The schedule below outlines each day's main topic(s) along with reading assignments and suggested end-of-chapter problems from the textbook, and additional essays that cover topics not included in the textbook. Unit exams are shown in bold. An extra day is built into each unit to allow us time to catch-up if we need to devote additional time to a topic.
Quick links: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table, Structures of Inorganic Compounds, Reactivity and Other Properties of Inorganic Compounds, wrapping up, final exam
Unit I: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
In which we develop a model for the atom by examining the energies of its electrons and in which we explore the nature of the periodic table and how it encodes information about an element's properties and chemical reactivity. Our pathway through these topics will take us through material in Chapter 2, Chapter 3, and Chapter 4. Suggested reading assignments and end-of-chapter problems are listed for most days.
- January 27: introduction to course with review
- read: 3.6, 3.7, and 4.3
- problems: 3.87, 91, 95, 97, and 99
- January 29: interaction of light and matter
- read: 2.2, 2.3, and 3.1
- problems: 2.11, 17 and 3.5, 9, 15
- January 31: developing a model of the atom (Part 1)
- read: 3.2
- problems: 3.19, 21, 23, 27
- February 3: developing a model of the atom (Part 2)
- February 5: developing a model of the atom (Part 3)
- February 7: developing a model of the atom (Part 4)
- read: 3.3
- problems: 3.35, 37, 43
- February 10: developing a model of the atom (Part 5)
- read: 3.3
- problems: 3.41, 43, 45
- February 12: developing a model of the atom (Part 6)
- read: 3.4
- problems 3.49, 51, 55, 61, 63, 73, 79
- February 14: periodic trends in ionization energies and average valence electron energies
- read: 3.5
- problems: 3.69, 71, 85
- February 17: periodic trends in electron affinities, atomic radii, and ionic radii
- read: 3.5
- problems: 3.67, 75, 77m 81
- February 19: catch up and review for first unit exam
- February 21: first unit exam
Unit II: Structures of Inorganic Compounds
In which we consider the types of bonding in and geometry of inorganic compounds and consider the structure of solid-state materials. Our pathway through these topics will take us through material in Chapter 4, Chapter 5 and Chapter 10. Suggested reading assignments and end-of-chapter problems are listed for most days.
- February 24: covalent bonding and Lewis structures
- read: 4.4
- problems: 4.39, 41, 43, 45
- February 26: resonance structures and expanded octets
- read: 4.5
- problems: 4.55, 57, 69
- February 28: evaluating Lewis structures using formal charges
- read: 4.5
- problems: 4.63, 65, 67, 69, 71
- March 2: valence shell electron repulsion model
- read: 4.6
- problems: 4.75, 81, 83, 85
- March 4: molecular geometry and polarity
- read: 4.6
- problems: 4.87, 89, 91
- March 6: valence bond model
- read: 5.1-3
- problems: 5.3, 5, 9, 11, 17
- March 9: molecular orbital theory
- March 11: introduction to molecular modeling
- read: none
- problems: none
- March 13: ionic bonding, metallic bonding, and the bond triangle
- read 4.1-2 and 10.5
- problems: 10.65, 69, 71, 73
- March 16: solid-state structures (; work )
- read: 10.6
- problems: 10.87, 89, 91, 97
- March 18: solid-state structures
- read: none
- problems: none
- March 20: solid-state structures
- read: none
- problems: none
- March 23:
spring break
- March 25:
spring break
- March 27:
spring break
- March 30: catch-up and review for second unit exam
- April 1: second unit exam
Unit III: Reactivity and Other Properties of Inorganic Compounds
In which we consider acid-base reactions, precipitation-solubility reactions, oxidation-reduction reactions, and metal-ligand complexation and dissociation reactions. Our pathway through these topics will take us through material in Chapter 7, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, and Chapter 19. Suggested reading assignments and end-of-chapter problems are listed for most days.
- April 3: introduction to aqueous chemical reactions; precipitation-solubility reactions
- read: 7.1-2
- problems: 7.13, 15
- April 6: acid-base reactions (); work )
- read: 7.2, 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 (just section entitled "Effect of Molecular Structure on Acid-Base Strength"), 14.4 (just section entitled "The Ionization of Hydrated Metal Ions"
- problems: 14.1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 31, 37, 41, 43, 79
- April 8: effect of structure on acid-base strength
- read: 7.2, 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 (just section entitled "Effect of Molecular Structure on Acid-Base Strength"), 14.4 (just section entitled "The Ionization of Hydrated Metal Ions"
- problems: 14.1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 31, 37, 41, 43, 79
- April 10: predicting acid-base reactivity
- read: 7.2, 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 (just section entitled "Effect of Molecular Structure on Acid-Base Strength"), 14.4 (just section entitled "The Ionization of Hydrated Metal Ions"
- problems: 14.1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 31, 37, 41, 43, 79
- April 13: oxidation-reduction reactions
- read: 7.1-2
- problems: 7.17, 19
- April 15: predicting oxidation-reduction reactions
- read: 16.3
- problems: 16.23
- April 17: metal-ligand complexation
- read: 19.2
- problems: 19.1, 27
- April 20: isomers of metal-ligand complexes
- read: 19.2
- problems: 19.29, 33, 35
- April 22: naming metal-ligand complexes (; )
- read: 19.2
- problems: 19.31
- April 24: bonding models for metal-ligand complexes (; )
- read: 19.3
- problems: 19.41, 45
- April 27: catch-up and review for third unit exam
- April 29: third unit exam
Unit IV: Wrapping Up
In which we revisit the topics of Units I, II, and III, reviewing what we covered and extending our understanding of inorganic chemistry.
- May 1: review of unit I
- May 4: review of unit II
- May 6: review of unit III
Final Exam
- Tuesday, May 12th from 8:30-11:30