The University of Adelaide
Course Outlines

CHEM 3610 - Inorganic Chemistry III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2025

This course covers a range of topics to highlight the importance of Inorganic Chemistry in the world today and provide graduates with relevant job-ready skills. It covers aspects of the chemistry of metals from different parts of the periodic table including the heavy transition metals, lanthanides (rare earth metals) and main group metals. Included are applications of these metal complexes in medicine (e.g. those used as anti-cancer drugs and for medical imaging) and catalysis (e.g. enantioselective drug synthesis and petrochemicals). The course will also provide an in depth understanding of the analytical techniques used to interrogate the properties and structures of these metallodrugs and catalysts including vibrational and optical spectroscopy, magnetism, nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray diffraction.

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  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CHEM 3610
    Course Inorganic Chemistry III
    Coordinating Unit Chemistry
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 9 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites CHEM 2545 and CHEM 2550 or equivalent; high-achieving students without pre-requisites may be granted exemption on application to Head of Chemistry
    Incompatible CHEM 3111
    Assessment assignments, practical reports, final examination
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Christian Doonan

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

    1 describe and compare the distinct properties of different elements from all areas of the periodic table and how these properties are used to develop and design applications for metal-containing complexes.
    2 understand the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the reactions of metal complexes and the importance of these properties in designing metal-containing drugs, imaging agents and catalysts.
    3 understand the fundamental and applied aspects of different inorganic species and the analytical techniques used to interrogate metal-ligand complexes and other inorganic species
    4 demonstrate proficiency in undertaking individual and/or team-based laboratory investigations using appropriate apparatus and safe laboratory practices, including the collection, analysis, interpretation and communication of results of an experiment.
    5 apply an integrated knowledge of various of molecular structure determination techniques to identify and/or characterise chemical compounds from experimental data.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    		 1-5

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    		 1-5

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    		 4,5

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    		 4,5

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    		 4

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    		 4,5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There is no prescribed text for this course. All required course material will be provided by the course instructor(s).
    Recommended Resources
    Textbooks
    • Weller, Overton, Rourke and Armstrong, Inorganic Chemistry (Oxford University Press)
    • Housecroft and Sharpe, Inorganic Chemistry (Pearson)
    • Elschenbroich, Organometallics (Wiley)
    • Crabtree, The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition Metals (Wiley)
    • Clegg, Crystal Structure Determination (Oxford University Press)
    All of these texts are available for loan from the Barr Smith library. References to other material and recent literature will be given in
    lectures.
    Online Learning
    Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/).
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course consists of the following components:
    • Lectures/Tutorials: 12 x 3 hours per week (timetabled as "Workshops")
    • Practicals and Workshops: 10 x 5.5-hour sessions with one session per week
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    Coursework
    Course material will cover the following topics:
    • Inorganic and Organometallic Reaction Mechanisms
    • Advanced Spectroscopy and Magnetism
    • Solid-State Chemistry
    • Introduction to X-ray Analysis
    Practicals and Workshops
    Practical exercises will provide students with "hands on" experience in the quantitative use of various analytical methods. In addition, students will be involved in the synthesis and analysis of "real world" chemical samples. There will be two separate workshops to provide students with “hands on” experience of applying their knowledge of spectroscopy and X-ray analysis to chemical systems such as those found in the Inorganic and Organometallic Reaction Mechanisms part of the course. These workshops will involve a mix of data analysis, data acquisition techniques and problem solving. The practicals and workshops will be closely aligned with the theoretical concepts covered in the lectures.

    Tutorials
    Tutorial sessions will be held weekly and will provide the student with the opportunity to discuss material from the lecture course. Formative tutorial questions will be used to reinforce the concepts introduced in lectures through a combination of (1) qualitative and quantitative problem solving, (2) discussion of the operational principles, including the limitations and complementary nature of various analytical and spectroscopic methods, and (3) consideration of appropriate solutions to chemical problems that have been identified through analysis of data in a variety of different forms.
    Specific Course Requirements
    Attendance is compulsory at all scheduled chemistry practical sessions. The learning outcomes for this course are substantially dependent on laboratory experience and practice. Therefore, missing any practical class or failing to submit a reasonable attempt at any practical report in a semester will result in a grade of FAIL being recorded for the course. Students with medical or compassionate reasons for non-attendance will be given an opportunity to make up missed practical sessions.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Hurdle
    Yes/ No    		 Learning Outcome Approximate timing of
    assessment
    Summative Assignments Formative & Summative

    10%

    		 No 1,2,3 Weeks 5,9,11,13
    Workshop Assignments and Practical Reports Formative & Summative 40% No 3,4,5 Weeks 2-12
    Examination Summative 50% Yes
    (45%)    		 1,2,3 Exam period
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Assessment Item % needed to meet course requirement Additional Assessment
    Examination 45% Yes - RAA Exam;
    a grade of at least 45% must obtained
    Practical work is compulsory Satisfactory completion of all practicals, including attendance of ALL practical sessions and reasonable attempt at ALL practical reports Missed practicals can be made up
    Assessment Detail
    Summative Assignments (total of 10% of course grade)
    Students will complete an assignments on each of the four lecture topics:Inorganic and Organometallic Reaction Mechanisms (worth 4% of the assessment), Advanced Spectroscopy and Magnetism (worth 2%), Solid-State Chemistry (worth 2%) and Introduction to X-ray Analysis (worth 2%). Each assignment will consist of a series of short-answer and/or multiple-choice questions or problem solving/data analysis.

    Workshop Assignments and Practical Reports (total of 40% of course grade)
    Each of the ten 5.5 hour laboratory or workshop sessions will have assessment contributing to 40% of the overall course grade. This will come in part from assessment of experiment reports. Students will be provided with sample reports or rubrics with guidelines on report structure and approximate length.  The two practicals that each run over two sessions will be assessed by a minor and a major report, worth 2% and 6% of the assessment, respectively. The one practical that runs over one session will be assessed by a single report worth 4% of the assessment. In general, each experiment will be assessed on laboratory results (yield, appearance of product, presentation and analysis of data (graphs), quality of data etc.) as well as the laboratory note books and report. The X-ray workshop, which runs over two sessions, will be assessed through problem solving and data reporting (worth 8%). In addition, 12% of the assessment will come from written (problem solving) and oral assessment from the spectroscopy workshops, which run over three sessions.

    Examination (total of 50% of course grade)
    The final 3-hour examination will examine all components of the course. It may consist of any combination of multiple choice, short-answer and/or long-answer questions.
    Submission
    Submission of Assigned Work
    Coversheets must be completed and attached to all submitted work. Coversheets can be obtained from the School Office (room G33 Physics) or from MyUNI. Work should be submitted via the assignment drop box at the School Office or via MyUni as instructed.

    Extensions for Assessment Tasks
    Extensions of deadlines for assessment tasks may be allowed for reasonable causes. Such situations would include compassionate and medical grounds of the severity that would justify the awarding of a supplementary examination. Evidence for the grounds must be provided when an extension is requested. Students are required to apply for an extension to the Course Coordinator before the assessment task is due. Extensions will not be provided on the grounds of poor prioritising of time. The assessment extension application form can be obtained from: https://sciences.adelaide.edu.au/study/student-support/forms-and-policies#academic-forms

    Late Submission of Assessments
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days or more late without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the mark.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines

    This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.

  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
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The University of Adelaide
Adelaide, South Australia
5005 Australia

Australian University Provider Number PRV12105
CRICOS Provider Number 00123M


Telephone: +61 8 8313 4455

Coordinates: -34.920843, 138.604513

Authorised by:Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:Course Outlines Administrator