CH4514 Advanced Metal Chemistry and Green Chemistry
Academic year
2026 to 2027 Semester 1
Curricular information may be subject to change
Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.
Key module information
SCOTCAT credits
10
SCQF level
SCQF level 10
Availability restrictions
Not automatically available to General Degree students
Planned timetable
2-3 lectures per week
Module Staff
Dr J A McNulty, Dr A Kumar, Dr A N Price, Prof S A Macgregor
Module description
This module covers the heavier d-block and f-block metals and also the theory behind bonding, magnetism and optoelectronic spectroscopy in d-block metal complexes. At the end of the module students should be in a position to understand fully the nature of bonding in d- and f-block metal systems, to understand the optoelectronic spectra of d-block complexes and to rationalise trends in chemical properties both down and across the periodic table. This course will also give an overview of various applications of transition-metal catalysts in the development of sustainable chemical processes to impact hydrogen economy, methanol economy, and circular economy.
Relationship to other modules
Pre-requisites
BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS CH2501 AND PASS AT LEAST 1 MODULE FROM {CH2601, CH2603, CH2701}
Anti-requisites
YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE CH4455
Assessment pattern
2-hour Written Examination = 100%
Re-assessment
Oral Re-assessment = 100%
Learning and teaching methods and delivery
Weekly contact
2 - 3 lectures per week over 9 - 10 weeks (within Weeks 1-11) and 2 - 3 tutorials in total.
Scheduled learning hours
20
Guided independent study hours
80
Intended learning outcomes
- By the end of the module, students will be able to explain the concepts behind the chemistry of the 4d and 5d transition elements, the radial and angular expansion in the d-orbitals and the role played by relativistic effects.
- By the end of the module, students will be able to explain the photophysical properties typical 4d and 5d metal complexes and the concepts behind photoredox catalysis using 4d and 5d metal complexes as photocatalysts.
- By the end of the module, students will be able to explain the physical properties, coordination chemistry and electronic configuration of the lanthanides and actinides including trends observed across the periodic table, term symbols, micro-states, radioactive character and the nature of absorption and emission.
- By the end of the module, students will be able to use group theory to derive the electronic structure of saturated transition metal complexes; use this as a basis for the electronic structure of unsaturated metal fragments and to apply this to problems of structure and bonding in transition metal chemistry.
- By the end of the module, students will understand the principles of green chemistry, sustainable chemistry and life cycle assessment.
- By the end of the module, students will understand how the mechanisms for dehydrogenation and hydrogenation reactions of organometallic catalysts enables these to be used as green alternatives to conventional oxidation/reduction reactions in organic synthesis as well as for hydrogen storage materials. Understand the various routes used for chemical recycling of plastics catalysed by transition-metal complexes in the context of the circular economy.