Professor
B.Sc. (University of Bristol, U.K., 1961)
Ph.D. (University of Bristol, U.K., 1964)
Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow (Indiana University, 1964-65)
Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow (Northwestern University, 1965-66)
1997: Gerhard Herzberg Award (Spectroscopy Society of Canada) for Outstanding Achievement in the Science of Spectroscopy
1998: Milton Leong Fellowship (McGill University) for Collaborative Research in China
1999: David Thomson Award (McGill University) for Excellence in Graduate Supervision and Teaching
Honorary Member, Spectroscopy Society of Canada
F.C.I.C., F.R.S.C. (UK), CChem., CSci.
Editor for North America: Chemistry Teacher international
Editor: Bioinorganic Chemistry and Applications
Editorial Board Member: Applied Spectroscopy Reviews
Office: Otto Maass 427
Phone: (514)398-6910
Email: Ian.Butler [at] McGill.CA
Lab: Otto Maass 25
Lab Phone: (514)398-6217
Research Themes
- Materials Chemistry
- Synthesis/Catalysis
Research Description
The inorganic aspects of our research are concerned primarily with the synthetic, spectroscopic and kinetic properties of inorganic compounds, especially organometallic complexes such as transition metal carbonyls, thiocarbonyls, nitrosyls, clusters, and species containing alkene, alkyne, and polydentate tertiary phosphorus ligands. All new compounds prepared are characterized by vibrational and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Whenever possible, the mechanistic aspects of any new synthetic reactions are also investigated.
The physical chemistry research is centered mainly on solid-state chemistry. Much of this work involves the study of phase transitions in inorganic and organic molecular crystals. Variable-temperature and high-pressure (~ 100 kbar in a diamond-anvil cell) analytical techniques (e.g., transmission, reflectance, and photoacoustic FT-IR, visible and near-IR laser Raman, EPR, and NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry) are employed in investigating the structural changes that take place. A new research area recently initiated involves the application of spectroelectrochemical techniques in studying the surface interactions in typical mineral flotation processes. This latter research program is performed in collaboration with the Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering.
Visual observation of micro-flower formation Er2OCO3(OH)2 (from
precipitate of reaction mixture between Er(NO3)3 + NaOH +
Na2CO3); Assaaoudi, H; Kozinski, J & Butler, I.
Currently Teaching
CHEM 110
General Chemistry 1
4 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Chemistry: A study of the fundamental principles of atomic structure, radiation and nuclear chemistry, valence theory, coordination chemistry, and the periodic table.
Offered by: Chemistry
- Fall
- Prerequisites/corequisites: College level mathematics and physics or permission of instructor; CHEM 120 is not a prerequisite
- Each lab section is limited enrolment
- Terms
- Instructors
- Mitchell J Huot, Pallavi Sirjoosingh, Maureen H McKeague
CHEM 396
Undergraduate Research Project
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Chemistry: Independent research project with a final written report.
Offered by: Chemistry
- Fall, Winter
- Restrictions: This course cannot be taken under the S/U option. Departmental permission required. Students cannot be supervised by the same instructor for two 396 Science courses. Open to students in programs offered by the Faculty of Science only. This course must be taken as an elective, and cannot be used to fulfill program requirements.
- Note: Enrolment may be limited. Students are advised to start the application process well before the start of the term and to plan for an alternative course in the case that no suitable project is available. Individual projects may be suggested each term which may have project-specific prerequisites. Students may also approach professors to devise their own projects. Some projects may be accessible to students in other disciplines. See https://www.mcgill.ca/science/research/undergraduate-research/science-research-courses for more information about available projects and application forms and procedures.
- **Although this is a research course from May 3rd until August 31st, it does not follow the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines. Therefore, add/drop is July 6th and withdrawal is August 3rd.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Samuel Lewis Sewall
- Samuel Lewis Sewall
CHEM 470D1
Research Project 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Chemistry: A course designed to give students research experience. The student will be assigned a project supervisor and a research project at the beginning of the session. The project will consist of a literature survey, experimental and/or theoretical work, a written research report and an oral examination.
Offered by: Chemistry
CHEM 470D2
Research Project 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Chemistry: See CHEM 470D1 for course description.
Offered by: Chemistry
CHEM 480
Undergrad Research Project 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Chemistry: A course designed to give students additional research experience. The student will be assigned a project supervisor and a research project at the beginning of the session. The project will consist of a literature survey, experimental or theoretical work, a written research report and an oral examination.
Offered by: Chemistry
- Fall, Winter, Summer
- Prerequisite: CHEM 396 or CHEM 470. Registration by Departmental permission only.
- **Although this is a research course from May 3rd until August 31st, it does not follow the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines. Therefore, add/drop is July 6th and withdrawal is August 3rd.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Samuel Lewis Sewall
- Samuel Lewis Sewall
CHEM 480D1
Undergrad Research Project 2
1.5 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Chemistry: A course designed to give students additional research experience. The student will be assigned a project supervisor and a research project at the beginning of the session. The project will consist of a literature survey, experimental or theoretical work, a written research report and an oral examination.
Offered by: Chemistry
CHEM 603
Princ&Apps of Mat'ls Charctrzn
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Chemistry: Fundamentals of materials characterization methods and their applications in materials chemistry. Topics include static and dynamic mechanical testing, vibrational spectroscopy (Raman and FTIR), surface-based spectroscopies (XPS, Auger), advanced electron microscopy methods, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (pXRD, WAXD, SAXS).
Offered by: Chemistry
- Prerequisite(s): CHEM 355 or equivalent, or permission of instructor
- Terms
- Instructors
- Matthew J Harrington, Audrey H Moores
Professor