KJM120 Inorganic Chemistry

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Deborah Helen Oughton, Veronica Anne-Line Kathrine Killi

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norsk

Limits of class size:90. Check "Note"!

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:Lectures 30 hours, discussion groups: 18 hours, laboratory exercises: 42 hours, report writing: 50 hours, self-tuition: 140 hours, a total workload of 250 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Spring parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Spring parallel.

About this course

Lectures: The textbook is the students point of departure. It gives an overview over inorganic chemistry so that a thermodynamic approach (to as large an extent as possible) forms the basis for an understanding of stability and reaction conditions. The course focuses on naturally occurring processes in the biogeochemical cycle. Colloquia: Problem-solving on the chemistry of the elements, affinity relationships and periodical variations in the physical and chemical properties, in order to promote an understanding of the connections between composition, structure and properties. Laboratory exercises: An aim for the exercises is to give students practical experience with the chemistry of the most important elements in the form of simple experiments that are evaluated and discussed. The exercises do not nearly cover the field of inorganic reaction chemistry, which also comprises reactions in non-aqueous environments, reactions taking place at high temperatures, high pressures, reactions in a crucible and crystallisation, as well as electrochemical reactions. In addition, inorganic chemistry is more than reactions, their mechanisms, energetics and kinetics. It is the structural chemistry of gases, liquids and solids, the latter being molecular, glass-like or crystalline that is studied by the use of spectral, diffraction, magnetic, electric, optic or other methods. But the trends in the periodic system remain the same, whether one works in an aqueous solution or uses high-temperature synthesis. Another aim of the laboratory exercises is chemical problem-solving. The writing of a laboratory journal is not the classical journal writing with detailed descriptions, but an argument led by certain given questions.

Learning outcome

Students will be able to "read the periodic table", in the sense of being able to predict the chemistry of elements from their placement in the periodic table. They will gain an overview over inorganic chemistry so that a thermodynamic approach (to as large an extent as possible) forms the foundation for the understanding of stability and reaction conditions. The students will be able to explain the chemistry of the elements, affinity conditions and periodic variations in physical and chemical properties and an understanding of the connections between composition, structure and properties. They will be able to link the fundamental chemistry of the elements and understanding of principles that explain their chemical behaviour to other natural scientific subject fields (e.g. geology, environmental chemistry, environmental physics, biochemistry). The course will place a specific focus on environmental and biochemical processes, thus supporting the life science profile of NMBU.
  • Inorganic chemistry is an experience-based subject where lectures, colloquia and laboratory exercises are central. The lectures are to form the foundation for a theoretical approach so that a thermodynamic viewpoint (to as large an extent as possible) is made the basis for an understanding of stability and reaction conditions. The colloquia (where the teacher is present) take selected examples as their point of departure, and give room for reflections and discussions. The laboratory exercises give practical grounding to the theory . Through experiments, calculation exercises and the writing of laboratory reports, the chemistry of the elements is linked with basic principles and theoretical knowledge of periodical variations of physical and chemical properties and a further understanding of the connections between composition, structure and properties. The deadline for submitting laboratory reports is one week after the exercise has been carried out.
  • The students are free to make appointments for discussions with both the lecturer and the technical staff. The deadline for submitting laboratory reports is one week after the exercise has been carried out. An appointment to discuss improvements of the reports will be offered to every student individually, even reports that have been approved.
  • KJM100 General Chemistry.
  • Final written exam (3.5 hours). Grading scale A-E / Not passed.
  • External examiner participates in preparing the examination questions and sensor guidelines in the course.
  • Compulsory meeting at first lecture as well as the seven laboratory introduction lectures. Approved journal; seven laboratory exercises.
  • Students who want to take the course must apply for admission in Studentweb no later than January 20th. After that, the places in the course will be distributed.

    NB! We try to organize lab groups before first lecture. Please read your NMBU e-mail!

  • Lectures: 2-4 hours per week (about 30 hours in all). Discussion groups: 2 hours per week (about 18 hours in all). Laboratory exercises: 6 hours (1 day) per week (about 42 hours in all).
  • B-KJEMI, B-MILJØ, B-BIOTEK, M-LUN, M-KB.
  • Letter grades
  • Special requirements in Science