Structure and Bonding

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Draw radial and angular wavefunctions, and boundary surface diagrams to describe the shapes of atomic orbitals
• Assign symmetry elements and point groups to molecules and ions
• Construct molecular orbital energy level diagrams for homo- and heterodiatomic molecules
• Explain lattice structures in terms of packing, ionic bonding and energetics, and draw metallic and ionic-derived structures
• Explain aspects of the structure of hydrogenic atoms, including quantum numbers, electron spin, aufbau principles, electronic structure, shielding and penetration
• Describe the ionic chemistry of groups 1 and 2
• Use Lewis structures and VSEPR to explain bonding, geometry and shapes in molecules and ions
• Calculate lattice parameter, distances between ions, packing density and gravimetric density of ionic solids

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Meet the learning outcomes of a co-requisite practical module.

AO/MO theory: Hydrogenic atoms, quantum numbers and atomic orbitals; Radial and angular wavefunctions and the shapes of atomic orbitals; Electron spin, aufbau principles, electronic structure, shielding/penetration and the Periodic Table; Linear combinations of atomic orbitals;

Molecular orbital theory, boundary surface diagrams, sp-mixing and energy level diagrams of homo- and heterodiatomic molecules;

Shape and symmetry of molecules; Lewis structures of polyatomic molecules and ions, including formal charges and resonance structure.

VSEPR, geometry and shape of molecules and ions; Molecular symmetry elements and operations; Introduction to point groups and symmetry classification.

Ionic chemistry and lattice structures: Ionic bonding model; Description of lattices – lattice points, the unit cell, crystal systems, Bravais lattices; Hexagonal and cubic close packing including stacking arrangements, packing density, interstitial holes; metal structures;Simple ionic-derived structures e.g. CsCl, NaCl, ZnS (x 2), NiAs, TiO2, and calculation of their densities and lattice parameters; Energetics of lattices, and the determination of lattice enthalpy using Born Haber cycles and the Born-Mayer equation; Ionic chemistry of the Group 1 and 2 elements.

Lectures, problem classes, small group tutorials and laboratory sessions.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Mid-term test

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback:
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.