This is a kinesthetic activity in which students must utilize knowledge of the σ-donating, π-donating and π-accepting ability of ligands in order to rank the ligands in the spectrochemical series.  Students are each assigned a ligand on a card.  Suggested ligands are I^-, Br^-, Cl^-, F^-, ONO^-, NO₂^- OH^-, H₂O, pyridine, NH₃, ethylenediamine, bipyridine, phenanthroline, PPh₃, CN^- and CO.  Each student must evaluate the π-accepting, π-donating and σ-donating ability o

In my sophomore level inorganic course, I have experimented with the idea of a living syllabus as a way to develop my own specific learning objectives and to help the students connect the material to the tasks that will be expected of them in assessing their learning. 

This spoof of the song "Isn't It Ironic" (by Alanis Morissette) summarizes the properties of ionic compounds in verse. Suitable for General Chemistry classes as well as Inorganic Chemistry, although a reference is made to the Born-Meyer equation.

This is an in-class PDB exercise based on the paper "Mechanisms Controlling the Cellular Metal Economy" by Gilston and O'Halloran. Students are asked to visualize the metal binding sites of several proteins discussed in the paper, highlighting unusual metal geometries. After identifying the amino acid residues involved in metal binding, students will discuss the bond structure in terms of HSAB theory.