The main purpose of this course is to provide the student with a deep understanding of the direct link that exists between the chemical properties of a given element with its position in the periodic table: by the end of this course, the student should be able to relate the electronic configuration of an element with its chemical behaviour (i.e. reactivity, common oxidation states, known stable compounds, etc).



- Special stress is placed in the acid-base and redox reactivity. By the end of the year, the student should be familiar with new tools used in the study of this type of equilibria (such as Frost and Pourbaix diagrams) and, most importantly, be able to relate them with the electronic properties of the different elements.



- An introduction is made to the chemical, magnetic and spectroscopic properties of the d and f series. The purpose is, once again, to show the student how the periodic table determines, not just the chemical, but also the physical behaviour of an element as well as to give him/her a flavour of the rich phenomenology encountered in these systems.



In doing so, by sweeping across the periodic table, the student should also familiarize himself/herself with the most common reactions and industrial processes each element is normally associated with. The idea is to allow the student to establish a relationship between the basic concepts introduced along the course and the ‘real world’, both in research and industry.



At the same time, the course should help improve the student’s capability to select the appropriate instrumental techniques to carry out the characterization of a given chemical substance, as well as enhance the student's ability to present scientific results, both written and orally, in a comprehensible manner.



Finally, the course also aims at helping the student develop the ability to search/filter/use the relevant information for his/her work as a chemist from traditional sources such as books and journals as well as the internet.

1. Introduction. The interdisciplinary nature of modern Inorganic Chemistry.

2. Acid-base equilibria. General concepts. Strength of an acid (base). Lewis´ definition of an acid/base. Pearson´s concept of hard/soft acid/bases.

3. Non-aqueous media.

4. Redox equilibria. General concepts. Latimer and Frost diagrams. Predominance Pourbaix diagrams. Stability of the different oxidation states of a given element in aqueous solutions.

5. Atomic properties. General trends across the Periodic Table.

6. Hydrogen. Hydrides.

7. S block elements: alkalines and alkaline earths.

8. P block elements: general trends. Boron and its group. Carbon and its group. Nitrogen and its group. Oxygen and its group. The halogens.

9. The d block:

- Coordination chemistry: Concept. Bonding and structure. Magnetic and spectroscopic properties: introduction.

- The first transition series. General trends.

- The second and third transition series.

10. The f block: the lanthanides and actinides. General trends. Introduction to their chemistry.

La asignatura se compone de 45 h presenciales de clases magistrales y 45 h presenciales de prácticas de aula y seminarios, en las que se realizarán ejercicios, problemas y defensa de trabajos.

30 % - Continuous evaluation (assignments and exercises at the end of each module)

70 % - Final examination



Minimum mark in each section above: 4/10

Basic bibliography

C. E. Housecroft y A. G. Sharpe, Química Inorgánica. 2ª ed., Pearson Educación, Madrid (2006).

G. Rayner-Canham, Química Inorgánica Descriptiva. 2ª ed. Pearson Education, Mexico (2000).

In-depth bibliography

- P. Atkins, T. Overton, J. Rourke, M. Weller y F. Armstrong. Shriver & Atkins: Química Inorgánica. 4ª ed., Mc Graw-Hill, México (2008).
- M.A. Ciriano y P. Román, Nomenclatura de Quimica Inorgánica. Recomendaciones de La IUPAC de 2005, Prensas Universitarias de Zaragoza (2007).
- F.A. Cotton y G. Wilkinson, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. 6ª ed., Wiley & Sons, New York (1999). Traducción de la 4ª ed. en Castellano, Limusa-Wiley, México (1986).
- N.N. Greenwood y A. Earnshaw, The Chemistry of the Elements. 2ª ed., Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford (1997).
- A.F. Hollemann y E. Wiberg, Inorganic chemistry. Academic Press, San Diego (2001).
- J.E. Huheey, E.A. Keiter, R.L. Keiter, Inorganic Chemistry: Principles of Structure and Reactivity. 4ª ed., Harper Collins Publishers, New York (1997).
- J.D. Lee, Concise Inorganic Chemistry. 6ª ed., Chapman & Hall, London (1996).

Journals

Journal of Chemical Education