Symmetry

8 Jun 2019

VIPEr Fellows 2019 Workshop Favorites

Submitted by Barbara Reisner, James Madison University

During our first fellows workshop, the first cohort of VIPEr fellows pulled together learning objects that they've used and liked or want to try the next time they teach their inorganic courses.

Subdiscipline: 
Atomic Structure and Periodicity
Bioinorganic Chemistry
Coordination Chemistry
Electrochemistry
Introductory Chemistry
Main Group Chemistry
Molecular Structure and Bonding
Nanochemistry
Organometallic Chemistry
Science Skills, Practices, and Resources
Solid State and Materials Chemistry
Spectroscopy and Structural Methods
Topics Covered: 
Acid-base chemistry
Bioinorganic chemistry
Bonding models: Discrete molecules
Bonding models: Extended systems
Catalysis
Chemical literature
Communication skills
Computer modeling
Coordination chemistry
Descriptive chemistry
Diffraction
Electron transfer
Electronic spectroscopy
Electronic structure
Ethics
Extended structure
f-block chemistry
Green chemistry
Group theory & applications
Intermolecular interactions
Kinetics
Main group chemistry
Materials chemistry
Molecular structure
Nanoscience
Nomenclature
Nuclear chemistry
Organometallic chemistry
Periodic trends
Physical methods / analytical techniques
Physical properties
Professional skills development
Reaction mechanisms
Solids & solid state chemistry
Symmetry
Synthesis and reactivity
Thermodynamics
Visualization
Prerequisites: 
No Prerequisites
First Semester Inorganic Chemistry / Foundation Course in Inorganic Chemistry
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics
Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Corequisites: 
No Corequisites
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics
Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Course Level: 
First year
Second year
Upper Division
6 Jun 2019

Guided reading and in-class discussion questions for "High-Spin Square-Planar Co(II) and Fe(II) Complexes and Reasons for Their Electronic Structure"

Submitted by John Miecznikowski, Fairfield University
Additional Authors: 
Christopher Durr, Amherst College
Colleen Partigianoni, Ferris State University
Maria Carroll, Providence College
Evaluation Methods: 

The guided reading questions may be graded using the answer key. 

Evaluation Results: 

These questions have not yet been assigned to students.

Description: 

Guided reading and in-class discussion questions for "High-Spin Square-Planar Co(II) and Fe(II) Complexes and Reasons for Their Electronic Structure."

Prerequisites: 
First Semester Inorganic Chemistry / Foundation Course in Inorganic Chemistry
General Chemistry
Corequisites: 
Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics
Course Level: 
Upper Division
Subdiscipline: 
Coordination Chemistry
Electrochemistry
Molecular Structure and Bonding
Science Skills, Practices, and Resources
Spectroscopy and Structural Methods
Learning Goals: 

1.  Bring together ligand field theory and symmetry.

  1. Students should be able to identify symmetry of novel molecules in the literature.

  2. Students should be able to explain d-orbital ordering in a coordination complex using ligand field theory.

  3. Students should be able to identify donor/acceptor properties of previously unseen ligands.

  4. Students should be able to apply your knowledge of electronic transitions to the primary literature.

  5. Students should be able to become more familiar with 4-coordinate geometries.

  6. Students should be able to predict magnetic moments of high-spin and low-spin square-planar complexes.

  7. Students should be able to identify properties of ligands that favor formation of the highly unusual high-spin square planar complexes.

2.  Students should comfortable with reading and understanding primary literature.


 

Topics Covered: 
Bonding models: Discrete molecules
Chemical literature
Coordination chemistry
Diffraction
Electronic spectroscopy
Electronic structure
Group theory & applications
Molecular structure
Physical methods / analytical techniques
Physical properties
Symmetry
Synthesis and reactivity
Related activities: 
Geometry Indices
Implementation Notes: 

You do not have to assign all of the guided reading questions at once.  You may consider assigning questions as they pertain to where you are in your inorganic chemistry class.

Time Required: 
this has not been used yet for in-class discussion.
Web Resources: 
High-Spin Square-Planar Co(II) and Fe(II) Complexes and Reasons for Their Electronic Structure
5 Jun 2019

Zinc-Zinc Bonds (Expanded and Updated)

Submitted by Wesley S. Farrell, United States Naval Academy
Additional Authors: 
Alexandra Strom, Smith College
Anthony L. Fernandez, Merrimack College
Betsy Jamieson, Smith College
Brian Anderson, Keene State College
Chip Nataro, Lafayette College
Christopher Durr, Amherst College
Colleen Partigianoni, Ferris State University
Denyce Wicht, Suffolk University
Jeremy Andreatta, Worcester State University
Joanne Smieja, Gonzaga University
John Miecznikowski, Fairfield University
Leon Tilley, Stonehill College
Maria Carroll, Providence College
Nathaniel J Hartmann, Boston University
Evaluation Methods: 

Performance and participation in the discussion will be assessed 

Evaluation Results: 

None collected yet. Evaluation data will be added in the future.

Description: 

This paper in Science reports the synthesis of decamethyldizincocene, a stable compound of Zn(I) with a zinc-zinc bond. In the original LO, the title compound and the starting material, bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)zinc, offer a nice link to metallocene chemistry, electron counting, and different modes of binding of cyclopentadienyl rings as well as more advanced discussions of MO diagrams. More fundamental discussion could focus on the question of what constitutes the evidence for a chemical bond, in this case, the existence of a zinc-zinc bond. In this updated LO, these topics are still covered, however additional topics, such as point group idenitifaction, details regarding the reaction mechanism, electronic structure, and  searching the literature using SciFinder are covered.  Additionally, electron counting is divided into both the covalent and ionic models.

Corequisites: 
No Corequisites
Course Level: 
Upper Division
Topics Covered: 
Bonding models: Discrete molecules
Chemical literature
Coordination chemistry
Molecular structure
Organometallic chemistry
Periodic trends
Reaction mechanisms
Symmetry
Synthesis and reactivity
Prerequisites: 
First Semester Inorganic Chemistry / Foundation Course in Inorganic Chemistry
General Chemistry
Learning Goals: 

  1. Students should become more confident reading the primary literature

  2. Students should be able to apply existing knowledge to interpret research results.

  3. Students should be able to apply electron counting formalisms to organometallic compounds.

  4. Students should be able to use 1H NMR spectroscopy data to rationalize structure.

  5. Students can rationalize bond distances based on periodic trends in atomic radii

  6. Students use SciFinder to put this work into a larger context.

  7. Students identify redox reactions based on oxidation changes.

  8. Students identify molecular point groups based upon structures.

  9. Students should be able to connect d electron count to observed colors of compounds. 

Subdiscipline: 
Coordination Chemistry
Molecular Structure and Bonding
Organometallic Chemistry
Spectroscopy and Structural Methods
Related activities: 
Zinc-Zinc Bonds
Implementation Notes: 

Students are asked to read the paper and the accompanying Perspectives article before class as well as answer the discussion questions. The questions serve as a useful starting point for class discussion. 

Time Required: 
50 minutes
Web Resources: 
Article: Decamethyldizincocene, A Stable Compound of Zn(I) with a Zn-Zn Bond
Perspective: Zinc-Zinc Bonds: A New Frontier

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