CH4253/CH4203 Inorganic Chemistry 2- Autumn Semester

Inorganic chemistry 2 examines the periodic table. We describe and explain the main features of the chemistry of the main group elements (s and p block) in relation to position in the Periodic Table and allow the students to understand the principles underlying the chemistry of metallic elements in the s-, p-, d- and f- block elements and to describe and explain the main features of this chemistry in relation to position in the Periodic Table. The module also introduces students to the chemistry of transition metal complexes.

Periodic table of elements with color-coded groups and atomic numbers.

Periodic table divided into groups. Students are taught how to use the periodic table to predict chemical properties of the elements in compounds

Periodic table of elements with groups color-coded: green for nonmetals, red for transition metals, blue for lanthanides and actinides, yellow for metalloids, purple for other metals.

Elemental crustal abundance shown on a logarithmic scale. Common rock forming elements are in the top left, with rarer elements shown in yellow area.

Periodic table of elements showing element symbols, atomic numbers, and electronegativity values.

Electronegativity table showing the overall trend. Electronegativity is a powerful property for the prediction of bond types.

CH4305 Analytical Chemistry 3-Autumn Semster

Examination of the importance of crystallography and basics (Crystal Systems, Unit Cells, Planes & Directions in Crystals, Atomic co-ordinates, 2D & 3D lattices, Bravais lattices, hexagonal lattices, directions in a lattice, Miller indices ,Molecular weight of large molecules). Introduction to space groups & symmetry, crystal symmetry, point groups, space groups, symmetry related properties. X-Ray diffraction: principles of operation, indexing diffraction patterns, systematic absences for structure elucidation, intensity of diffraction lines, theory and calculation, Scherrer equation, Line shape in X-ray diffraction, particle size-particle shape analysis. Electron Microscopy: Uses of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), what can it tell us, principles of operation, Diffraction: The reciprocal lattice, Ewald sphere, electron diffraction, Non stoichiometry in lattices Other analytical techniques- (EDX,EELS), Scanning Electron Microscopy-principles and uses

A 3x3 grid of small cubes illustrating different orientations of the cube with various highlighted diagonal planes, labeled with binary coordinates such as (001), (100), (010), (101), (110), (011), (111), (-111), and (-112).

Different cubic crystallographic planes shown in 3D

Close-up of a textured black surface with two white arrows pointing towards the right and the words 'SI' and 'Ge' on the bottom right.

TEM image of Si/SiGe interface shown with atomic resolution

A black and white transmission electron microscope image showing labeled silver nanocrystals (200, 111, 022) on a surface with a scale bar of 2 nanometers.

Electron diffractogram, showing indexed planes

Bragg’s law visualization, showing the principle behind XRD operation

CH6002-Challenges in Materials Science-Spring Semester

Masters module based around exposing students to cutting edge research and the materials science research landscape. Aligned to the Bernal Institute Research Seminar Series, with guest lecturers and lectures from Hugh around the timeline of materials science, the evolution of materials analysis and characterization, energy materials research, research publishing and the practical aspects of research groups and centers.

Schematic of Li-ion battery, highlighting the cathode active material, LCO

Schematic diagram of a typical Li-ion battery, highlighting the cathode active material LCO

Image of periodic table which is altered to reflect elemental abundance

Periodic table, in altered form to show elemental abundance. The elements used in a typical smartphone are highlighted.

The UN sustainable development goals table

The UN sustainable development goals, which are strongly linked to progress in materials science and can guide future technology developments

CH4252 Inorganic Chemistry 1-Spring Semester

Introduction to inorganic chemistry. Lewis structures and VSEPR theory. Covalent bonding: simple molecular orbital treatment for diatomic molecules; valence bond theory. Hybridisation, resonance and electron delocalisation. Comparison of valence bond and molecular orbital approaches. Polarity in bonds. Bonding in transition metal complexes: crystal field and ligand field theory. Relationship between structure, bonding and properties in solids: metallic, ionic, molecular and covalent solids. Structure of metals and close-packing. Structures of simple compounds in terms of close-packing. Ionic crystals: Factors affecting crystal structure; ionic radii, radius ratio and its importance; Madelung constants and estimation of lattice energies; the Born Haber cycle. Influence of bonding on the physical properties of materials is emphasised throughout the module.

Diagram showing different molecular geometries: linear, trigonal planar with 120° angles, bent, trigonal pyramidal with 109.5° angles, and tetrahedral with 109.5° angles. Each shape is represented with ball-and-stick models with pink and white balls.

VSEPR shapes for different numbers of electron pairs and lone pairs

Octahedral transition metal complex, with central metal ion and 6 surrounding ligands

hexagonal close packing arrangement with ABABAB stacking

ABABAB- Hexagonal close packing structure

Bond types- ionic, covalent and metallic and their comparison in terms of electron behaviour