Module Catalogue 2024/25

NES8407 : Modern aspects of inorganic chemistry

NES8407 : Modern aspects of inorganic chemistry

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Keith Izod
  • Lecturer: Professor Andrew Houlton, Professor Marina Freitag
  • Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (NES3407 or NES3403) to be completed.

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To present a series of short courses on advanced topics in contemporary inorganic chemistry; to show how fundamental aspects of inorganic chemistry are being used to develop new concepts in chemistry and how these are applied in modern chemical industry.

This module shows how concepts learnt in earlier stages of the student’s studies are used in modern inorganic chemistry with an emphasis on contemporary research topics. The module will comprise 3 different, but related, aspects of inorganic chemistry

Outline Of Syllabus

Material will cover aspects of structure, bonding and reactivity of compounds of the lanthanide elements. This will include their isolation and their applications in a wide variety of fields such as medical imaging and synthesis. The application of inorganic systems to energy materials chemistry will also be presented. Students will further be exposed to characterisation techniques that they will not have covered in earlier modules and will learn how these are used to identify molecular and solid-state materials.

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

• understand the fundamental chemistry of the f-block elements
• be aware of the ways in which inorganic compounds can be designed to give rise to commercially important new
materials
• be aware of the application of some of the less common spectroscopic and structural methods used to analyse
inorganic compounds

Intended Skill Outcomes

Subject specific or professional skills, able to:
• apply specialist techniques to elucidate the structure and bonding in inorganic compounds

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion31:003:00Formative assessment completion.
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion123:0023:00Background reading around all topics covered in the module
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion361:0036:00Revision for semester 1 assessment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion12:002:00Examination Semester 1
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials361:0036:00A combination of traditional and flipped lectures each week.
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This module presents a diverse range of topics in inorganic chemistry. Some of the topics build on modules presented at Stage 3 but take the topic to a more advanced level. Others are topics to which the student has never been exposed before. All of the topics represent contemporary research areas in inorganic chemistry and are suitable for advanced students wanting to specialise in inorganic (or allied) chemistry. Students will acquire their knowledge and understanding through lecture materials and discussion with the module team.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1201A100Formal examination at end of semester 1
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Prob solv exercises1MOnline Canvas quizzes.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessment, at the end of semester 1, will assess the student's knowledge and understanding of selected topics in inorganic chemistry.

Formative assessment to allow students to receive feedback during the module.

Study Abroad students may request to take their exam before the semester 1 exam period, in which case the format of the paper may differ from that shown in the MOF. Study Abroad students should contact the school to discuss this.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

Original Handbook text:

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.