VIPEr Fellows 2022 Workshop Favorites
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.
SLiThEr #35: Teaching Inorganic Chemistry - A Live Discussion from MARM 2022
Description
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.
SliThEr #34: Libretext as a Platform
Description
Delmar Larsen (UC - Davis) and Kathryn Haas (Duke) describe the Libretext project with a particular focus on needs within the Inorganic Chemistry curriculum.
SALC: An Orbital Arrangement Game
Description
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.
Bioinorganic Chemistry
Description
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.
Metal/Ligand Proton Tautomerism Facilitates Dinuclear H2 Reductive Elimination (Kuo)
Description
This LO was developed in 2022 as part of a collection celebrating the “Out in Inorganic Chemistry: A Celebration of LGBTQIAPN+ Inorganic Chemists” Inorganic Chemistry special issue. Check out the editorial and issue here: Editorial Special Issue
The questions below refer to the following 2020 publication by Dr. Jonathan Kuo and Dr. Karen Goldberg
Metal-Ligand Multiple Bonds: The Discovery of “Double Nickel” (Hillhouse)
Description
This LO focuses on creating complexes with multiple bonds between late transition metals and nitrogen. The questions will guide students through Mindiola and Hillhouse's communication that details the synthesis and investigation of three-coordinate terminal amido and imido complexes of nickel. This communication is significant because it describes the synthesis and structural characterization of what became known as his "double nickel" complex, which contains a Ni-N double bond.
Substitution Chemistry in Odd-Electron Iron Group Carbonyl Complexes (D'Acchioli)
Description
This LO brings together organometallic chemistry, electrochemistry, and computational chemistry in a complete whole, and shows how these different expertises and techniques all can add to our understanding of a rich chemical system. It might be of particular interest in a class dominated by even-electron and diamagnetic chemistry to give students an understanding of how practitioners approach odd-electron, paramagnetic systems.
A Pride Collection Celebrating LGBTQIAPN+ Inorganic Chemists
This collection features learning objects created to highlight the work of LGBTQIAN+ inorganic chemists in celebration of Pride Month (June) 2022.