INORGANIC CHEMISTRY II AND LABORATORY

Knowledge and Understanding:

Knowledge of the basic aspects of the chemistry of the elements of the periodic table, with particular reference to d-block elements and their main practical applications.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding:

Ability to apply knowledge of inorganic chemistry to formulate and support arguments related to the topics covered in the course.

Making Judgments:

Ability to interpret experimental data and the chemical behavior of matter based on the acquired knowledge and laboratory experience.

Communication Skills:

Acquire appropriate terminology in the description of aspects of inorganic chemistry and chemistry in general.

Learning Skills:

Stimulate learning ability through participation in lectures and study of the reference teaching materials, to pursue more advanced studies that require a higher degree of autonomy, such as master's degree programs.

Information for Students with Disabilities and/or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD):

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current legislation, interested students may request a personal interview to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on the learning objectives and their specific needs.

Frontal lectures, problem-solving sessions with active student participation, and laboratory activities (3 sessions of 4 hours each).

The constant attendance of the lessons is strongly recommended.

Students who do not attend the lessons will not be admitted to attend the laboratory.

The attendance of the laboratory is not essential to take the exams.

 Characteristics of d-block Elements:

Electronic configurations, general features, abundance, main extraction methods, oxidation states, oxides and principal compounds, applications.

Coordination Compounds:
Nomenclature, structures and isomers, thermodynamic aspects of complex formation, crystal field theory, geometries of complexes, spectrochemical series of ligands, basics of electronic spectra.

Magnetic Properties:
Paramagnetism and ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism and ferrimagnetism, Curie and Néel temperatures, metamagnetism, spin crossover (SCO) systems, ferroelectric properties.

Reactions of Coordination Compounds:
Nucleophilic substitutions, mechanisms, nucleophilicity scales, synthesis of cisplatin, electron transfer reactions, mechanisms, self-exchange reactions, and Marcus theory.

Organometallic Compounds of d-block Elements:
The 18-electron rule and its exceptions, carbonyl complexes, complexes with H₂, phosphines, and cyclopentadienyl ligands. Use of organometallic complexes in organic synthesis. Wilkinson’s catalyst.

Nuclear Properties:
Nuclear spin, radiochemistry, nuclear reactions, fission and fusion, applications.

General Aspects of the f-block:
Lanthanides and actinides, abundance, and main applications.

Bioinorganic Ligands and the Role of Metals in Biological Systems:
Oxygen transport and metal coordination (hemoglobin, myoglobin, hemocyanin, and hemerythrin). Zinc as a Lewis acid. Coordination compounds with diagnostic and therapeutic activity (e.g., cisplatin, gadolinium complexes).

Lab:

Synthesis and characterization of  Cobalt(III) complexes. 

Synthesis of saccharinate-copper (II) complexes

Synthesis of  copper(II) and nickel (II) complexes with nitrogen ligands. 

P. Atkins Inorganic Chemistry, Oxford

C.L. Miessler, D.A.Tarr Inorganic Chemistry,  Pearson

C.E.Housecroft, A.G.Sharpe  Inorganic Chemistry,   Pearson

G. Rayner-Cahham, T. Overton  Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry, McMillan

Learning will be verified during the course through classroom exercises and through a final exam.

The final exam consists of a written test and an oral test.

The written test consists of mostly open-ended application exercises.

After passing the written test (with a grade of at least 18/30), the oral test can be taken, which is based on clarification of the written test and on verification questions on topics covered during the course.

 For the final assessment, the student's commitment in the laboratory will also be assessed, documented by a final report submitted by the student within the scheduled time.

The final mark takes into account the marks attributed to all the tests.

Grade 29–30 with honors: The student has an in-depth knowledge of all the topics covered, is able to correctly solve complex problems, and demonstrates a fully developed ability to critically correlate various aspects. They also show excellent communication skills and language proficiency, including in the writing of the laboratory report.

Grade 26–28: The student has a good knowledge of all the topics covered, is able to solve complex problems with a fair degree of independence, and presents the topics clearly using appropriate language, including in the writing of the laboratory report.

Grade 23–25: The student has a fair knowledge of all the topics covered, is able to solve moderately complex problems, and can integrate and analyze information with sufficient critical thinking, expressing themselves more than adequately.

Grade 18–22: The student has a sufficient knowledge of all the topics covered, demonstrates sufficient ability to solve problems and to critically correlate relevant chemical aspects, and presents the topics with acceptable clarity, although their language proficiency is poorly developed.

Exam not passed: The student does not demonstrate the minimum required knowledge of the basic course content or the ability to solve the proposed problems. Their ability to use specific terminology is very poor, and they are unable to independently apply the knowledge acquired.

Past exam questions will be extensively discussed during the lectures, and the relevant material will be made available on Studium or Microsoft Teams.

The exam questions will concern the description of the properties of the d-block element groups, the main compounds they form, and their applications in various fields. Questions may also cover typical reactions of coordination compounds, the chemical-physical properties discussed during the course and listed in the syllabus.

Additionally, students may be asked to describe the main metals that play a role or have applications in biological systems, as well as the laboratory experiences carried out.