New York University

Department of Chemistry

CHEM-UA 711 Inorganic Chemistry – Spring 2020

Instructor Prof. Daniela Buccella, [email protected]
Silver 827, Biomedical Chemistry Institute
Teaching Assistant Symara De Melo Silva, [email protected]
Silver 8th Floor, Biomedical Chemistry Institute
Lectures Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30–10:45 am, 12 Waverly Place, L120
Recitations Thursdays 3:30–4:45 pm, 25 W4 Room C14
Thursdays 4:55–6:10 pm, 25 W4 Room C10
Office hours Thursdays 2:00–3:15 pm or by appointment (Buccella, Silver 827)

Summary
The course is intended to introduce fundamental principles in inorganic chemistry, including
basic concepts of symmetry and group theory, and their application in the description of
bonding, reactivity, and spectroscopy of inorganic compounds. Reaction mechanisms and
physical methods for the study of inorganic, organometallic, and bioinorganic compounds will be
discussed. Selected topics in main group chemistry will be included as well. Discussion of
contemporary literature will be used as a means to expose students to recent developments in
the field, ranging from the application of metals in catalysis to the study of metals in biological
systems.

Pre-requisites
- Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory (CHEM-UA 226 or CHEM-AD 102) or Majors Organic
Chemistry II and Laboratory (CHEM-UA 228) with a minimum grade of C.
- Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy (CHEM-UA 651) or Physical
Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics (CHEM-UA 652). Students using CHEM-UA 651 or
652 as a co-requisite require permission of the instructor and must register through the
Chemistry Department.

Reading material
- REQUIRED: Inorganic Chemistry, 5th Edition. Miessler, G.; Fischer, P.J.; Tarr, D. Pearson,
2010. (4th edition also acceptable).
Other useful material:
- Chemical Applications of Group Theory, 3rd Ed.; Cotton, F. A.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1990.
- Shriver and Atkin’s Inorganic Chemistry, 5th Ed.; Atkins, P.; Overton, T.L.; Rourke, J.P.; Weller,
M.T.; Armstrong, F.A. Oxford University Press, 2010.
- The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition Metals, 5th Ed.; Crabtree, R. H; John Wiley &
Sons, Inc, 2009.
- Organometallics, 3rd Ed.; Elschenbroich, C. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co: Weinheim,
Germany, 2006.
Other reading resources, including articles of the primary literature, will be assigned in class to
cover specific topics.
Topics outline
1. Introductory concepts
- Atomic structure.
- Periodic properties of the elements.
- Basic representation of bonding in main group compounds: Lewis structures.
- Valence-Shell Electron-Pair Repulsion.
2. Symmetry and Group Theory
- Symmetry operations.
- Point groups.
- Matrix representation of symmetry operations.
- Character Tables.
3. Molecular Orbital description of polyatomic molecules
- Molecular Orbital (MO) diagrams from atomic orbitals: homonuclear, dinuclear, and larger
molecules.
- Molecular Orbitals and band structure in solids.
4. Acid-Based and Donor-Acceptor chemistry
- Acid-Base theories: Arrhenius, Bronsted-Lowry, Lewis.
- Hard and soft acids and bases.
5. Chemistry of the Main Group elements
- General trends in the properties of main group elements.
- Chemical properties of selected main group elements.
6. Chemistry of the Transition Metals, part I: coordination chemistry
- Nomenclature, structure, and isomerism of coordination compounds.
- Bonding theories.
- Types of bonds in transition metal chemistry: covalent and dative covalent bonds.
- Ligands in transition metal chemistry: σ-donors, π-donors, and π-acceptors.
- MO diagrams for complexes of simple geometries: σ-only, σ and π interactions.
- Introduction to electronic spectroscopy of coordination compounds.
7. Chemistry of the Transition Metals, part II: organotransition chemistry
- Electronic configuration: electron counting, dn configuration, valence and oxidation state, 18-
electron rule.
- Survey of normal covalent and dative ligands in organotransition chemistry.
- Reaction mechanisms: ligand substitution reaction (trans effect), oxidative addition and
reductive elimination, migratory insertions, sigma bond metathesis, and alkene metathesis.
8. Special topics (introduced throughout the course)
- Metals in biological systems.
- Physical methods in inorganic chemistry.
Assignments and grading
The grade for the course will be determined based on problem sets and in-class examinations
according to the following grading scheme:
Exam 1 25% 02/26/2020
Exam 2 30% 04/08/2020
Final exam 30% 05/11/2020
Problem sets and quizzes 15%

Exams:
In-class exams will be 75 min in duration starting promptly at 9:30 am; students arriving late will
not be given extra time past 10:45 am. The use of notes, handouts, and/or other materials
during the exam is not permitted. Students must work individually. Make-up exams will not be
allowed with the exception of documented cases of illness. The content of exams is cumulative.
Problem sets:
Answers to problem sets must be handed in at the beginning of class on the corresponding due
date. No credit will be given for problem sets received late. Students are allowed to discuss with
each other the content of the problem sets. Answers sets, however, must be crafted individually
and must reflect each student’s independent reasoning for the solution of each problem. Neither
joint work nor copies of other student’s answers will be accepted. Students should review NYU’s
policy on academic integrity at: http://www.nyu.edu/about/policies-guidelines-compliance
/policies-and-guidelines/academic-integrity-for-students-at-nyu.html.
Questions regarding class content or assignments outside of recitations or office hours should
be sent to the instructor and/or teaching assistant via the course website (Classes). Questions
regarding problem sets must be directed to the instructor no less than 24 hours of the due date
for the assignment.
Quizzes:
Quizzes may be given unannounced during recitation sessions.

Quizzes and problem set will bear a combined weight of 15% of the course grade.
Tentative Class Schedule
(subject to changes based on class performance)

Date Content Reading Material

1 Jan 27
Atomic Structure M&T Chapter 2
2 Jan 29
3 Feb 3 Simple Bonding Theory M&T Chapter 3
4 Feb 5
5 Feb 10 Symmetry and Group Theory M&T Chapter 4
6 Feb 12
Feb 17 University Holiday – No classes
7 Feb 19
Molecular Orbitals M&T Chapter 5, 7.3
8 Feb 24
Feb 26 Exam 1
9 Mar 2
Molecular Orbitals, contd. M&T Chapter 5, 7.3
10 Mar 4
11 Mar 9
Acid-Base Chemistry M&T Chapter 6
12 Mar 11
Mar 16-20 Spring Break
13 Mar 23 Main group chemistry
14 Mar 25
Transition Metal Complexes: introductory
15 Mar 30
concepts, bonding theories, ligands, M&T Chapter 9 and 10
16 Apr 1
magnetic properties
17 Apr 6
Apr 8 Exam 2
18 Apr 13
TM Complexes: electronic spectra M&T Chapter 10.1.2 and 11
19 Apr 15
20 Apr 20
Organotransition Chemistry: bonding and M&T Chapter 13 and other
21 Apr 22
electronic structure sources
22 Apr 27
23 Apr 29
24 May 4 Organotransition Chemistry: reactivity M&T Chapter 12 and 14
25 May 6
May 11 FINAL EXAM (last day of classes)

Note: additional reading materials will be assigned and made accessible through Classes.