A discussion on "Electrochemical formation of a surface-adsorbed hydrogen-evolving species"

Submitted by Kevin Hoke / Berry College on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 14:22
Description
The paper entitled “Electrochemical hydrogenation of a homogeneous nickel complex to form a surface adsorbed hydrogen-evolving species” explores the discovery, characterization and catalytic activity of a film that deposited on the electrode while studying a nickel complex under electrocatalytic conditions.
 
This literature discussion includes several sets of questions that address different aspects of the paper, as described in the implementation notes.

Synthesis of Aspirin- A Lewis Acid Approach

Submitted by Kathleen Field / WGU on Mon, 06/29/2015 - 21:29
Description

This is the procedure for a Fe(III) catalyzed synthesis of aspirin, an alternative to the traditionally sulfuric acid catalyzed synthesis of aspirin.  The prep compares and contrasts the Bronsted acid catalyzed esterification reaction with a Lewis acid iron (III) catalyzed pathway.  This can be used in different courses at different levels, but is it written for a general/intro level chemistry course.    

Materials Project

Submitted by Barbara Reisner / James Madison University on Fri, 06/12/2015 - 16:58
Description

The Materials Project is part of the Materials Genome Initiative that uses high-througput computing to uncover the properties of inorganic materials.

It's possible to search for materials and their properties

It employs high-throughput computation approaches and IT to create a system that can be used to predict properties and construct phase diagrams andPourbaix diagrams.

Beautiful Chemistry

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Wed, 06/10/2015 - 14:42
Description

This is just a cool little website I just happened to stumble upon today while looking for something else at the RSC site. It comes from China, and it is pretty!

Sheila's Safety Net

Submitted by Sheila Smith / University of Michigan- Dearborn on Wed, 06/10/2015 - 12:43

Collection of Safety LOs from VIPEr

In-Class Review Questions for Metal Carbonyl Complexes

Submitted by Chris Goldsmith / Auburn University on Wed, 02/11/2015 - 11:24
Description

The slides provide review questions for a senior-level treatment of the spectroscopy and reactivity of metal carbonyl complexes. These are intended to be dispersed through one to three class periods.

The first slide is a review of electron counting and the 18-electron rule.

The second slide quizzes the students on the relationship between the electron-density of the metal center and the strength of the C-O bonds in the carbonyl ligands. It is intended to be given after a discussion of how IR can be used to assess the strength of M-C and C-O bonds in the compounds.

Cobalt-Ammine complexes and theories of bonding in metals

Submitted by EGunn / Simmons College on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 12:54
Description

This is a two-week lab in which students synthesize and then characterize three Werner cobalt complexes using IR, UV/VIS and computer calculations using Spartan. Syntheses are based on procedures from:

Angelici, R. J. Synthesis and Technique in Inorganic Chemistry. University Science Books, 1996, pp 13-17.

Borer, L.L.; Erdman, H.W.; Norris, C.; Williams, J.; Worrell, J. Synthesis of trans-Tetraamminedichlorocobalt (III) chloride, Inorganic Syntheses, Vol 31, 1997, pp 270-271.

Ligand Effects in Pd-Catalyzed Cross Coupling

Submitted by Matt Whited / Carleton College on Fri, 01/09/2015 - 14:30
Description

This set of questions was used to promote discussion within small groups (3 to 4 students) on how changing ligand properties can have dramatic effects on the product distributions in Pd-catalyzed cross coupling reactions.  The questions are pretty difficult and not always straightforward, partly because they are derived from the primary literature and thus inherently "messy".

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