Topics for Inorganic Chemistry Orientation Exam for Incoming Graduate Students
- Atomic Stucture
- Particle in a Box
- Bohr atom & quantization
- Quantum mechanics and quantum numbers
- n, prinicipal quantum number
- l, azimuthal or angular momentum quantum number
- ml, magnetic quantum number
- ms, spin quantum number
- Orbitals
- Electron configurations (e.g. Al = [Ne]3s23p1)
- Aufbau (building up) principle
- Exceptions to the Aufbau principle
- Relationships (Trends) between Electron Configuarations and the Periodic Table
- Groups (Families) and Periods
- alkali metals
- alkaline earth metals
- chalcogens
- halogens
- noble gases
- Representative Elements or Main Group
- transition metals
- lanthanides
- actinides
- metalloids or semi-metals
- Atomic radii
- Lanthanide contraction
- First ionization energies
- Electron affinities
- electronegativities
- Prediction of stable oxidation states using electron configurations
- Acid-Base Chemistry
- Acidic, Basic and Amphoteric Oxides (i.e. Acidic, Basic and Amphoteric Anhydrides)
- Acid-Base Definitions
- Arrhenius Acid and Base defintions
- Bronsted-Lowry Acid and Base definitions
- Lewis Acid and Base defintions
- Concept of hard and soft acid and bases
- Predicting strength of oxyacids
- Oxidation-Reduction Chemistry (Redox)
- Balancing redox equations
- Identifying the reducing and oxidizing agents in a reaction
- Inner-sphere and outer sphere electron transfer
- Bonding and Stucture
- Definiton of Ionic Bonding
- Born-Haber cycles for the formation of ionic substances
- lattice energies
- Definition of Covalent Bonding
- Coordinate Covalent bonding (dative bonding)
- Lewis Dot structures of compounds of the Main Group
- Valence Bond Theory (Hybrid Orbital Theory)
- Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory for the prediction of structure
- Polar and Non-polar Molecules
- Simple Molecular Orbital Schemes (Molecular Orbital Theory)
- Solubility rules (aqueous) for simple inorganic salts
- Chemical kinetics
- Chemical equilibrium
- Simple thermochemistry
- Electrochemistry
- Organometallic Chemistry of the Main Group
- Coordination Chemistry
- ligand types
- monodentate ligands
- neutral and anionic ligands
- σ donor ligands
- π-acceptor (π-acid) ligands
- multidentate (chelating) ligands
- Common geometries of complexes
- Isomers
- coordination sphere isomers
- stereochemical siomers (geometric isomers)
- cis-trans
- fac-mer
- optical isomers
- polymerization isomers
- linkage isomers
- Mechanisms and catalysis in inorganic chemistry
- oxidative addition
- reductive elimination
- &beta-hydride elimination
- Insertion of and alkene into M-H or M-R bond
- Heterolytic splitting of hydrogen using early transition metals
- Homolytic splitting of hydrogen by lae transition metals via oxidative addition
- Hydrogenation of alkenes
- Hydroformylation
- Isomerization of alkenes via chain-walking
- Hydrozirconation
- anti-Markownikoff and Markownikoff additions
- Wacker process
- Alkene (olefin) metathesis
- Relationship of kinetics and reaction mechanisms
- General theory of infrared spectroscopy
- Electronic spectra (UV-visible spectoscopy)
- Spectrochemical theory
- Crystal field theory
- Ligand field theory
- Reduced Racah parameters
- Claculation of ΔO (10 DqO)
- Tanabe-Sugano diagrams
- Properties of Solid State Materials
- Band theory
- Conductors
- Insulators
- Semi-conductors
- Band Gaps
- Design and manufacture of solid state devices
- diodes, n-p and p-n junctions
- transistors, n-p-n and p-n-p devices
- Metal oxide semidconductors and Field efect Transistors (MOS-FET)
Reference books for study:
- Ebbing, D. and Gammon, S., "General Chemistry," 7th Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, NY (2002).
- Shriver, D. F.; Atkins, P.; and Langford, C. H., "Inorganic Chemistry," 2nd edition or newer, W. H. Freeman and Company, New
York, NY (1994).
If you have any questions, they may be directed to delaney@mcneese.edu.