Main Group and Transition Metal Chemistry

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

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

• Use crystal field theory to explain and predict a range of properties of transition metal complexes
• Describe the structure and chemical properties of elements in Groups 13-18
• Discuss aspects of d-block element chemistry including dn configurations, oxidation states and trends, Electrode potentials, Latimer and Frost diagrams, Coordination geometries, isomerism, ligand classifications and bonding interactions
• Describe the background to nuclear magnetic resonance, and explain or predict spectral features including chemical shift, coupling, decoupling and isotopomers
• Explain periodic trends including variations in electronegativity, oxidation state, metallic character, atomic size and ionisation energy within the periodic table.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

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

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Basis of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy; Chemical shift, chemical shielding, coupling, decoupling and isotopomers; Application to general molecular species including main group and transition metal examples.

Transition Metal Chemistry: Properties of the d-block elements, ligands, dn configurations, oxidation states and trends; Electrode potentials, Latimer and Frost diagrams; Coordination geometries, isomerism in coordination complexes; Ligand classifications and bonding interactions; Crystal Field Theory; common crystal field splittings (octahedral, tetrahedral and square-planar); High and low spin cases, Crystal Field Stabilisation Energy (CFSE), and its structural and thermodynamic consequences; The spectrochemical series, and other factors affecting the crystal field splitting parameter; The Jahn-Teller effect; Colour, electronic spectroscopy (d¹) and selection rules; Magnetism and determination of number of unpaired electrons;Complex stability and the chelate effect.

Main Group Chemistry: Periodicity – variations in electronegativity, oxidation state, metallic character, atomic size and ionisation energy within the periodic table; Trends in the chemistry of the elements of Groups 13, 14, 15; bond character and strengths; acid-base chemistry, Brønsted-Lowry systems, Lewis systems and donor-acceptor compounds; Trends in the chemistry of the elements of Groups 16, 17 and 18; investigation of their natural occurrence, halides, hydrides, oxides, oxoacids and interhalogen chemistry.

Lectures, small group tutorials and laboratory sessions.

Summative

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