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Overview

Course Prescription

A selection of the most recent developments in contemporary inorganic chemistry will be covered. Topics include selected physical properties of coordination compounds such as multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, magnetism, redox chemistry and photochemistry, the organometallic chemistry and catalytic reactions of transition elements, bioinorganic and medicinal inorganic chemistry, the kinetics and thermodynamics of ligand substitution reactions, main-group organometallic chemistry and main-group polymers. The laboratories provide an important complementary experience in the synthesis and measurement of physical properties for selected inorganic compounds.

Course Overview

This course builds on the inorganic and physical chemistry concepts introduced in CHEM251 and 253. Areas of special focus include selected important physical techniques that are key to the understanding and characterization of inorganic compounds, kinetics, and thermodynamics as applied in inorganic chemistry, the organometallic chemistry of the transition elements, and bio-inorganic chemistry. The course is designed to enable students to gain a wide appreciation of different aspects of modern inorganic chemistry and to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in this key area. This course is important because it equips students with crucial core knowledge and skills that are essential for a comprehensive understanding of the modern discipline of chemistry. The course also provides students with key foundational knowledge and skills to progress smoothly to higher, research-based degrees in chemistry (including BSc(Hons), MSc, and Ph.D.), or alternatively, to take advantage of employment opportunities in any areas where a broad knowledge of chemistry and/or proficiency in critical thinking is required.

Key Topics

A. Physical methods in inorganic chemistry1. Multinuclear NMR in inorganic chemistry2. Electronic spectra of coordination compounds (crystal field theory and ligand field theory, Tanabe Sugano analysis)3. Photochemical reactions (excited state reactivity) of transition metal complexes4. Magnetic properties of transition metal complexes 
B. Transition metal organometallic chemistry  
1. Classification of organometallic compounds
2. Transition metal carbonyls, simple alkene complexes, alkyne complexes, allyl and –enyl complexes
3. Transition Metal-Carbon σ-Bonds, σ-Donor/π-Acceptor ligands
4. Organometallic catalysis
 
C. Bioinorganic chemistry  
Bioinorganic Chemistry is an interdisciplinary research area that deals with all aspects of metals and their biological functions. The lectures will provide insight into the central role of coordination compounds in nature, and point out the potential for application as drugs. Selected examples will lead the students to an understanding of fascinating processes occurring in bioinorganic chemistry.
• General aspects of bioinorganic chemistry  
• Biological ligand systems
• Role of metals in nature  
• Metals and proteins (Fe, Zn, Mn, etc.)  
• Metals and toxicity
• Metal compounds in the treatment of different diseases imaging and diagnosis
 
D. Kinetics and thermodynamics in inorganic chemistry 
Investigating the kinetics of a reaction and understanding the thermodynamics of the transformation help to build an accurate picture of the corresponding energetic landscape and provide insight into the reaction mechanism(s) involved. • Terms and equations: equilibrium constant, ground state, transition state, intermediate, rate constant, activation energy, reaction order, rate law, Arrhenius Equation, Eyring Equation, entropy, enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, inert/labile, nucleophilicity/electrophilicity, basicity/acidity• Ligand substitution reactions: trans effect/trans influence, Associative/Dissociative/Interchange mechanisms
E. Main-Group Chemistry The chemistry of the s- and p- blocks in the periodic table is an ever-expanding field with many recent advances in the area. • Fundamentals in synthesizing E-C, E-E and E-E’ bonds (E, E’ = main-group element) • Structures, properties, reactivity and uses of molecules and macromolecules containing s- and p- block elements

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures, 12 one-hour tutorials, 18 hours of laboratory work (6 x 3 hours), 42 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 42 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials to complete/receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the tests/exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable delivery.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

The textbooks are CE Housecroft and AG Sharpe, Inorganic Chemistry, 4rd ed, Pearson, and C. Elschenbroich, Organometallics, 2nd or 3rd ed, Wiley-VCH.  Recommend reading: DF Shriver and PW Atkins, Inorganic Chemistry, 4th or 5th ed, Oxford University Press.Supplemental readings and sections from the textbooks are given for each lecture by the individual lecturers.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

A student must pass both the theory component and the practical component to gain an overall pass. The theory component is composed of quizzes, term tests, and final exams. The practical component is composed of laboratory experiments.

Special Requirements

Attendance at the laboratories is a compulsory part of this course. Students must be wearing safety glasses, covered footwear, and a lab coat before entering the laboratory and must keep these on until after exiting the laboratory. Jandals or other open shoes are not satisfactory footwear. Students who wear prescription spectacles are required to wear safety glasses over their spectacles. 

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
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10

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12345678910

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

The main course feedback was the difficulty of the laboratory reports. This is due to the lack of laboratory experience as a result of online learning during the past few years.  The teaching team will encourage more in person attendance in 2025 to better support student learning.  

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Additional Information on Tuākana

As part of the University-wide Tuākana community, The School of chemical sciences aims to provide a welcoming learning environment for and enhance the success of, all of our Māori and Pacific students. We are led by the principles of tautoko (support) and whanaungatanga (connection) and hope you find a home here at the School. Students who have identified as Māori and/or Pacific will receive an invitation to our online portal introducing the Programme, the resources we have available, and how you can get involved.

Tuākana Chemistry runs a range of activities for students enrolled in this class. This includes weekly workshops, social activities, and opportunities to engage with senior students and researchers within the School of Chemical Sciences. Tuākana-eligible students will be added automatically to the Tuākana Chemistry program when they enroll in this course. For more information, please see the Tuākana program website or email scstuakana@auckland.ac.nz.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.