CH4514 Advanced Metal Chemistry and Green Chemistry

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

10

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 J A McNulty

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

Module Staff

Dr J A McNulty, Dr A Kumar

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 covers the heavier d-block and f-block metals and also the theory behind bonding, magnetism and optoelectronic spectroscopy in d-block metal complexes. At the end of the module students should be in a position to understand fully the nature of bonding in d- and f-block metal systems, to understand the optoelectronic spectra of d-block complexes and to rationalise trends in chemical properties both down and across the periodic table. This course will also give an overview of various applications of transition-metal catalysts in the development of sustainable chemical processes to impact hydrogen economy, methanol economy, and circular economy.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

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

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE CH4455

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 - 3 tutorials in total.

Scheduled learning hours

20

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

Guided independent study hours

80

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand why electron transfer reactions are important, what are the inner sphere and outer sphere mechanisms of electron transfer and what methods are useful to study them
  • Discuss the mechanisms involved in the monooxygenation and oxygen transport mechanisms of heme proteins and type III copper proteins and to discuss the reduction of dinitrogen by nitrogenases.
  • Discuss the use of bioinorganic model complexes for rationalising the essential features of catalytic metalloproteins.
  • Explain the concepts behind the chemistry of the 4d and 5d transition elements, the radial and angular expansion in the d-orbitals and the role played by relativistic effects
  • Explain the photophysical properties typical 4d and 5d metal complexes and the concepts behind photoredox catalysis using 4d and 5d metal complexes as photocatalysts
  • Explain the physical properties, coordination chemistry and electronic configuration of the lanthanides and actinides including trends observed across the periodic table, term symbols, micro-states, radioactive character and the nature of absorption and emission

Awards

Golden Dandelion Award for excellence in Education for Sustainable Development

This module exhibits an excellent method to embed sustainability within other learning: by focussing a project around reporting on St Andrews’ sustainability effort, it both meets the module goals of teaching communication and listening in academic contexts, and exposes students to real-world issues in sustainability. This module has been awarded the Golden Dandelion Award in 2023.

You can find out about all Golden Dandelion modules