news article on lanthanide magnets
Description
I found this interesting article on the many uses of lanthanide magnets. Thought I'd share!
Exploring Photographic Chemistry
Description
This set of experiments is a fun way for students to be experience interesting redox chemistry. I have taught this series of experiments in my first semester junior level inorganic class for the past 5 years. In part 1, students create salted paper prints with different binders. Part 2 involves the synthesis of Prussian blue as cyanotypes are formed on paper and cloth. In part 3, students design t
Pigment Syntheses and Qualitative Analysis
Description
This set of experiments provides an introduction to simple inorganic synthesis and qualitative analysis of inorganic pigments. I have taught this series of experiments in my first semester junior level inorganic class for the past 5 years. In part 1, students synthesize five inorganic pigments. Part 2 involves identifying an unknown inorganic white pigment by chemical and physical tests. These
Student Literature-Based Organometallic Lecture
Description
I taught an advanced inorganic chemistry course for the first time this past fall. I focused strictly on organometallic chemistry and we used Spessard and Miessler's book. Because this book is focused on transition metal organometallics, I wanted the students to appreciate some of the organometallic chemistry of the s- and p-block (and zinc). Students worked in pairs (the class size was 12) and had most of the semester to research the literature and develop a 40-50 minute lecture. I also had them develop homework questions and an in class activity to help engage the other students.
Synthesis and characterization of 12-tungstosilicic acid - a modification
Description
This lab experiment is an update on the synthesis of the title acid. An account of this synthesis can be found in William Jolly's book, The Synthesis and Characterization of Inorganic Compounds. The synthetic procedure is reliable and was retained. However, I modified some content and added components to extend to a two-week experiment. This lab now covers the synthesis, an acid-base titration with error analysis, and the use of TGA to complement the titration results.
Inorganic Chemistry of Organ Pipes: Composition and Corrosion
Description
This presentation provides an inorganic chemist's perspective on metals used to make organ pipes and their corrosion and conservation. The slides highlight my own research in this area as well as work being done by other scientists around the world. The purpose of this learning object is to show students an application of inorganic chemistry that they probably have not encountered before and show an example of how analytical methods of materials chemistry can be used in conservation science.
Cyclic voltammetry
Description
This is a short presentation on cyclic voltammetry. It is covers the basics and some simple electrode mechanisms. There is room for improvement (especially in my art) and suggestions are welcome.
First Isolation of the AsP3 Molecule
Description
Early in 2009, Christopher Cummins’ group at MIT reported (in Science) the synthesis of AsP3, a compound that had never been isolated at room temperature. Later that year, a full article was published in JACS comparing the properties and reactivity of AsP3 to those of its molecular cousins, P4 and As4. The longer article is full of possibilities for discussion in inorganic chemistry courses, with topics including periodic trends, NMR, vibrational spectroscopy, electrochemistry, molecular orbital theory, and coordination chemistry.
Towards "Personalized Solar Energy": An Inexpensive Oxygen-Evolving Catalyst
Description
In the two years since this article was published, it has jump-started a large amount of research in the area of cobalt-based catalysts for solar water splitting. The paper describes the electrochemical synthesis and oxygen-evolution capabilities of a Co-phosphate catalyst under very mild conditions. The paper can stimulate discussion of many topics found in the inorganic curriculum, including electrochemistry, semiconductor chemistry, transition metal ion complex kinetic trends, and solid state and electrochemical characterization techniques.
Using Solid State Chemistry and Crystal Field Theory to Design a New Blue Solid
Description
This communication from the Journal of the American Chemical Society (J. Am. Chem. Soc.