Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2018-2019 (archived)

Module CHEM2077: CHEMISTRY OF THE ELEMENTS

Department: Chemistry

CHEM2077: CHEMISTRY OF THE ELEMENTS

Type Open Level 2 Credits 10 Availability Available in 2018/19 Module Cap Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • Core Chemistry 1 (CHEM1078).

Corequisites

  • Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012) AND Practical Chemistry 2 - Inorganic (CHEM2107).

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To develop and consolidate principles of bonding and transition metal chemistry, and to study selected areas in more detail.

Content

  • Chemistry of the s and p block: covalent compounds, structure, bonding and stability.
  • Magnetic and spectral properties of transition-metal compounds, electronic spectra;
  • Clusters of main group elements, Wade's rules.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • describe and rationalize the detailed chemistry of the s and p-block elements, and give a description of the bonding in compounds featuring these elements.
  • interpret (and predict) spectral and magnetic properties of transition metal complexes, use of Orgel diagrams, appreciate the modifications made for orbital overlap, and use orbital contributions to magnetic moments and colour to deduce information about a complex's stereochemistry;
  • rationalise the bonding and structures of electron-precise and electron-deficient clusters of main group and transition metal elements
Subject-specific Skills:
Key Skills:
  • Written communication, advanced through the use of essay type questions in lecture-support worksheets and laboratory reports.
  • Problem-solving, developed through workshop classes.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures are used to convey concepts and are examined by written papers. This is the best method to assess the knowledge of the students.
  • Workshops are given to ensure that the students have grasped the key concepts given in the lectures and to practice examples of problems. The work is formatively assessed.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 20 1 per week 1 Hour 18
Workshops 2 2 in Term 3 1.5 hours 3
Preparation and Reading 79
Total 100

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written examination 2 hours 100% Two hour written examination

Formative Assessment:

Set work in preparation for workshops.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University