Year of entry: 2021

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Course unit details:

Core Chemistry 2
Unit code CHEM30311

Credit rating 10

Unit level Level 3

Teaching period(s) Semester 1

O ered by Department of Chemistry

Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview
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A 1-semester unit of 24 lectures split into 3 sub-units of 8, supported by 3 individual workshops
and one joint examination workshop.

1. Polymer Chemistry                   Prof. M. Turner

2. Heterogeneous Catalysis         Dr. F. Mair (Unit Co-ordinator)

3. F-block Chemistry                    Prof. S. Liddle

The unit is a mix of inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, a re ection of the nature of our
subject as it becomes more applied to real-world situations. Workshop in weeks  4, 7 and 10, at or
near the conclusion of each of section.

As this is a new course, a mock paper will be issued, and a further slot at the conclusion of the
course will be used to talk through the exam paper and answer any queries; all three teaching
sta should be present.
 

Aims
The unit aims to:

Equip students with the ability to do all of the things listed under Intended learning outcomes for
each of the three sections, on Polymer Chemistry, Homogeneous Catalysis, and F-block chemistry.
 

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course students should be able to:

Part 1

Apply knowledge of fundamental chemistry and fundamental reaction steps to the analysis
of homogeneously catalysed reactions.

Select appropriate combinations of ligands, metals and conditions to perform a given

reaction.

Interpret experimental data to inform hypotheses on mechanism of catalysed reactions.

Appraise advantages and disadvantages of homogeneous catalysis in comparison with

heterogeneous catalysis.

Part 2

Describe types of polymers by structure, composition, names and sources

/
 Explain the step growth polymerisation of polyesters, polyamides and high performance
polymers.

Explain the chain growth polymerisation of monomers by ionic, radical, and ring-opening 
mechanisms

Discuss the control in polymer form, molecular weight and architecture a orded by these
polymerisation processes.

Di erentiate between step-growth and chain-growth polymerisation processes and predict

the expected degree of polymerisation given the appropriate information.

Understand how to prepare many common types of polymers and how the polymerisation
conditions in uence the microstructure of the polymer backbone.

Propose suitable polymerisation processes given a starting monomer or desired polymer

structure.

Part 3

Describe the history, occurrence, synthesis, periodicity, and physicochemical properties of

the f-block elements.

Understand the electronic structure, oxidation states, radii, ionisation energies, redox
potentials, and chemical bonding of the f-block elements

Contextualise the f-block with respect to the rest of the Periodic Table.

Understand relativistic e ects and spin orbit coupling and the role they play in determining
the chemistry of the f-block elements.

Work out term symbols for the f-block elements and use this information to calculate free-
ion magnetic moments.

Rationalise optical spectroscopic data and compare and contrast to transition metal
analogues.

Demonstrate a knowledge of the general coordination and organometallic chemistry of the

f-block elements and be able to compare this to transition metal analogues.

Describe applications of the f-block elements in technology, catalysis, the nuclear industry,
and radiochemistry more widely.

Knowledge and understanding

Students should be able to:

Formulate synthetic strategies to target speci c ligand types, and predict the properties of
resultant coordination complexes and supramolecular species.

Understand the principles of organometallic chemistry which lead to applications in organic

synthesis and catalysis. /
 Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental chemistry and physical properties of the
4f and 5f elements.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

Problem solving. Evaluation of data.
 

Assessment methods
Method Weight

Written exam 100%

Feedback methods
Feedback through workshops and blackboard quizzes
 

Recommended reading
Part 1:

R. J. Young and P. A. Lovell, Introduction to Polymers, 3rd Ed. 2011, CRC press, Main Library
Blue Floor 3, 541. 7Y4, and Joule Library 547.84YOU or as e-book.

M. P. Stevens, Polymer Chemistry: An Introduction, 3rd Ed. 1999, OUP, Main Library Blue
Floor 3, 541.7, S78, and Joule Library 541.7STE.

For more depth: G. Odian, Principles of Polymerization, 4th Ed. 2004, Wiley, Main Library
541.7O7 or as e-book

Part 2:

R. H. Crabtree, The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition Metals, 5th Ed. Wiley, 2009.
Main Library Blue Floor 3, 547.056 C1, or as e-book.

Ch. Elschenbroich. Organometallics, 3rd Ed. Wiley-VCH, Main Library Blue Floor 3, 547.9 E2,
or as e-book

S. Bhaduri and D. Mukesh, Homogeneous Catalysis: Mechanisms and Industrial Applications.

Wiley, 2000, Joule Library 660.097BHA.

S. P. Nolan (Ed.), N-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Synthesis, Wiley, 2006, , Main Library Blue Floor
3, 547.1N22, or as e-book.
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Part 3:

S. Cotton, Lanthanide and Actinide Chemistry, 2006, Wiley, DOI:10.1002/0470010088

N. Kaltsoyannis and P. Scott, The f-elements, Oxford Chemistry Primers, No. 76

H. C. Aspinall, Chemistry of the f-block elements, CRC Press.

Study hours
Scheduled activity hours

Assessment written exam 2

Lectures 20

Practical classes & workshops 4

Independent study hours

Independent study 74

Teaching sta
Sta member Role

Francis Mair Unit coordinator

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