Elements on Encyclopedia of the Earth

Submitted by Barbara Reisner / James Madison University on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 01:32
Description

This is a resource that focuses on the elements from a geological perspective. What I like about the website is that it provides examples of the uses and sources of elements.

IR Spectroscopy of Rhodium Carbonyl Clusters

Submitted by Maggie Geselbracht / Reed College on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 02:07
Description
The structures of neutral rhodium carbonyl clusters containing two, four, and six rhodium atoms have been known for some time.  In a recent paper (J. Am. Chem.

Open-ended Recrystallization Addition to the Traditional M(acac)3 Laboratory

Submitted by Hilary Eppley / DePauw University on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 10:14
Description

In this open-ended activity, students design crystallizations to can see who can grow the biggest crystals of their colorful products. This addition is something that I add to the standard M(acac)3 syntheses that many of us do as an introductory lab in an upper level course or as a final lab in an introductory type course. Syntheses of the M(acac)3 starting materials are available in most published inorganic laboratory manuals.

Symmetry Resources at Otterbein University

Submitted by Dean Johnston / Otterbein University on Sat, 03/28/2009 - 23:42
Description

The resources contained within this web site are designed to help students learn concepts of molecular symmetry and to help faculty teach concepts of molecular symmetry.

d-orbitals in a variety of ligand geometries

Submitted by Flick Coleman / Wellesley College on Fri, 03/13/2009 - 20:54
Description

I developed this Jmol page to help my students see the relationship(s) between the ligands and metal d-orbitals in a number of different geometries.  Since the images are all rotatable, students who have difficulty looking at flat images and drawing appropriate conclusions have that barrier reduced or eliminated.  I have now used the application twice - this past fall in the second semester of introductory chemistry and a few weeks ago when I began ligand field theory in my inorganic course.  In both classes I received favorable comments.  A number of students in the inorganic course, who h

WebElements

Submitted by Barbara Reisner / James Madison University on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 18:53
Description

This is my all time favorite resource for finding out basic information about the elements. I love it. And all of my students do too.

How molecular orbitals change as atomic energy levels shift

Submitted by Flick Coleman / Wellesley College on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 18:11
Description

Over the years I have developed a number of interactive tools that I use in my classes. This is a tool that seems appropriate for VIPEr. Comments are always appreciated, and I am always interested in developing new tools if there is something you might find useful.

This tool allows you to look at how molecular orbitals change as the difference in electronegativities of the parent atomic orbitals increases.

 

Inorganic Challenges

Submitted by Patrick Holland / Yale University on Tue, 03/10/2009 - 15:39
Description

The Interactive Inorganic Challenge Forum is a resource for inorganic chemistry teachers who want to incorporate team learning questions (“Challenges”) into an upper level undergraduate inorganic course. Through this site, teachers can exchange their ideas with others who have used inorganic chemistry Challenges. As a result, students benefit from field-tested group questions.

Literature Searching: Bibliography in-class Assignment

Submitted by Meris / James Madison University on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 09:52
Description

This in-class exercise prepares students for the homework Literature Searching: Bibliography Assignment. It allows them to practice the skills needed for that assignment while in class.