Coordination chemistry

Lecturer:

Prof. Wendy L. Queen (http://lfim.epfl.ch/) - Coordination Chemistry

Teaching Assistants:      

Timo Felder: timo.felder@epfl.ch

Olivier Smith: olivier.smith@epfl.ch       

Objectives: To learn fundamental knowledge of coordination compounds, with an emphasis on transition metal complexes.

Content
1. Coordination complexes: definitions, structure, nomenclature, and isomers
2. The preparation and stability of complexes: ligand substitution, thermodynamic stability, hard-soft acid-base theory, structural aspects of stability
3. Bonding in coordination compounds: atomic orbitals (reminder), crystal filed theory, ligand field theory, molecular orbitals
4. Properties of coordination compounds: optical properties and magnetic properties

Reference Books
Chapters 9 -11 in Inorganic Chemistry, International Edition, Third Edition, by Gary L. Miessler and Donald A. Tarr, Pearson Education International, 2004. Available at the lelivre.ch; Available at the EPFL Library.

Language tools
Dictionary for chemistry terms (English-French)
The EU's Multilingual Term Base: http://iate.europa.eu/iatediff/SearchByQueryLoad.do?method=load
Québec's Grand Dictionnaire Terminologique: http://www.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/ressources/gdt.html

Rule

Please refrain from talking about non-relevant topics during the class, as a courtesy to other students.