Simon Fraser University
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Course Outlines

Summer 2025 - CHEM 230 D100

Inorganic Chemistry (3)

Class Number: 3518

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Tue, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

    May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Thu, 9:30–11:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Aug 16, 2025
    Sat, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    CHEM 122 with a minimum grade of C-. Students who expect to take further courses in inorganic chemistry should take CHEM 230 concurrently with CHEM 236W.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The chemistry of the elements and their inorganic compounds in terms of fundamental concepts of periodicity of properties, valence, ionization potential, electron affinity, electronegativity, stability of oxidation states, bonding, structure and stereochemistry. Co-ordination complexes and organometallic chemistry. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

Please note, this course outline was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change.

Mode of Instruction:
3 lecture hours/week; 1 tutorial hour/week
Lecture: In-Person, Burnaby Campus
Tutorial: In-Person, Burnaby Campus

General Course Description: 
The detailed chemistry of elements and their inorganic compounds in terms of fundamental concepts of periodicity, valence, bonding, structure and stereochemistry, and coordination complexes.

Periodicity: Periodic trends (e.g., ionization energies, electronegativities, atomic radii) comparison of a first row member of chemical group with the other members of the group.

Covalent Bonding: Atomic orbitals, description of the bonding in homonuclear and heteronuclear diatomic molecules, simple inorganic molecules with extended Pi systems, photoelectron spectroscopy, metallic bonding, semiconductors.

Ionic Solids: Close packing of spheres, radii of ions, structures of common ionic lattices, radius ratio, theoretical lattice energy, Born-Haber cycle, physical properties and lattice energy, solubility of ionic solids, and hydration of ions. Hard/soft, acid/base concept.

Classical Coordination Chemistry: The common coordination numbers and isomerism in coordination complexes, ligand field theory of octahedral, tetrahedral and square planar complexes, visible spectra and paramagnetism. The chelate effect, trans effect, simple kinetics of complexes of first-row transition metal including redox reactions.

Grading

  • In-Term Assignments/Exams 60%
  • Final Exam 40%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Miessler, Gary, et al. Inorganic Chemistry. 5th Edition, 2014. Publisher: Pearson.
ISBN: 9780133558944

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

A grade of C- or better is required for all prerequisite courses.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.