Students will complete 3 elements of assessment for this module:
1. EXAMINATION 2 hour worth 25% of the module 1 (Learning outcomes 1 and 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 outcomes 2,3 and 4)
3. EXAMINATION 2 (Learning outcomes 1 and 2), 2 hour worth 25% of the module - (Learning outcomes 1 and 2)
Formative assessment: Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback via practical classes, reports, and tutorial sessions and specimen exam/test questions

This module covers the fundamental aspects of bonds between metals and carbon. The stability and applications of the resulting complexes are explored. The essential aspects of f-block chemistry are reviewed and some of the important technological aspects explained.
Organometallics chemistry of the s- and p-block elements – formation, stability, structures, reactivity and applications.
Organometallic chemistry of d-block metals – simple alkyls and 18 electron rule. Bonding of CO and unsaturated hydrocarbons. Classification of unsaturated hydrocarbon ligands and electron counting. Bonding in transition metal organometallics. Catalytic hydrogenation and other processes. Carbon hydrogen bond activation.
Lanthanide chemistry – stability of oxidation states evaluated by thermochemical cycles. Descriptive chemistry of typical oxidation states. Lanthanide organometallic chemistry, formation and reactivity, zerovalent lanthanide complexes their formation and stability.
Actinide chemistry – radiological properties of the elements and survey of oxidation states including application of reduction potentials to explore the solution properties. Nuclear fuels reprocessing. Challenges in study of transuranic elements. Production and study of post actinide elements.
Practical exercises could include preparative aspects of transition metal organometallics complexes, substitution ferrocene and preparation of cerium(IV) complexes.

1. Understand the principles of organometallic chemistry of the s, p, d and f-block metals. Knowledge and Understanding

2. Demonstrate an awareness of current developments in the chemistry of the metals through appropriate literature searching
Learning
Analysis
Application

3. Demonstrate an increased level of practical ability in the isolation and analysis of a range of different chemical compounds
SS2

4. Show an advanced level of ability in communication of scientific results
Communication
Analysis,

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.

Cotton (2006), Lanthanide and Actinide Chemistry, Wiley

Crabtree (2014), Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition Metals, 6th Ed, Wiley