Students will complete 3 elements of assessment for this module:
1. EXAMINATION 1 (at the end of Semester 1), 1.5 hour worth 25% of the module (learning outcomes 1and 2)
2. PRACTICAL PORTFOLIO, worth 50% of the module (learning outcomes 2, 3 and 4)
This will include a laboratory notebook, written reports of experiments, a reflective summary of knowledge and skills development (learning outcome 3)
3. EXAMINATION 2 (at the end of semester 2), 1.5 hour worth 25% of the module – FINAL (learning outcomes 1and 2)
Formative assessment: Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback via practical classes, reports, and tutorial sessions and specimen exam/test questions. (all learning outcomes)

This module explores some of the more advanced aspects of p- and d-block chemistry. The emphasis is on the identification of trends in properties and the explanation of them. Some technological important applications of these are discussed. Practical exercises develop more advanced laboratory skills and allow students to refine their literature searching expertise.
Chemistry of high oxidation state p-block elements – general trends and variation on descending a group. Influence of ionisation energies, shielding effects, lanthanide contraction, relativistic effects and orbital penetration.
Transition metal chemistry – first row metals range of oxidation states, coordination chemistry, structures and substitution reactions, effect electronic configurations om kinetics of substitution. Second and third row metals comparison with first row. Hard and soft acid / base theory. Descriptive chemistry of selected elements. Magnetic properties transition metal complexes
Polymer chemistry – formation of typical polymers and mechanism, copolymers and block polymers. Conducting polymers for solar cells.
High temperature superconductors – YBaCuO based materials and other high temperature superconducting materials.
Fullerenes and graphene and their potential applications.
Practical exercises could include preparation and analysis of high oxidation state iodine compounds, coordination complexes of first row transition metals and an exploration of their properties, investigation into the magnetic properties of square planar and tetrahedral complexes of Ni(II). Searching the scientific literature to source appropriate information relating to the module content.

1. Understand concepts relating to variations in properties of main group and transition elements. Knowledge and Understanding
Learning

2. Apply knowledge of the theoretical aspects of chemistry to analyse new information and make scientifically sound conclusions
Analysis
Problem solving

3. Ability to effectively search the scientific literature to locate sources of information and incorporate these into written reports
Enquiry
Communication
Reflection.

4. Complete practical exercises and demonstrate an appreciation of the scope and limitations of the results obtained.
SS2

Each week there will be a 2-hour interactive lecture / seminar during which students will be introduced to core material and develop their understanding through problem-solving exercises undertaken in class = 48 hours
There will be 16 x 3 hour practical sessions during which students will develop their practical and experimental skills through undertaking a number of laboratory-based exercises that also develop the theoretical aspects of the module = 48 hours
The remaining 204 hours of independent study will be used to research background information related to the delivery of the core material and to build the practical portfolio.

Chemistry Housecroft and Constable 4th Ed 2010
Structural Methods in molecular Inorganic Chemistry Rankin, Mitzel and Morrison, Wiley 2013
Oxtoby, Gillis and Butler Principles of Modern Chemistry 8th Ed Centgage 2016
Young and Lovell Introduction to Polymers 3rd Ed 2011