Chem 130 Class Schedule

The class schedule below provides a query for each day's main topic and suggested reading assignments and end-of-chapter problems from the textbook (answers to these problems are in the back of the textbook). The query also serves as a link to a Google Drive folder where you will find one or more of the following items: (i) a short read that summarizes key ideas from that day's topic, (ii) essays that cover topics not included in the text, and (iii) copies of worksheets with answer keys added following class, and additional materials, such as tables of constants or data. For days highlighted in bold font, you will find a take-home assignment in the Google Drive folder; some of these assignments have unique data, so if you see names attached to the files, then look for the one with your last name. Take-home assignments are due at the next class meeting. The link to the Google Drive folder for a particular class generally becomes active on the weekend before the class meeting.

Unit 0: Introduction

In which we set the stage for the semester by creating a common vocabulary for discussing the structure and properties of inorganic compounds.

• Topic_0.01 (1/31): How do we read the periodic table and represent and name inorganic compounds?

  • read Chapters 3.6, 3.7 & 4.3; work problems: 3. 87, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99 & 4.27, 29, 31

Unit I: Building a Model of the Atom

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.

• Topic_1.01 (2/2): What is an atom and what is light?

  • read chapter 2.2-3 & 3.1; work problems 2.11, 17 & 3. 5, 9

• Topic_1.02 (2/4): How do light and atoms interact with each other?

  • read chapter 3.1; work problems 3.4, 8

• Topic_1.03 (2/7): What does the photoelectric effect tell us about electrons and atoms?

  • read chapter 3.1; work problems 3.15

• Topic_1.04 (2/9): How can we model the force between an electron and the nucleus?

  • read chapter 3.2; work problems 3.19

• Topic_1.05 (2/11): How much energy does it take to remove an electron from an atom?

  • read chapter 3.2; no suggested problems

• Topic_1.06 (2/14): What does photoelectron spectroscopy tell us about the structure of an atom?

  • read chapter 3.3; work problem 3.35

• Topic_1.07 (2/16): What are the shell model's strengths and what are its limits?

  • read chapter 3.3; no suggested problems

• Topic_1.08 (2/18): What does it mean to say that an electron is a wave?

• • read chapter 3.3; work problems 3.41, 45

• Topic_1.09 (2/21): So, what is our final model for the atom?

  • read chapter 3.4; work problems 3.49, 51, 55, 61, 73, 79

• Topic_1.10 (2/23): What properties of an atom can we explain using our model of the atom?

  • read chapter 3.5; work problems 3. 67, 69, 71, 75, 77, 81, 85

• Topic_1.11 (2/25): first unit exam

Unit II: Building a Model for Bonding in Inorganic Compounds (Tentative Topics)

In which we consider the types of bonding in and geometry of inorganic compounds and consider the structure of solid-state materials.

• Topic_2.01 (2/28): What is a covalent bond and how do represent it on paper?

  • read chapter 4.4; work problems 4.39, 41, 43, 45

• Topic_2.02 (3/2): What if there are too few or too many valence electrons?

  • read chapter 4.5; work problems 4.55, 4.57, 4.69

• Topic_2.03 (3/4): What is a formal charge (and why do we care)?

  • read chapter 4.5; work problems 4.63, 65, 67, 69, 71

• Topic_2.04 (3/7): How Does Shape Affect Properties?

  • read chapter 4.6; work problems 4.75, 81, 83, 83, 7, 89, 91

• Topic_2.05 (3/9): If atoms have atomic orbitals, what do molecules and ions have? (Part 1)

  • read chapter 5.1-3; work problems 5.3, 9, 11, 17

• Topic_2.06 (3/11): If atoms have atomic orbitals, what do molecules and ions have? (Part 2)

  • read chapter 5.4; work problem 5.39

• Topic_2.07 (3/14): What is special about ionic and metallic bonding?

  • read chapter 4.1,2 and 10.5; work problems 10.65, 69, 71, 73

• Topic_2.08 (3/16): How do we characterize sold-state structures?

  • read 10.6; work problems 10.87, 89, 91, 97

• Topic_2.09 (3/18): What are simple cubic and face-centered cubic unit cells?

  • no assigned reading or suggested problems

• Topic_2.10 (3/21): What are the solid-state structures of some common inorganic compounds?

  • no assigned reading or suggested problems

• Topic_2.11 (3/23): What are metal-ligand complexes?

  • read 19.2; work problems 19.1,27

• Topic_2.12 (3/25): Why do different metal-ligand complexes have the same formula?

  • read 19.2; work problems 19.29, 31, 33, 35

• (3/28): Spring Break

• (3/30): Spring Break

• (4/1): Spring Break

• Topic_2.13 (4/4): Why are some metal-ligand complexes so colorful?

  • read 19.3; work problems 19.41, 45

• Topic_2.14 (4/6): How do we name metal-ligand complexes?

  • read none; no problems to work

• Topic_2.15 (4/8): second unit exam

Unit III: The Chemical Reactivity of Inorganic Compounds

In which we consider acid-base reactions, precipitation-solubility reactions, oxidation-reduction reactions, and metal-ligand complexation and dissociation reactions, exploring how reactivity is related to structure.

• Topic_3.01 (4/11) What are acid and bases?

  • read 7.2, 14.1-4 work problems 14.1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 31, 37, 43, 79

• Topic_3.02 (4/13): What does it mean to say that an acid or base is weak or strong?

  • read 7.2, 14.1-4 work problems 14.1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 31, 37, 43, 79

• Topic_3.03 (4/15): How does an acid's or a base's structure affect its strength?

  • read 7.2, 14.1-4 work problems 14.1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 31, 37, 43, 79

• Topic_3.04 (4/18): Can we predict which acids and bases will react with each other?

  • 7.2, 14.1-4 work problems 14.1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 31, 37, 43, 79

• Topic_3.05 (4/20): What is a redox reaction?

  • read 7.1-2 and 16.1; work problems 16.1

• Topic_3.06 (4/22): How can we predict if a redox reaction will take place?

  • read 16.3; work problems 16.23

• Topic_3.07 (4/25): What are electrochemical potentials?

  • read 16.2, 4; work problems 16.33

• Topic_3.08 (4/27): How do we know that a precipitate will form?

• Topic_3.09 (4/29): How do we use chemical reactivity to identify ions?

• Topic_3.10 (5/2): student evaluations; review of unit iii

• Topic_3.11 (5/4): 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 the relationships between atomic structure, molecular structure, and the reactivity of inorganic compounds.

• Topic_4.01 (5/6): review of Unit I

• Topic_4.02 (5/9): review of Unit II

• Topic_4.03 (5/11): review of Unit III

Final Exam

In which we bring the semester to a close!

• Tuesday, May 17th from 8:30–11:30am