CH4515 Advanced Main Group Chemistry

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Curricular information may be subject to change

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr P Kilian

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr P Kilian, Dr A Stasch

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module discusses the importance of and structural similarities between rings, cages and clusters particularly in main group chemistry. The general rules for predicting geometry in cage/cluster systems will be introduced and used to provide a framework for the range of systems to be discussed e.g. boranes, Zintl anions, phosphides. Further advanced topics in s and p block chemistry will be introduced, for example the stabilisation of heavier main group multiple bonds, low coordinate main group element centres, biradicaloids and use of weakly coordinating anions.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS CH2501 AND PASS AT LEAST 1 MODULE FROM {CH2601, CH2603, CH2701}

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 100%

Re-assessment

Oral Re-assessment = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 - 3 lectures per week over 9 - 10 weeks (within Weeks 1-11) and 2 tutorials in total.

Scheduled learning hours

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

To know electron counting rules in clusters
To understand advanced bonding concepts and be able to analyse bonding using a variety of data
To know a variety of contemporary chemical concepts in main group chemistry
To understand and be able to solve problems using links between structure, bonding and reactivity for various main group compounds