Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives On the completion of this subject students should understand the basic concepts of valency; understand the way in which atomic and molecular orbitals are used to explain and predict atomic and molecular properties; comprehend the fundamental ideas of electronic and vibrational spectroscopy; know the relationships between orbital theory, spectroscopy and atomic and molecular properties; review of some of the techniques commonly used for analysis of environmental pollutants; describe atomic and molecular spectroscopic techniques and their application to analyses of sediments, waters, air and biota, and the use of high-performance liquid chromatography and ion chromatography for separation and analysis of organic and inorganic pollutants; appreciate that an understanding of the chemistry of carbon compounds is essential to understanding chemistry; have knowledge of the reactions which organic compounds undergo and an understanding of how and why these reactions take place, given that many reactions proceed through reactive intermediates; review and provide an appreciation of (1) ligands and ligand behaviour, (2) transition metal chemistry, and (3) the nomenclature of coordination compounds, (4) bonding in transition metal complexes, (5) stability, electronic spectra and magnetic properties of transition metal complexes.
Synopsis There are four topics discussed in first semester and special attention is given to environmental analytical chemistry, coordination chemistry focusing on the rich chemistry of the transition elements, the chemistry of reactive intermediates in organic reactions and the development of approaches to understanding bonding and the spectroscopic properties of molecules. A detailed subject outline will be available at enrolment.
Assessment Examinations (2 x 2.5 hours): 70% + Laboratory work: 30%