CHE 423:

Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory

Spring 2002

12:00-3:00 Wed, HSB 328

Instructor:

Dr. Keenan E. Dungey

Office:

HSB 312

Office Hours:

1:00-3:00 Tuesdays

Phone:

206-7345

Email:

dungey.keenan@uis.edu

Fax:

206-6162

Web Page:

http://people.uis.edu/kdung1/che422/CHE423sy02.htm

Course Description

Inorganic Chemistry is a broad discipline.  An important component in the study of this subject is the laboratory experience.  The experiments in this course will expose the student to the synthesis of a sampling of inorganic compounds from each of the main areas of inorganic chemistry (main group, transition metal complexes, solid state materials, organometallic molecules).  The special laboratory skills of non-aqueous solution chemistry and air-free manipulations of chemicals will be taught. Various techniques will be used to characterize the prepared materials, from conventional spectroscopy to conductivity measurements.  In addition, theoretical models used to understand bonding and structure will be explored by hands-on and computer exercises. 

Course Objectives

1.      Explore the breadth of inorganic chemistry

2.      Learn laboratory skills

3.      Maintain accurate and useful records

4.      Prepare reports describing and analyzing experiments

5.      Make connections between lecture material and experience

Required Text

None.  You will make copies of the lab project handouts throughout the semester.

I recommend you use a high quality laboratory notebook (such as the Hayden McNeil Student Notebook available in the bookstore) to maintain the records of your experiments.

Course Requirements

Attendance to laboratory sessions is required.  Come to each session having read the experimental procedure and prepared your notebook.

Sometimes you will work in pairs.  Communication and cooperation between lab partners will be necessary for success.

You will maintain a lab notebook and use those records to prepare reports for each experiment.  Criteria for the notebook and each report will be provided.

Grading

The laboratory grade will be based on the written reports, the laboratory notebook, and your effort and ability to work with your lab partner.  A 10%/week penalty will be assessed to late lab reports. 

The point distribution is approximately:

1.      Reports                          60%

2.      Notebook                      15%

3.      Lab Effort                     10%

4.      Teamwork                    10%

5.      Pop-quizzes                    5%

1

1/23

Check In, Safety

Lab 1A: Preparation of Co-Pentammine Complexes

HSB 328

2

1/30

cont. Lab 1A

3

2/6

Lab 2: Visualizing Molecular Orbitals

PC Spartan in Computer Lab (HSB 108)

4

2/13

Lab 3: X-ray Diffraction Tutorial

HSB 328 and HSB 108

Report for Lab 1A due

5

2/20

Lab 4: Solid State Structures and Properties

Report for Lab 2 due

6

2/27

Lab 5: Preparation of a High Temperature Superconductor

7

3/6

cont. Lab 5

Report for Lab 3 due

8

3/13

Lab 6A: Synthesis of dppe in NH_3(l)

Report for Lab 4 due

9

3/20

Spring Break—No Lab

10

3/27

Lab 6B: Synthesis of dppe-stabilized gold nanoparticles

11

4/3

cont. Lab 6B

Report for Lab 5 due

12

4/10

cont. Lab 6B

13

4/17

Lab 1B: Aquation of Co-Pentammine Complexes

14

4/24

Lab 7: Preparation of (C₅H₅)₂Mo₂(CO)₆

Report for Lab 6 due

15

5/1

cont. Lab 7

Report for Lab 1B due

16

5/8

cont. Lab 7

17

5/9

Finals—No Lab

Report for Lab 7 due