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Date: 2011-05-27 07:47 pm (UTC)In my first year, the inorganic chemists taught us Crystal Field Theory. It explains why copper sulfate is blue, and a bunch of related phenomena.
Between the first and second year, various physicists, biochemists etc. drop chemistry - the structure of the Cambridge NatSci course means you get more specialised as you go along.
In my second year, the inorganic chemists said "Crystal Field Theory is wrong. Here are some cases where it makes demonstrably wrong predictions. Here's Lingand Field Theory, it builds on a slightly handwavy version of the quantum theory the physical chemists taught you earlier on in the year. It gets things right that Crystal Field Theory gets wrong."
Again, a few people drop chemistry between the second and third year.
In my third year, the inorganic chemists said "Here's some more about Crystal Field Theory. Yes, we know we told you it's wrong, but it's easier to work with than Ligand Field Theory and once you know its limitations it's very handy."