In this video from Nature, geological detectives use ancient diamonds to learn more about Earth's inner layers.
This 9-minute video lesson looks at some of the strongest molecular structures: covalent networks, metallic, and ionic crystals. [Chemistry playlist: Lesson 31 of 106].
An expert describes the carbon composition of diamonds, as well as the conditions necessary for diamond formation in this video segment from Nature.
This Nature video offers an introduction to the socio-economic value of diamonds.
Learn where diamonds originate and how inclusions trapped within diamonds help geologists determine their age in this video segment from Nature.
Inorganic chemistry is a division of chemistry that studies metals, their compounds, and their reactivity. Metal atoms can be bound to other metal atoms in alloys or metal clusters, to nonmetal elements in crystalline rocks, or to small organic molecules, such as a cyclopentadienyl anion in ferrocene. These metal atoms can also be part of large biological molecules, as in the case of iron in hemoglobin (oxygen-carrier protein in the blood). Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: Describe nuclear charge and calculate effective nuclear charge in terms of Slater's rules; Demonstrate an understanding of trends in the periodic table; Describe the bonding between atoms in terms of valence bond theory; Describe inorganic structures by using valence shell electron pair repulsion theory; Identify the nomenclature rules of coordination compounds; Demonstrate an understanding of crystal structures, lattice energies, and different types of unit cells; Explain the electronic structure of solids, the concept of band gap energy, and how this band gap determines the electronic properties (insulator, conductor, and semiconductor) of solid materials; Describe general trends in the reactivity of elements within Groups I through VII. (Chemistry 107)
This site introduces students to mineral science and the scientific process -- observing things, forming hypotheses, and drawing conclusions. Students watch crystals grow, go on a scavenger hunt for minerals, and create a classroom exhibit of rocks and minerals (for Grades 3-8).
