Chemistry Courses

105 Chemistry of Recycling. 4.
This course uses basic chemistry to explore the science behind recycling, what can be done, and why it works. Other readings will establish the context for recycling and the political and economic realities of treating and using recycled materials. The course's ultimate goal is to highlight the role of personal responsibility in protecting the environment. Three hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Does not count towards the chemistry major or concentration. Fulfills natural science and mathematics and social justice/environmental responsibility requirements.
110 Real World Chemistry. 4.
Chemistry is connected to everything in our lives: from food to fuel, natural to artificial, medicine to the environment, consumer products to toxic waste. This course is designed to educate students about chemistry and its effects on our world using illustrations from our common experience. Three hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Does not count towards the chemistry major or concentration. Fulfills natural science and mathematics and social justice/environmental responsibility requirements.
111 Chemical Principles I. 4.
Basic principles of chemistry, periodicity, bonding, and energy relations. Three hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement.
112 Chemical Principles II. 4.
Molecular and ionic equilibria, chemical kinetics and reaction mechanisms, intermolecular interactions, electrochemistry, and introduction to organic and biochemical systems. Three hours lecture, one-hour problem-solving session, and three hours lab per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 111. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement.
115 Chemistry of Food and Cooking. 4.
This course surveys food’s chemical constituents in proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, preservatives, and flavorings, as well as cooking processes with respect to chemistry. Students will gain a better understanding of the food we eat and how to prepare it safely, nutritionally, and tastefully. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement.
150 History of Science. 4.
A historical perspective on the rise of science over the past centuries. The course examines the development of the scientific method and traces the people, institutions, movements and false starts which led to modern science. Does not count towards the chemistry major. Fulfills historical perspectives requirement.
231 Organic Chemistry I. 4.
An introduction to the structure and reactivity of organic molecules; topics covered include chemical nomenclature, bonding and structure of carbon compounds, acid-base relationships, mechanisms of reactions and structure determination. Laboratory component includes techniques for the synthesis and characterization of organic compounds and determination of reaction mechanisms including experimental, chromatographic, and spectroscopic methods commonly employed in modern organic chemistry. Three hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 112.
232 Organic Chemistry II. 4.
A continuation of Organic Chemistry I. Topics covered include mechanisms of more complex reactions, multi-step organic synthesis, applications of molecular orbital theory to reactions, and the chemistry of biologically important molecules such as sugars and peptides. Laboratory component focuses on multi-step synthesis of organic compounds using a variety of reactions, employing chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques in the purification and analysis of reaction products. Three hours lecture and, for the first half of the semester, three hours lab and one hour lab lecture per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 231.
235 Integrated Laboratory for Organic Chemistry. 1.
Laboratory course integrating organic chemistry with other fields of chemistry. Students from several chemistry classes conduct original research on multidisciplinary projects. Independent study, lab management skills, and teamwork are emphasized. Three hours lab and one hour lecture per week for the second half of the semester. Co-requisite: CHEM 232.
246 Forensic Chemistry (BIOL 246).
Explores methods used to examine and identify evidence of criminal activity, including chemical techniques for developing fingerprints, blood isozymes, PCR for DNA profiling, drug identification and ELISA. Prerequisite: BIOL 245 or permission of instructor.
290 Internship, 1-4. May also be offered at the 390 level.
331 Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics. 4.
Physical chemistry of macroscopic systems, including classical and statistical thermodynamics, ideal and real gases, liquids and solutions, phases, chemical equilibrium, electrochemistry, and kinetics. Laboratory includes computational chemistry and experiments in physical chemistry of gases, thermochemistry, phases, and electrochemistry. Three hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Prerequisites: CHEM 232, MATH 122 or 123, PHYS 122 or PHYS 212 or permission of instructor.
332 Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy . 4.
Physical chemistry of microscopic systems including quantum mechanics, electronic structure of atoms and molecules, molecular structure and dynamics, and spectroscopy. Laboratory includes computational chemistry and experiments spectroscopy, and structure analysis. Three hours lecture and, for the first half of the semester, three hours lab and one hour lab lecture per week. Prerequisites: CHEM 232, MATH 122 or 123, PHYS 122 or PHYS 212; or permission of instructor. Corequisite: CHEM 336.
336 Integrated Laboratory for Physical Chemistry. 1.
Laboratory course involving original research projects integrating physical chemistry with other fields of chemistry. Independent study, lab management skills, teamwork and leadership skills are emphasized. 3 hours lab and 1 hour lecture per week for the second half of the semester. Prerequisite: CHEM 235. Co-requisite: CHEM 332.
341 Instrumental Analysis. 4.
A systematic study of the modern instrumental methods of chemical analysis with emphasis on the theory behind the use of instruments, principles of operation of analytical instruments, and their use for the analysis of real samples. Three hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 112, MATH 122 or 123.
342 Inorganic and Materials Chemistry. 4.
The interaction between structure and electronic properties, the metallic state, solid state chemistry, metal complexes, stereochemistry, elementary crystallography, and spectroscopy. The laboratory centers on unusual materials, their synthesis, structure, properties, and analysis. Three hours lecture and, for the first half of the semester, three hours lab and one hour lab lecture per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 341.
345 Integrated Laboratory for Inorganic Chemistry. 1.
Laboratory course involving original research projects integrating inorganic chemistry with other fields of chemistry. Independent study, lab management skills, teamwork and leadership skills are emphasized. Three hours lab and one hour lecture per week for the second half of the semester. Prerequisite: CHEM 235. Co-requisite: CHEM 342.
400 Chemistry Seminar. 2.
The transition from college to graduate school, careers in the chemical industry, or careers in other fields. The development of presentation skills and critical analysis of the chemical literature is stressed. Required of all chemistry majors and concentrators. One and a half hours lecture per week.
412 Geochemistry (GEOL 412). 4.
Distribution, movement, and processes affecting chemical elements within the earth. Nuclear chemistry, formation of earth and planets; crystal chemistry and mineral structures; isotope geology, trace elements, thermodynamics in geology. No laboratory. Prerequisites: CHEM 111, three semesters of laboratory courses in geology or consent of the instructor.
420 Polymer Chemistry. 4.
Synthesis, characterization, properties and uses of modern synthetic polymers. Current topics in polymer research and development such as biomedical polymers, space-age polymers, and the use of polymers in electronics will be examined. Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 232.
430 Medicinal Chemistry. 4.
The organic chemistry of drug design and drug action. This course covers the interaction of drugs at sites in the body such as neuroreceptors, enzymes, and DNA which lead to therapeutic effects. Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 232 or permission of instructor.
434 Biochemistry (BIOL 434). 4.
A study of the chemical structure and physiological function of the biochemical building blocks of living organisms including proteins, carbohydrates, lipid metabolism and nucleic acid synthesis. The laboratory experience includes techniques used in the isolation and identification of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Prerequisite: CHEM 232. Spring.
450 Special Topics. 4.
May also be offered at the 250 and 350 levels.
460 Advanced Independent Study. 1-4.
Recent topics include Photoredox Chemistry, Organometallic Synthesis, Experimental Design, Conducting Polymers, and Advanced Organic Synthesis. May also be offered at 260 and 360 levels.
470 Senior Thesis. 4.
Original research on a specific topic in chemistry or chemistry-related field. Students are expected to begin work on their topics before they register.
490 Departmental Honors. 4-8.