27558 - Inorganic Chemistry and Laboratory

Academic Year 2025/2026

  • Moduli: Maria Carmela Iapalucci (Modulo 1) Rita Mazzoni (Modulo 2) Maria Carmela Iapalucci (Modulo 3)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2) Traditional lectures (Modulo 3)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Industrial Chemistry (cod. 6065)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will be familiar with the principles of inorganic chemistry by describing the most significant aspects of the structure, properties, and reactivity of inorganic compounds. Special attention is given to the chemistry of transition elements, organized by oxidation states to highlight the common properties of each class. The course aims, through numerical exercises and laboratory experiences, to provide fundamental knowledge and basic theoretical tools for understanding the relationships between the structure and properties of inorganic compounds. This includes learning operational methodologies and safety rules in the preparation of inorganic and coordination compounds, as well as some fundamental spectroscopic properties and applications.

Course contents

Prerequisites: ability to write chemical reactions; understanding of the equilibrium concepts, both homogeneous and heterogeneous. Knowledge of the chemical geometries and bonding properties of given chemical compounds. Thermodynamic concepts and spontaneous reactions. Basic laboratory skills: solution preparations, quantitative determination of reagent and product masses and reaction yields.

Program:

 The periodic chart and the atomic properties of the elements. Symmetry and use of the point group symmetry. Bonding models in Inorganic Chemistry: A) Ionic compounds B) covalent bond: valence bond and molecular orbital theory. The solid state: conductivity in ionic solids and in metals. The band theory. General properties of transition elements. The coordination chemistry: A) bonding, spectra and magnetism; B) Reactions, kinetics and mechanisms. The coordination numbers: octahedral, tetrahedral and square planar complexes. The low oxidation states and the organometallic compounds. The organometallic chemistry: reactions of carbonyl and olefine complexes. Main catalytic reactions by organometallic compounds.

Acidity of the cations; basicity of oxo anions and oxides. Polinuclear oxo anions: borates and silicates. Sol-gel synthesis of SiO2. The chemistry and reactions of the first transitions elements, from titanium to copper, in their stable oxidation states.

Readings/Bibliography

LA CHIMICA INORGANICA –M. WELLER; T. OVERTON; J. ROURKE; F. ARMSTRONG - Zanicchelli

CHIMICA INORGANICA - J.E. HUHEEY; E.A. KEITER; R.L. KEITER – Piccin

PRINCIPLES of INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - B.W. PFENNIG; - Wiley

Teaching methods

Teaching methods include: lectures, exercises and laboratory experiments. Exercises consist of numerical problems and case studies. These are intended to facilitate the review and extend comprehension of all topics. The lab experiences are designed for deepening the students' understanding of inorganic chemistry and, for their nature, constitute an important training for the manipulation of inorganic substances under safety conditions. The laboratory-activity attendance is mandatory for the final exam. At the end of the course all lab reports must be delivered.

Assessment methods

Assessment of the learning outcomes is carried out by a written test and an oral exam. The test, which includes problems, exercises and open answers, is passed with a score equal or higher than 18/30.

During the course, examples of problems and questions similar to those of the final exam are provided.

Access to oral exam is possible after passing the written test. Oral exam is aimed at evaluating the ability to correlate the nature and composition of inorganic compounds with their physico-chemical properties.

The final mark takes into consideration both theoretical and laboratory competences (with a contribution of 70% e 30%, respectively).

The final written test can be replaced by two tests taken during the course (one at about half of the program and the other at the end of the program). The average score of the two tests provides the final written mark.

Registration to the written and oral exams is required through “Alma Esami” web platform, in observation to the stated deadlines.

Teaching tools

Blackboard and PowerPoint presentations for lectures. Documents and slides are available to students on the platform

Office hours

See the website of Maria Carmela Iapalucci

See the website of Rita Mazzoni