Aims

This course aims to provide students with a profound knowledge of different aspects in inorganic chemistry. Central is the thermodynamic description and the calculation of the equilibrium compositions of complex multi-element, muliphase systems. The students will learn the differences in behavior between synthetic model solutions prepared in the lab and real solutions such as surface waters, concentrated brine solutions or process solutions in inorganic industrial processes. Chemical thermodynamics is central in the course, with concepts such as Gibbs free energy, chemical potential, activity coefficients, phase rule, heterogeneous equilibria and Gibbs energy minimization. The students will learn what makes water such a special solvent. By considering the hydrolysis of metal cations, the concept of multinuclear complexes is introduced. The principles of non-aqueous coordination chemistry are introduced. Finally, the students will experience that there are many different forms of the Periodic System.

Objective 1: The students understand how the properties of concentrated aqueous electrolyte solutions are different from these of dilute solutions and the students are familiar with theoretical models that can describe the deviations from ideal thermodynamic behaviour.

Objective 2: The students are familiar with the two main approaches to calculate complex multi-element chemical equilibria, Law of Mass Action (LMA) and Gibbs Energy Minimization (GEM) methods, and understand the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches

Objective 3: The student can interpret chemical equilibrium data calculated by thermodynamic software packages

Objective 4: The students can interpret phase diagrams of one-component systems, binary systems and ternary systems

Objective 5: The students understand how hydrolysis of metal cations leads to formation of multinuclear complexes.

Objective 6: The students know how the behavior of metal ions in non-aqueous solvents is different from the behavior in water

Objective 7: The students know the different definitions of a chemical element. They are familiar with different representations of the periodic system, and can explain the advantages and disadvantages of these representations.

Previous knowledge

The students are familiar with the principles of general chemistry and chemical thermodynamics

Is included in these courses of study

• Courses for Exchange Students Faculty of Science (Leuven)
• Master in de chemie (Leuven) 120 ects.
• Master of Chemistry (Leuven) 120 ects.
• Educatieve master in de wetenschappen en technologie (Leuven) 120 ects.