Chem 458 – Inorganic Chemistry Lab

Spring, 2002

QDH 318

Instructor – Dr. Andrea Martin

(610) 268-8820

amartin19311@yahoo.com

 

Schedule:          Feb 7, 8 – WEEK 1

Feb 14, 15 – WEEK 2

Feb 21,22 – WEEK 3

Feb 28, March 1 – WEEK 4

March 7, 8 – WEEK 5

March 14, 15 – WEEK 6

March 21, 22 – WEEK 7

March 28, 29 – WEEK 8

April 4, 5 – SPRING BREAK

April 11, 12 – WEEK 9

April 18, 19 – WEEK 10

April 25, 26 – WEEK 11

May 2, 3 – WEEK 12

May 9, 10 – WEEK 13

 

Text: Girolami, Rauchfuss and Angelici, “Synthesis and Technique in Inorganic Chemistry” (“GRA”)

 

Lab Schedule:

 

1)    The Metal-Arene Complex [1,3,5-C6H3(CH3)3]Mo(CO)3  - GRA Expt 16, p 161

 

2)    Preparation of Tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)hydroborate – K+ (handout)

 

3)    Metal-Metal Quadruple Bonds – GRA Expt 11, p 111

 

4)    Linkage Isomers

 

5)    Preparation of Mn(acac)3 and study of paramagnetism – GRA p 117

 

6)    Cobaloximes: Models of Vitamin B12 – GRA p 211

 


Chem 458, continued


Welcome to Chem 458!  I hope you will find this to be an interesting and challenging class, with plenty of opportunity for you to exercise your own creativity and independent thinking.

 

Students will work in pairs for the semester.  For three labs, students will be expected to complete the given experiment AND plan and execute a follow-up independent study experiment of their choice.  Some suggested independent study topics and references are given at the conclusion of each lab in the text.  In addition, students are encouraged to seek out members of the chemistry department with expertise in the given area for independent study topics, in addition to traditional literature sources (e.g., SciFinder Scholar and the Cambridge Crystallographic Database).  The lab instructor must approve all independent study topics with sufficient lead time that appropriate chemicals and equipment may be obtained.

 

You may work at your own pace, but it is strongly recommended that each experiment and related independent study be completed within two weeks in order to complete the assigned labs by the end of the semester.  Planning will be of the utmost importance!  By planning your independent study projects early, you may be able to carry them out in parallel with the assigned experiment.

 

Optional extra credit assignments will be offered to those who complete the 6 mandatory labs before the end of the semester.

 

Students will be expected to keep a bound laboratory notebook, which will be graded.  Standard rules of record-keeping include use of a pen, signing and dating every entry, and obtaining a witness signature.  In addition to the notebook, students will be required to write a laboratory report covering the topics indicated in the text and answering the problems posed in the text.  Each student is required to write an individual report for each laboratory.  Laboratory reports will be due within 2 weeks of the completion of the experimental procedures.

 

Safety is of primary importance in the laboratory!  Safety goggles are required at all times in the laboratory.  Students are expected to follow all safety guidelines for working with chemicals and equipment.  Horseplay will not be tolerated.  No food or drink will be allowed in the laboratory at any time.  Any student who fails to follow safety rules or the directions of the laboratory supervisor will be dismissed from lab and receive a failing grade for that lab.