus on needs within the Inorganic Chemistry curriculum.
We have developed a tabletop game to help students get comfortable with symmetry adapted linear combinations of orbitals (SALCs), a conceptual model used to understand bonding in molecular orbital theory. We have found that students often get anxious about SALCs and miss not only the visual connections to symmetry, but also the fun! This LO includes information about the game, files you can use to print your own copy as well as a link in case you want to purchase a copy, and an example of how it might be incorporated into the classroom.
Metals in biological systems can perform a wide range of reactions with exquisite efficiency and selectivity. In contrast, performing many of the same reactions in the lab requires harsh conditions and/or rare, expensive materials.