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.

Introduction to Powder X-ray Diffraction

Submitted by Maggie Geselbracht / Reed College on Fri, 02/22/2008 - 19:01
Description
This quick lab experiment is designed to introduce students to powder X-ray diffraction including sample preparation, data collection, and the analysis of diffraction data to refine lattice parameters.  Diffraction data is collected for a sample of the cubic perovskite SrTiO3 (useful data can be obtained in relatively short times) and compared to data collected previously (over 6 hours) for the orthorhombic perovskite CaTiO3.  Students index the diffraction pattern of SrTiO3 by comparison to  the JCPDS database, and use a free program, UnitCell, to refine the l

Tetrahedral Tellurate

Submitted by Maggie Geselbracht / Reed College on Sun, 02/17/2008 - 23:27
Description

This communication describes the first example of a discrete tetrahedral tellurate ion, analogous to sulfate and selenate.  This assignment was used as an introduction to the inorganic literature early in the semester.  Pre-discussion questions were adapted from the "How to Read an Inorganic Paper" learning object by Hilary Eppley.  In class discussion focused on communications vs. full papers, the essentials of X-ray crystallographic information, multinuclear NMR, and the periodic trends discussed in this paper.   

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.

The N5+ Cation: Explosive Chemistry and Raman Analysis (Christe)

Submitted by Maggie Geselbracht / Reed College on Sat, 11/17/2007 - 13:18
Description

­This paper discusses the synthesis and characterization of a novel compound of nitrogen.  The pre-discussion assignment asks students draw a Lewis structure for the N5+ cation, and using the tools of group theory, conduct a normal mode vibrational analysis, comparing the results to the experimental Raman spectral data.­­

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