In addition to the assigned readings, further information on lecture topics can be found in any of the introductory inorganic chemistry texts on reserve.
Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry
Week 1 Miessler, Fischer, and Tarr : Chapter 1
Atoms, Orbitals, and Periodicity
Weeks 1-3 Miessler, Fischer, and Tarr : Chapter 2
The primer by Norman gives a particularly informative presentation of the physical origins and chemical ramifications of periodic properties. A review of these topics can also be found in any general chemistry textbook.
Geometric Structure and Localized Bonding Models
Weeks 3-4 Miessler, Fischer, and Tarr : Chapter 3 and Appendix D (3rd edition)
A detailed procedure for the formulation of Lewis structures can be found in Appendix D of Miessler and Tarr, 3rd edition. Both Lewis structures and the VSEPR model can be reviewed in any general chemistry textbook.
Week 5 Huheey, Keiter, and Keiter : Chapter 5, pp. 138-153, and Chapter 6, pp. 220-231
Reading material on valence bond theory, which is not directly treated in Miessler and Tarr, is assigned from the textbook by Huheey, Keiter, and Keiter (on reserve in Davis Library).
Symmetry and Group Theory
Weeks 6-7 Miessler, Fischer, and Tarr : Chapter 4
More specialized treatments of these topics can be found in either Carter or Cotton. Links to web-based tutorials on symmetry, point groups, and matrix operations are also available.
Molecular Orbital Theory
Week 8-10 Miessler, Fischer, and Tarr : Chapter 5.1-5.3 (diatomic species)
Weeks 11-12 Miessler, Fischer, and Tarr : Chapter 5.4-5.5 (polyatomic species)
Bonding and Reactivity
Week 12 Miessler, Fischer, and Tarr : Chapter 8
Will be covered if time allows.
The reading material summarizes the overall chemistry of main group species; the lecture coverage generalizes aspects of this chemistry from a theoretical viewpoint, with emphasis on bonding and reactivity properties and their relation to MO arguments.