Module 21-M60 Inorganic Chemistry - Specialisation: Focus Sustainability

Faculty

Person responsible for module

Regular cycle (beginning)

Every winter semester

Credit points and duration

10 Credit points

For information on the duration of the modul, refer to the courses of study in which the module is used.

Competencies

This module provides in-depth knowledge of the molecular and electronic structure of coordination compounds as a basis for understanding the properties and reactivities of this class of substances. Students will be able to apply these principles to metal ions in living nature and thus gain access to the molecular basis of many essential reactions in nature.

Students practice the synthesis and application of homogeneous transition metal catalysts from the field of sustainable chemistry. Students master more specialized preparation techniques such as working under inert conditions and the advanced evaluation of analytical-spectroscopic data (FTIR, NMR, UV-Vis-NIR etc.). Students acquire the ability to work safely in the laboratory and to document their experimental work scientifically. The module enables students to independently plan syntheses of organic ligands and homogeneous transition metal catalysts and to apply analytical methods for the characterization of other molecules.

Content of teaching

The lecture deals with coordination and bioinorganic chemistry. This includes in detail:

  • Coordination chemistry: structure and stability of transition metal complexes, magnetochemistry, binding ratios and reactivity of transition metal complexes.
  • Bioinorganic chemistry: essential metal ions, metal binding sites in biomolecules, functions of metal ions in living nature, Cu proteins, Fe proteins, biometal organics, metals in medicine.

In the seminar, current research directions in inorganic molecular chemistry are presented in individual examples and case studies.

The practical course teaches more sophisticated inorganic chemical synthesis chemistry from the fields of complex and bioinorganic chemistry. The students will synthesize a homogeneous transition metal catalyst for the activation of small molecules and investigate its activity. For this purpose, the students will synthesize an organic ligand in a few steps and use it for complex synthesis. In addition to the synthesis of the organic molecules and the transition metal catalyst, the students will characterize the compounds using various methods such as FTIR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, electrochemistry and single crystal X-ray structure analysis.

Recommended previous knowledge

For the lecture and the seminar:
Advanced Modules in inorganic, organic and physical chemistry

Necessary requirements

For the practical course:
21-M13,
21-M20,
21-M21.

Explanation regarding the elements of the module

In order to do justice to both the theoretical and practical parts of the module, an oral examination is required to evaluate the theoretical knowledge of the entire module, as well as a portfolio of various experiments to ensure the successful teaching of practical laboratory skills.

Module structure: 1 bPr, 1 uPr 1

Courses

Inorganic Chemistry - Specialisation: Focus Sustainability
Type seminar
Regular cycle WiSe
Workload5 30 h (15 + 15)
LP 1
Inorganic Chemistry - Specialisation: Focus Sustainability
Type internship / laboratory internship
Regular cycle SoSe
Workload5 150 h (105 + 45)
LP 5 [Pr]
Coordination and Bioinorganic Chemistry
Type lecture
Regular cycle WiSe
Workload5 120 h (45 + 75)
LP 4 [Pr]

Examinations

portfolio
Weighting without grades
Workload -
LP2 -

The portfolio of scientific experiments comprises 2 experiments, the elements of which are examined during the course. The examination components of an experiment are basically the following four elements, which are completed one after the other:

1. review of prior knowledge including safety-relevant aspects
2. carrying out the experiment and recording the execution, observations and results
3. preparation of a written experiment protocol or an oral presentation of the results
4. discussion of the experimental protocol, the results and the theory of the experiment (final examination)

Subsequent elements of the experiment can only be started if the previous elements have been passed. In the case of individual experiments, individual elements may be omitted or, in relation to point 2, replaced by theorised elements after appropriate notification, provided that the learning objectives associated with the experiment are thereby achieved. An attempt is passed if all four elements have been completed and fulfil the requirements despite existing deficiencies.

If an element of an attempt is not passed, there are two options:
a) The entire attempt can be repeated or
b) individual elements can be repeated if elements have already been assessed as "passed" and individual learning objectives of the attempt have therefore been achieved.
This is decided by the person authorised to conduct the examination.

The attempt or individual elements of an attempt can be repeated a maximum of once in this way. A total of one attempt per practical course and portfolio can be repeated in the aforementioned sense.

oral examination
Allocated examiner Teaching staff of the course Coordination and Bioinorganic Chemistry (lecture)
Weighting 1
Workload -
LP2 -

40 - 45 minutes.
The content of teaching and competences of the entire module are examined.

The module is used in these degree programmes:

Degree programme Version Recom­mended start 3 Duration Manda­tory option 4
Sustainable Chemistry / Bachelor of Science [FsB vom 05.03.2026, gültig ab Wintersemester 2026/27] Bachelor with One Core Subject (Academic) 5. 2 semes­ters Obli­gation

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Legend

1
The module structure displays the required number of study requirements and examinations.
2
LP is the short form for credit points.
3
The figures in this column are the specialist semesters in which it is recommended to start the module. Depending on the individual study schedule, entirely different courses of study are possible and advisable.
4
Explanations on mandatory option: "Obligation" means: This module is mandatory for the course of the studies; "Optional obligation" means: This module belongs to a number of modules available for selection under certain circumstances. This is more precisely regulated by the "Subject-related regulations" (see navigation).
5
Workload (contact time + self-study)
SoSe
Summer semester
WiSe
Winter semester
SL
study requirement
Pr
Examination
bPr
Number of examinations with grades
uPr
Number of examinations without grades
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