Page 15 - Arrow Pushing in Inorganic Chemistry A Logical Approach to the Chemistry of the Main Group Elements

Preface

Inorganic chemistry at core consists of a vast array of molecules and chemical reactions. To
master the subject, students need to think intelligently about this body of facts, a feat that
is seldom accomplished in an introductory course. All too often, young students perceive
the field as an amorphous body of information that has to be memorized. We have long
been intrigued by the possibility of changing this state of affairs by means of a mechanistic
approach, specifically organic-style arrow pushing. We found that such an approach works
well for all main-group elements, that is, elements from the s and p blocks of the periodic
table. In particular, we found that arrow pushing works well for hypervalent compounds,
where the central atom has more than eight electrons in its valence shell in the Lewis struc-
ture. Over time, we came to appreciate that full implementation of a mechanistic approach
had the potential to transform the teaching of a substantial part of the undergraduate inor-
ganic curriculum. This book is a realization of that vision.
Arrow Pushing in Inorganic Chemistry is designed as a companion to a standard inor-
ganic text. In general, we have devoted one chapter to each group of the main-group ele-
ments. Each chapter in this book is designed to supplement the corresponding chapter in a
regular inorganic text. A student using this book is expected to have taken general chemistry
and a good, introductory course in organic chemistry at the university level. Key prerequi-
sites include elementary structure and bonding theory, a good command of Lewis structures,
VSEPR theory, elementary thermodynamics (as usually outlined in general chemistry),
simple acid–base calculations, basic organic nomenclature, and a good but elementary
understanding of organic mechanisms. Because a basic knowledge of organic chemistry has
been assumed, the general level of this book is somewhat higher than that of an undergradu-
ate organic text. The material included in this book (along with related content from a stan-
dard inorganic text) has been regularly taught at the University of Tromsø in about 30 h of
class time, roughly half of which has been devoted to problem-solving by students. A small
number of somewhat specialized topics and review problems have been marked with an
asterisk, to indicate that they may be skipped on first reading. We usually take up a few of
these at the end of our course and in conjunction with a second or more specialized course.

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