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Inorganic Synthesis Laboratory

Code: 105041
Credits: 3
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Chemistry OB 3

Contact lecturer

Name :
Oscar Palacios Bonilla
Email :
oscar.palacios@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

As defined in the objectives, this subject is the experimental continuation of the theoretical subject "Coordination Chemistry and Organometallics". Knowledge acquired in the subject "Structural Determination" will also be put into practice. For this reason, it is highly recommended that the student has passed or taken these subjects during the first semester of the same academic year. On the other hand, as these theoretical subjects of 3rd year are based on the knowledge acquired in the subject of 2nd year "Chemistry of the Elements", it is essential to have also passed this subject to study the "Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis". It should be noted that the reactions that the student will perform and the compounds that he will synthesize and analyze are part of the contents of the theoretical subjects mentioned and, consequently, both in the laboratory sessions and in the evaluation of this course, these contents are they take for granted.

Objectives

The aim of this experimental subject is twofold. On the one hand, to reinforce, by means of a series of experiments of synthesis and characterization of compounds, the understanding of the concepts developed in the asignatura "Coordination Chemistry and Organometallics", that the student has cursado in the first semester. On the other hand, being this the last experimental subject focused on chemical synthesis, it complements the laboratories that the student has taken as part of the subjects of 2nd year, "Structure and Reactivity of Organic Compounds" and "Chemistry of the Elements" . In this way, the subject "Inorganic Synthesis Laboratory" provides students with a solid training in a good number of advanced synthetic techniques, more difficult than those that are part of the laboratories linked to the 2nd year subjects.

The subject consists of a set of laboratory practices in which the student will synthesize and characterize a series of compounds. These have been selected with the aim of covering as many synthetic experimental techniques as possible and the widest variety of inorganic compounds, within the time available.

The synthetic training will be complemented by the use of some instrumental techniques (IR, UV and NMR spectroscopy) that students will use in the characterization of the compounds. In this sense, the knowledge obtained in the subject "Structural determination", studied in the first semester of 3rd, will be used. In addition, as in all laboratory courses, learning safety rules and waste treatment is also an essential part of student training. In particular, in this course, the student will have to
become familiar with the handling of hazardous substances.

Learning outcomes

  1. Communicate orally and in writing in one's own language.
  2. Manage the organisation and planning of tasks.
  3. Resolve problems and make decisions.
  4. Obtain information, including by digital means.
  5. Manage, analyse and synthesise information.
  6. Work in a team and show concern for interpersonal relations at work.
  7. Operate with a certain degree of autonomy and integrate quickly in the work setting.
  8. Reason in a critical manner
  9. Be ethically committed.
  10. Adapt to new situations.
  11. Propose creative ideas and solutions.
  12. Show initiative and an enterprising spirit.
  13. Show motivation for quality.
  14. Show sensitivity for environmental issues.
  15. Deduce the stable electronic configurations of an organometallic compound.
  16. Recognise the specific terminology of inorganic chemistry to communicate professionally.
  17. Relate bond theory and the models of inorganic chemistry with the reactivity of elements and their compounds.
  18. Relate knowledge about the structure and reactivity of the elements and chemical compounds with their method or methods of obtainment and/or purification.
  19. Classify compounds by their most important reactivity characteristics: acid/base and oxidant/reductant.
  20. Recognise the electronic spectrums of coordination compounds.
  21. Order the most common ligands (or the ligands chosen as representative examples) by their properties (donor and/or accepter capacity, spectrochemical series).
  22. Apply the acquired theoretical contents to the explanation of experimental phenomena.
  23. Critically evaluate experimental results and deduce their meaning.
  24. Analyse situations and problems in the field of organic and inorganic chemistry, and propose answers or experimental studies using bibliographic sources.
  25. Develop the habits and skills of a laboratory.
  26. Observe the physical and chemical properties of different substances.
  27. Synthesise and purify a compound chemical.
  28. Follow standard laboratory procedures.
  29. Perform a synthetic and analytic study to determine chemical and physical properties using instructions supplied for a detailed procedure.
  30. Identify the main reagents in a laboratory and their commercial presentation.
  31. Manipulate the main reagents and dissolvents in a chemistry laboratory.
  32. Observe the reactivity and behaviour of representative compounds in the laboratory.
  33. Prepare inorganic compounds with coordination bonds.
  34. Prepare inorganic compounds with metal-carbon bonds.
  35. Prepare solid state inorganic compounds.
  36. Determine the performance of a reaction.
  37. Characterise synthesised compounds using physical and spectroscopic methods.
  38. Draft a laboratory logbook containing descriptions of the developed procedures, the observations made, the results obtained, the interpretation of the same and the conclusions.
  39. Use spectroscopy devices to confirm experimental results.
  40. Use the basic materials of a chemical laboratory.
  41. Handle instruments to record different types of spectrums.
  42. Perform standard tests on which the results obtained are based.
  43. Innovate methods for adaptation to the interpretation of a specific molecular structure.
  44. Use standard instruments and material in chemical laboratories for analysis and synthesis in the field of inorganic chemistry.
  45. Use graphic design programs to draw chemical formulas and their reactions.
  46. Use suitable strategies for the safe elimination of reagents.
  47. Recognise potentially dangerous reagents and dissolvents.
  48. Safely handle inflammable, toxic and/or corrosive reagents.
  49. Safely dispose of waste from chemical reactions.
  50. Evaluate risks in the use of chemicals and laboratory procedures.
  51. Work safely in the laboratory while following the adequate procedure.
  52. Describe basic safety regulations.
  53. Follow safety procedures in the chemistry laboratory.
  54. Use safety equipment properly.
  55. Recognise the use of each reagent in the laboratory and take appropriate safety precautions in each case (special goggles and/or gloves, extractor hood, gas mask, etc.).
  56. Recognise potential risks in the laboratory before they are produced.
  57. Identify the risks of synthetic reagents.
  58. Interpret the safety notes on chemistry products.
  59. Perform correct evaluations of the health risks and environmental impact of magnetic fields.
  60. Selectively distinguish the rejection of reagents and chemical products.
  61. Use the most common English chemistry terms.
  62. Summarise a report or article on inorganic chemistry in English.
  63. Prepare an inorganic chemistry laboratory or experiment as described in English.
  64. Follow standard laboratory procedures described in English.
  65. Understand the labelling of chemical reagents in English.
  66. Write simple laboratory reports in English
  67. Communicate in English in the laboratory.

Contents

P1. Co(III) complexes. UV spectroscopy. Isomerization of coordination. IR spectra.
P2. Co(salen) preparation. Reaction with O2
P3. Preparation of phenylmagnese bromide and triphenylphosphine
P4. Preparation of ferrocene
P5. Preparation of metal-carbonyl complexes. IR and NMR spectroscopy

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Preparation of experiments 23 0.92 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 28, 29, 30, 36, 38, 46, 47, 50, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 61, 62, 64
Laboratory presentation 1 0.04 9, 38, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59
Laboratory sessions 48 1.92 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67

This course is structured in 12 laboratory sessions of 4 hours each.
Prior to the start of the laboratory sessions, there will be an information session (compulsory attendance) in which students will be explained how the laboratories work, the safety measures they must follow and some fundamental aspects of the practices they have. to perform.


There will be written tests to assess the degree of comprehension and knowledge that the student has achieved by reading the script of the practice, and / or the related theoretical aspects that accompany the practice (all available as material on the virtual platform Moodle), and / or carrying out the experiments. These tests will be the most important element in the qualification of the student.

 

Additionally, the teacher will allocate approximately 15 minutes of a class to allow the students to answer the evaluation surveys of the teaching performance and the evaluation of the subject.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Prelabs 15% 1 0.04 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65
Final exam 50% 2 0.08 1, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 30, 43, 46, 47, 50, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63
Assessment of the student's skills and attitude in the laboratory. Correction of the laboratory book. 35% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67

The note of the subject consists of 3 parts:


1) Final Exam (Contribution to the final grade of the subject = 40%). It consists of a written evaluation test. A second test will be scheduled exclusively to retrieve this part or raise a grade.

2) Prelabs (Contribution to the final grade of the subject = 30%). It consists of a set of written tests that will be done at the beginning of each practice where the preparation of the practice and the understanding of the different phases and / or strategies and techniques that will be used will be evaluated. The average of the tests performed will be the final grade of the prelabs. This note is not recoverable.

3) Experimental mark (Contribution to the final mark of the subject = 30%). In this part different aspects will be valued: results of the experiments, the notebook performed and the attitude in the laboratory). This part will not be recoverable.

The final marks of the students who pass the subject may be distributed between 5 and 10, always maintaining the order of the students according to the NF mark obtained, in order to achieve the distribution between approved, notable, excel · lenses and MHs, which teachers consider ideal.


RATINGS:

Student who PASSES the subject:

Student who meets all the following requirements:

a) In the final exam you have obtained a grade equal to or higher than 5.

b) Student with an overall grade of the subject equal to or higher than 5.

c) In case of lack of attendance due to illness or other serious circumstance, that this has been duly justified with a medical certificate or adequate document. In no case may absences exceed one session (4 hours).

Student who DOES NOT PASS THE SUBJECT:

Student who does not meet any of the requirements indicated in the \"Students that passes the subject\".

OUTSTANDING MENTION:

The Outstanding Mention may be awarded to students who have obtained a grade equal to orgreater than 9.00. Their number may not exceed 5% of the students enrolled in a subject (groups of morning + afternoon) in the same corresponding academic course.


NOT ASSESSABLE Student:

Any student who has one or morelack of assistance without justification. In no case, the lack of assistance may exceed more than one session (4h) per Bloc. Any lack of assistance must always be duly justified immediately to the responsible Professor.

RETAKE:

To retake this subject, the students must have been previously evaluated in a set of activities whose weight equals to a minimum of two thirds of the total grade of the subject.

The retake of all assessment activities carried out in the Laboratory sessions is not contemplated.

The retake exam will be retrieved also through a written test.


USE OF AI TOOLS

For this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is allowed exclusively for support tasks, like literature or information searches, text correction, or translations. Students must clearly identify which parts were generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Not being transparent about AI use in this graded activity will be considered a breach of academic honesty and may result in a partial or complete penalty on the activity grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.


IRREGULARITIES IN EVALUATION TESTS

Committing any irregularity in an assessment (academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI, unless this use is explicitly allowed in the course syllabus), which could lead to a significant change in the grade, means that this assessment will be graded as 0. If the syllabus requires a minimum score on this assessment to pass the course, or if multiple irregularities occur in the assessments for the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0. Besides that, a disciplinary process may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities.


SECURITY WARNING IN THE LABORATORY

Any student involved in an incident that could have serious consequences of security may be expelled from the laboratory and fail the subject.

Bibliography

Theoretical Concepts:
Shriver-Atkins, Química Inorgànica, 4ª edició, Ed. McGraw-Hill, 2008
C. E. Housecroft, A. G. Sharpe, Química Inorgánica, 2ª edició, Ed. Pearson, 2006 (capítols 19, 20, 23, 25 i 26)
D. Astruc, Química Organometàl·lica, Ed. Reverté, 2003


Experimental Part:
G.M. Williams, J. Olmsted III, A. Breksa III, J. Chem. Educ. 1989, 66, 1043.
R.B. Penland, T.J. Lane, J.V. Quagliano, J.Am. Chem. Soc. 1956, 78, 88.
T.G. Appleton, J. Chem. Educ.1997, 54, 443.
P. Simpson, Compuestos organometálicos de elementos de grupos principales, Ed. Alhambra, 1973, 120-123.
F.R. Hartley, G. Temple-Nidd, Educ. Chem. 1975, 12, 6.
P.W. Wiggins, Educ. Chem. 1973, 10, 52.
R.J. Angelici, J. Chem. Edu. 1968, 45, 119.

Software

Being a practical subject does not contemplate the use of specific software. It is probable that at some point use will be made of the UAB Virtual Campus and some of its Moodle tools.

However, some of the activities may require the use of basic office automation tools (word processor and graphics, etc.).

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 2 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 2 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori 2 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 3 Catalan second semester afternoon
(PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori 3 Catalan second semester afternoon
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 4 Catalan second semester afternoon
(PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori 4 Catalan second semester afternoon