Inorganic Chemistry Premaster Course

Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

Electronic structure, structural properties of inorganic compounds, substitution reaction in inorganic chemistry, redox chemistry, organometallic chemistry.

Study materials

Literature

• Weller, Overton, Rourke, Armstrong, `Inorganic Chemistry', 8th Ed., Oxford University Press, Oxford, ISBN 978-0-19-886691-6.

Objectives

• To provide the correct IUPAC name of a compound from formula and vice versa.
• To apply crystal field, atomic and molecular orbital theory to simple inorganic compounds.
• To find, starting from formula or molecular structure, the electron count, symmetry, electronic configuration of coordination compounds.
• To describe the bonding in inorganic molecules and ions based on crystal field and ligand field parameters
• To obtain and draw orbital energy diagrams for inorganic molecules of high symmetry.
• To calculate energies and ligand field stabilization energies from crystal field and ligand field theory and some of their implications and use in inorganic and coordination chemistry, e.g. bonding, spectra.
• To analyze and construct reaction mechanisms and reaction kinetics of ligand exchange reactions and redox reactions of metal complexes.
• To estimate the relative reactivity of organometallic compounds based on the 18-electron rule, trans-effect, HASB theory, crystal field theory and MO models.
• To reproduce several examples of the crucial role that transition metal complexes play in catalysis.
• To explain and elaborate all of the above in the light of the basic theoretical knowledge acquired.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Self-study
• Seminar

Learning activities

Assessment

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Additional information

The course serves to rehearse and familiarize HLO/HBO bachelors with the most important concepts and knowledge concerning basic inorganic chemistry, in order to reach the necessary level of knowledge to successfully digest the material in several courses of the Master Chemistry.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. Stefania Grecea