General Remarks:

• This course is designed to help students build on the fundamental principles of general and physical chemistry, as related to the area of Inorganic Chemistry. A variety of topics will be covered, inclusive of solution and solid state inorganic chemistry. Trends in the periodic table will be discussed and the student should "FAMILIARIZE" himself/herself with the names, symbols and locations of the elements on the periodic table as soon as possible since periodic tables will not be allowed during examinations or quizzes.

• ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THIS COURSE ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF GMU's HONOR CODE POLICY. STUDENTS THAT COMMIT HONOR CODE VIOLATIONS AND/OR HAVE KNOWLEDGE, YET FAIL TO REPORT THE OFFENSE, WILL BE REPORTED TO THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.

 

• Grading :

  • The final grade in this course will be based on a percentage of points earned relative to total possible points (i.e. 775). Listed below is the point distribution for examinations, quizzes and the final examination. However, an absolute grading scale cannot be determined until all scores have been compiled and evaluated. In order to optimize your overall performance use the following scale as a rule of thumb, keeping in mind that the scale is subject to change during the course of the semester:  100-90% (A); 89-80% (B); 79-70% (C); <69% (D or F).   Since this course is geared toward CHEMISTRY MAJORS it is expected that only grades of B^- and above will be awarded at the end of the semester. This course is a prerequisite for CHEM 445 - Inorganic Preps Lab, which means students must earn a grade of C or higher in order to register for CHEM 445 in the following Spring Semester.  If you experience extreme difficulties with the course material early on during the semester do not hesitate to contact or JOIN A STUDY GROUP.

  • The final grade in this course will only be changed in the case of a grading error. Only the instructor of record is authorized to change the grade. Any grading concerns should be discussed directly with the instructor of record.
  • Final grades will not be adjusted because late homework assignments are finally turned in. Any work submitted on the day of the final exam or afterwards will not be considered in the calculation of the grade.
  • It is your responsibility to make sure that grades posted in Blackboard accurately reflect the graded material that has been returned to you. Do not wait until the end of the semester to address these matters. Material presented in this manner will not be considered in calculation of the final grade.

  Examinations I, II, III (125 pts each)	375 points	45.46%
  Quizzes + Homework	200 points	24.24%
  Final Exam (Cumulative ACS)	250 points	30.30%
  Total	825 points	100%

• Exam Policy:

  • Hourly exams: Three hourly exams will be given during the semester. All exam scores will be used in determining the final grade. Make up exams will not be given.  Periodic tables will not be allowed during exams and quizzes.

  • ALL cell phones and communication devices are to be turned off, properly secured and stored away BEFORE the exams begin. If I find (see or hear) a cell phone on a student during an exam, the student will receive an automatic "F" for the exam, since this is an honor code violation and the matter referred to the Office of Academic Integrity. The recommendation will be for the student to receive a grade of "F" for the entire course. If another student observes the violation or has knowledge of the offense, yet fails to report it, he/she may also be accused of violating the honor code. Students should not place themselves in a position that appears to support collusion in the honor code violation activity. All parties will be referred to the honor committee with sanctions levied based on the number of offenses and judgements determined by the honor committee. Keep in mind at all times that GMU is an Honor Code university.
  • Any form of cheating on the final exam will result in an automatic "F" for the course.
  • Programmable calculators and electronic media storage devices are not allowed for exams---NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
• • Final exam: The final exam, cumulative and multiple choice, is written by the American Chemical Society.
  • Quizzes & Homework:   Quizzes and homework will be given during the semester that vary in point value. The objective of the quizzes is to "encourage" regular and timely review of the material being discussed, rather than waiting until the night before the hourly exam and attempting an all-nighter. 
  • Suggested homework problems from each chapter will be posted on Blackboard. The suggested problems will not be collected for grading purposes.
  • REQUIRED HOMEWORK PROBLEM SETS will be graded. Those will be specified on Blackboard.
  • Sample exams and a quiz can be found on Blackboard.
  • Students enrolled in this course must activate their GMU email accounts to receive important University information, including messages related to this class. I will only reply to email received from students that use their GMU email accounts.

  Departmental seminars are usually held at 4:30 p.m. each Thursday.  Speakers and locations will be posted throughout Planetary Hall.  Attendance is strongly recommended, especially for chemistry majors.  Senior chemistry majors should also consider registering for the undergraduate seminar course CHEM 490 to receive credit. Chemistry and biochemistry majors should also consider joining the local student affiliate chapter of the ACS (GMU Chemistry Club) as well as ACS. 

  COS

  Resources

  Chemistry Links

  Materials Research Society Bulletin (MRS Bulletin)

  Journal of Solid State Chemistry

  Solid State Communications

   

   

  The textbook for the course is  Inorganic Chemistry, 4th edition, Gary L. Miessler and Donald A. Tarr, Prentice-Hall, Inc.

   

   

  "Tentative Lecture Syllabus"

  Lectures	Chapter	Reading (text pages) 4th edition
  	2: Atomic Structure	34-47
  	September 2	Labor Day holiday; university closed
  	3: Simple Bonding Theory	51-78
  	4: Symmetry and Group Theory	81-96; 102-120
  	4: Symmetry and Group Theory	81-96; 102-120
  	7: The Crystalline Solid State	220-235; 236-246
  	7: The Crystalline Solid State; XRD characterization of solids; techniques and applications	Refer to powerpoint slides on Blackboard.
  	7: The Crystalline Solid State	220-235; 236-246
  	Columbus Day Recess is Oct. 14th	No class on October 15th; Tuesday classes & labs do not meet.
  Oct. 1	Exam I	Ch. 2,3,4,7
  	6: Acid-Base and Donor-Acceptor Chemistry	175-198;199-216
  	9: Coordination Chemistry I (9.1 - 9.3)
  	10: Coordination Chemistry II - Bonding
  Oct. 31	Exam II	Ch. 6,9, 10
  	11: Coordination Chemistry III - Electronic Spectra
  	11: Coordination Chemistry III - Electronic Spectra
  Nov. 26	Exam III	Ch. 10, 11
  Nov. 27-Dec. 1	Thanksgiving Recess	No class
  	12: Coordination Chemistry IV - Reactions & Mechanisms
  	13: Organometallic Chemistry
  	14: Organometallic Reactions and Catalysis
  Dec. 17	FINAL EXAM 10:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. (time block allocated by GMU; actual time will vary based on specifications stated for the exam by the American Chemical Society)	Cumulative ACS Exam

   

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