Literature Discussion: Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of a Stabilized Calcium Carbene: R2CCa

Submitted by Lori Watson / Earlham College on Sun, 03/09/2008 - 16:26
Description
This is a literature discussion assignment which asks students to read and write responses to some guided questions.  This is then followed by an in-class discussion loosely based on the questions provided.  This particular article investigates the synthesis and structural characteristics of a calcium carbene.  Within the context of the journal article, I ask students to review MO diagrams and interpret X-ray data.  I also introduced computational methods in the context of inorganic chemistry using this paper.

Literature Discussion: "Analysis of an Unprecedented Mechanism for the Catalytic Hydrosilylation of Carbonyl Compounds"

Submitted by Lori Watson / Earlham College on Sun, 03/09/2008 - 16:14
Description

This is a literature discussion assignment in which students read a paper, come up with their own answers to the provided questions (and submit them).  This is followed by a general in-class discussion on the paper.  This particular article deals with hydrosilyation of carbonyl compounds by a Re catalyst and describes the mechanism and kinetics in detail.  I found it a good paper to help students connect their P-chem (and inorganic) kinetics with a "real" system.  As part of the literature assignment, I also ask students to draw an MO diagram of a simple substrate (for review).

Nobel Prizes

Submitted by Maggie Geselbracht / Reed College on Sun, 01/27/2008 - 18:08
Description

This is a list of Nobel Prizes that in my opinion were either in Inorganic Chemistry or in an area that has impacted Inorganic Chemistry.  I pass this out to students on the first day of class when we are talking very generally about what inorganic chemistry is all about.  This could be extended into a longer discussion at this point or at a later point on one or more of the prizes.  For example, later in the semester I have them read the Nobel Prize address of Alfred Werner.  This helps to inform their lab work and introduces coordination chemistry, which we have not yet discussed in lectu

Two Communications on Bioinorganic and Coordination Chemistry

Submitted by Hilary Eppley / DePauw University on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 20:39
Description
This assignment would make a good choice for a first attempt at actually having a discussion on primary literature articles since these are two short communications. They also touch on two important applications of coordination chemistry so might be appropriate early in a course, namely modeling biological systems and non-linear optical applications.

student choice experiment

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 19:26
Description

The students prepare a short proposal outlining their desired target and why they want to make it.  Chemicals are ordered, and during the last 3-4 weeks of the semester, the students carry out their synthesis.  The writeup is as a paper submtited to the journal Inorganic Chemistry using the template from the journal web page.

Generating LGOs (SALCs)

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 19:12
Description

    After several days of lecturing on the topic of polyatomic molecular orbital diagrams, students break into small groups of 3-4 and form LGO’s that can be used to interact with a central atom to form a Molecular Orbital (MO) diagram.  This assignment is part of a larger 4-5 week unit on MO theory. 

Professional Ethics

Submitted by Lori Watson / Earlham College on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 19:08
Description

This is an assignment designed to help students begin to reflect on professional ethics of scientific practice.  I have used this in a freshman and a senior seminar after 2-3 days of discussion of what professional ethics is and how one goes about choosing a course of action in an ethical dilemma.  I use:

Buchwald/Hartwig amination

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 19:05
Description

I wanted a modern organometallic experiment showing the utility of Pd for coupling reactions.  Students attempted a variety of reaction conditions during the spring of 2007 and 2008.  Eventually,  we were able to get the reaction to work with a variety of primary amines (linear, cyclohexylamine) and t-butylamine.  Yields are not great (40-80%) and this experiment needs some optimization.  However, products were observed by GC-MS and NMR.

Personal Radiation Dose

Submitted by Lori Watson / Earlham College on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 18:43
Description
I mostly use this exercise as a "see, most of your radiation does is NOT from nuclear plants."  I have used this in both General Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry when doing a nuclear chemistry or energy production unit.

In Lewis' Own Words

Submitted by Nancy Williams / Scripps College, Pitzer College, Claremont McKenna College on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 18:31
Description

This is G. N.

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