CH1IN1: Fundamentals of Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

Module code: CH1IN1

Module provider: Chemistry; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Michael Piperakis, email: m.m.piperakis@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental principles of inorganic chemistry. The module will introduce core aspects of atomic structure including the electronic structures of atoms and their quantum numbers. Key bonding theories used to describe chemical bonding in various elements/compounds, and the prediction of the shapes of polyatomic molecules, will be explored. Students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of solid-state chemistry; the structures of some common metals and ionic solids will be examined. Trends in the chemical and physical properties of elements across periods and down groups in the periodic table will be discussed; the chemistries of associated elements will be illustrated with examples. Key concepts of solution chemistry will be introduced and discussed, focusing on acid/base chemistry and electrochemistry.

The module content will provide students with a solid foundation of core inorganic chemistry for the remainder of the course.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Recognise and apply principles of atomic structure and chemical bonding to atoms and key inorganic molecules.
2. Recognise and compare simple solid-state structures and identify the interactions in metallic or ionic solids.
3. Predict and explain the chemical and physical properties of elements in the s, p and d-blocks of the periodic table.
4. Describe and explain the acid/base and redox properties of species in solution and calculate relevant parameters.

Module content

Atomic Structure (5 lectures, 1 workshop & 1 revision session)

The structure of the atom. Quantum numbers and their significance. Shapes of atomic orbitals. Radial distribution functions and penetration and shielding effects. The Pauli exclusion principle. The Aufbau principle, Hund’s rule and electronic configurations. The atomic spectrum of hydrogen. Ionisation energies and electronegativity.

Bonding and Shapes of Molecules (5 lectures, 2 workshops & 1 revision session)

The Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals (LCAO) approach to generating molecular orbitals. Molecular-orbital formation for homo- and heteronuclear diatomic molecules. Molecular-orbital energy level diagrams. The concept of bond order and its relationship to bond length. Comparison of Molecular Orbital theory with Valence Bond theory. VSEPR theory and the shapes of simple molecules. Dipole moments.

Solid-State Chemistry (5 lectures, 2 workshops & 1 revision session)

Structures of the metallic elements described in terms of packing of metal atoms, including cubic packing and close packing. The structures of ionic solids derived from cubic and hexagonal close packing. Radius ratio rules and their use in predicting structures. The ionic model and the concept of lattice energies. The Kapustinskii equation. The use of Born-Haber cycles to calculate lattice energies.

The Periodic Table (5 lectures, 1 workshop (2h) & 1 revision session)

The chemical and physical properties of s, p and d-block elements in the periodic table. Trends in properties of elements (e.g. ionisation energy, electron affinity, electronegativity, etc.) across periods and down groups (periodicity). The chemistry of s- and p-block elements, with examples taken from various groups.

Solution Chemistry (5 lectures, 1 workshop (2h) & 1 revision session)

Brønsted and Lewis theory for acids and bases. Calculation of parameters such as pH, pKa, etc. for acids and simple bases; calculation of oxoacid pKa values using Pauling’s rules. Conjugate acid and base pairs. Effects of non-aqueous solvents on pH ranges and on pKa values. Oxidation-reduction processes and associated half-equations and full redox equations. The electrochemical series and the definition of Eθ. Use of Eθ to determine spontaneity of redox processes under standard and non-standard conditions (Nernst equation).

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Module content will be delivered through in-person lectures. Each of the five module topics will be accompanied by formative workshops (compulsory) to practice and reinforce the material covered in the lectures. In addition, a problem-based tutorial sheet, covering all topics in the course, will be issued during the second half of the semester. This tutorial will be summative. Students will submit written answers, which will be marked. The mark will contribute to the overall module mark. Feedback on the marked work will be provided to small groups of students through a tutorial (compulsory) during week 11 of the semester. There will be a total of 5 hours of revision workshops towards the end of the semester in preparation for the written examination.

Study hours

At least 25 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will receive feedback on their work during the workshop sessions.

Feedback from the summative tutorial exercise will also support students in preparing for the in-person exam that will follow.

Reassessment

Additional costs