SLiThEr #31: Using "Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning" (POGIL) in your classroom!

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Wed, 05/04/2022 - 07:31
Description

In this session, facilitators Wayne Pearson, Tim Herzog and Kim Mullane will introduce you to the benefits of using Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) in your classroom. POGIL is a student-centered, group-learning instructional strategy and philosophy developed through research on how students learn best.

Guess What: An Inorganic Chemistry Board Game

Submitted by Brad Wile / Ohio Northern University on Mon, 04/25/2022 - 17:46
Description

"Guess Who?" is a two player board game in which the object is to guess the identity of a character by asking questions about their appearance or features. This activity uses a similar game mechanic to identify concepts, models, and historical figures from inorganic chemistry. 

What is the pKa of water (and why do some textbooks get it wrong)?

Submitted by Joanne Stewart / Hope College on Thu, 03/31/2022 - 17:07
Description

This LibreTexts module by Dr. Tom Neils and Dr. Stephanie Schaertel provides a clear and thorough explanation of why some biochemistry and organic chemistry textbooks get the pKa of water wrong. The pKa of water at 25 ºC is 14.0 and not 15.7. This module describes the derivation of the correct value and describes why the value of 15.7 should not be used. 

The ditungsten tetracarboxylate story (Sattelberger)

Submitted by Joanne Stewart / Hope College on Tue, 03/15/2022 - 09:37
Description

This literature discussion learning object examines the first reported synthesis in 1983 of the long anticipated quadruply bonded ditungsten tetracarboxylate dimers by Dr. Al Sattelberger and co-workers. This LO is part of a special VIPEr collection honoring the 2022 ACS National Award recipients in the field of inorganic chemistry. Alfred P. Sattelberger was the recipient of the 2022 ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry.

Enhancement of the Thermal Stability and Thermoelectric Properties of Yb14MnSb11 by Ce Substitution (Kauzlarich)

Submitted by Susan Kauzlarich / University of California, Davis on Mon, 03/14/2022 - 20:57
Description

This article provides an introduction to thermoelectric materials and applications for space, highlighting a complex Zintl phase, Yb14-xCexMnySb11. Yb14MnSb11 is a semiconductor that can be substituted with Ce to change the number of carriers in the material and thereby enhance the transport properties.

Spectroscopic, Structural, and Computational Analysis of [Re(CO)3(dippM)Br]n+ (Nataro)

Submitted by Shirley Lin / United States Naval Academy on Sat, 03/12/2022 - 06:17
Description

This literature discussion will guide students through an article that applies spectroscopic, structural, and computational analyses to a family of compounds of the type [Re(CO)3(dippM)Br]n+  (dippM = 1,1’-bis(diisopropyl)phosphino metallocene, M = Fe, n= 0 or 1; M = Co, n = 1).

Pyridylamido Hafnium and Zirconium Complexes: Synthesis, Dynamic Behavior, and Ethylene/1-octene and Propylene Polymerization Reactions (Klosin)

Submitted by Shirley Lin / United States Naval Academy on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 06:31
Description

This literature discussion focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and polymerization behavior of non-cyclopentadienyl-based Group 4 catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene/1-octene and propylene.

This LO is part of a special VIPEr collection honoring the 2022 ACS National Award recipients in the field of inorganic chemistry. Jerzy Klosin was the recipient of the ACS Award in Industrial Chemistry for the development of versatile homogeneous catalysts for the production of a wide range of polymer-based materials on a large industrial scale.

Reversible, Metal-Free Hydrogen Activation (Stephan)

Submitted by Todsapon T. / University of Evansville on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 16:35
Description

This LO discuss various aspects of a reversible hydrogen activation by a metal-free phosphonium-borate compound.  Attentions are paid to the specific and usual reaction between highly steric phosphine and borane reactants to form a zwitterionic phosphonium borate product.  NMR spectroscopy, kinetics and thermodynamics of the hydrogen activation with the phosphonium borate product are also discussed.  The original work was published in Science by Douglas W. Stephan and co-workers.