Academics

Department of Chemistry > Course Descriptions

Non-Major Courses
Chemistry courses numbered below 110 are intended for students majoring in humanities  or social sciences. These courses will fulfill the General Education requirements. Chemistry 110 also is suitable toward fulfillment of GEC requirements. Students with credit in chemistry courses numbered 110 or higher (or the equivalent in transfer credit from another college or university) may not receive credit in courses numbered 100 through 109.

102 Chemistry and the Environment
Explore chemical phenomena in the world around you. Learn about the chemical cycles present throughout nature. Understand the chemistry behind current environmental issues such as air pollution, ozone depletion, global warming, acid rain, and energy sources (fossil fuels, nuclear, renewable). The relevant scientific background will be developed as needed to explain these particular topics. Lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. Not applicable toward the major or minor.

103 Our Chemical World
This course is a descriptive examination of modern chemistry that will emphasize aspects important for students in the humanities and social sciences. Among the topics to be examined: the impact of science and technology on society; chemical change; nuclear chemistry; consumer chemistry; acids and bases; and plastics and polymers. Demonstrations and some experiments with group participation. Not applicable toward the major or minor.

107 Developing World Thirst for Energy
This course will introduce the concepts behind the ever-increasing global demand for energy.  Through laboratory experiments, field trips, and discussions of current events, students will develop an understanding of the many issues related to meeting the world’s energy needs.  In particular, the dramatic economic growth in China and India raise additional issues about sustainable energy generation in the face of global imbalances in the carbon cycle.  No Prerequisites.  (Cross listed as Asian Studies 107.)

108 Shape, Structure, and Matter
Understand and appreciate the submicroscopic world of the molecules of carbon. Explore the nature of plastics and polymers, of nutrients and medicinals, of fuels and other petrochemicals. Investigate ideas of structure and consider how small, simple molecules can be pieced together into larger, more complex natural and synthetic molecules. Not applicable toward the major or minor.

109 Learning About the Physical World
This course will examine selected topics in physical science such as the physical and chemical properties of matter, energy, motion of objects, waves and vibrations, components of the solar system and interactions of objects in the universe. This course is appropriate for students interested in strengthening their knowledge and confidence in investigating fundamental concepts and ideas in science. The course is designed with elementary education majors in mind to provide them with the necessary background for teaching science. Students will participate in lectures, discussions, projects, and laboratory activities. Two 80-minute class hours per week.  Not applicable toward the chemistry major or minor. (Cross-listed as Education 109.) 

110 General Chemistry I
An introduction to and study of the fundamental concepts and principles of chemistry. Atomic and molecular structure, periodic relationships, chemical bonding, stoichiometry. Properties and theories of gases, liquids, and solids. Laboratory introduces quantitative measurements and computer applications. Three class meetings, one laboratory per week. (One laboratory section is cross-listed as First-Year Studies 101.)

111 General Chemistry II
Thermodynamics and kinetics; chemical equilibria; acids, bases, and buffers; coordination compounds; descriptive chemistry of metals and nonmetals. Laboratory is both quantitative and descriptive and uses much instrumentation. Three class meetings, one laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Chemistry 110.

220 Organic Chemistry I
Introduction to functional groups; nomenclature; resonance; inductive and steric effects; stereochemistry; carbonyl chemistry; nature of organic reactions. Laboratory focuses on microscale synthetic techniques, gas chromatography, and infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Three class meetings, one laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Chemistry 111 or 121 or permission of the instructor.

221 Organic Chemistry II
Addition, substitution, and elimination reactions; molecular rearrangements; aromaticity; carbohydrates and heterocyclic chemistry. Laboratory focuses on microscale organic synthesis, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and GC/MS. Three class meetings, one laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Chemistry 220 or permission of the instructor.

300 Biochemistry
Introduction to biochemistry at the cellular and chemical levels. Emphasis on protein structure and function, enzymes, bioenergetics, intermediary metabolism, carbohydrates, and other biological molecules. Three class meetings, one laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Chemistry 221, Biology 220, or permission of the instructor.

320 Physical Chemistry I
Quantum mechanics and the nature of the chemical bond. Emphasis on understanding atomic orbitals, atomic and molecular energy, and the chemical bond. Applications of molecular quantum mechanics; spectroscopy and computational chemistry. Laboratory focuses on experiments that led to the development of quantum mechanics, molecular modeling, and spectroscopy. Three class meetings, one laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Chemistry 221, Mathematics 111 or 116; prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 110 or 120.

321 Physical Chemistry II
The energy and dynamic behavior of groups of molecules. Emphasis on non-ideal gases, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, and reaction-rate theory. Laboratory focuses on kinetics and thermodynamics with a culminating independent project-based experience. Prerequisite: Chemistry 320; prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 111 or 121.

340 Inorganic Chemistry
Relationship among structure, properties, and chemical reactivity of elements from the entire periodic table. Molecular bonding theories, molecular symmetry and group theory, solid-state materials, transition-metal complexes, catalysts, and bioinorganic molecules. Laboratory work includes synthesis, spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and inert-atmosphere techniques. Two class meetings and one laboratory per week. Prerequisite or corequisite: Chemistry 321.

410 Instrumental Analysis
Theory and techniques of instrumentation used in modern chemical analysis. Optical spectroscopy (UV-Vis, fluorescence, FT-IR, Raman), NMR, mass spectrometry, electroanalytical chemistry, and modern separation techniques (GC, HPLC, and electrophoresis). Laboratory experiments will include most modern instrumental methods and culminate in an independent project. Three class meetings, one laboratory per week. Satisfies the Senior Studies Requirement. Prerequisite (or corequisite, with permission of the instructor): Chemistry 320.

415 Topics in Biochemistry
Application of chemistry to biological molecules. Topics selected from the following: X-ray crystallography; NMR spectroscopy; molecular modeling; computational methods in biochemical systems; protein-DNA interactions; photobiophysics; enzyme catalysis and mechanisms; and DNA chemistry. Four class meetings, no laboratory. Prerequisites: Chemistry 300 and 321 or permission of the instructor.

430 Advanced Organic Chemistry
Extended treatment of familiar topics of organic chemistry. Emphasis on stereochemistry, radical chemistry, and reactions used in modern organic synthesis. Laboratory is oriented toward synthesis, structural analysis, and the use of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. Three class meetings, one laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Chemistry 221 and 321.

450 Research in Chemistry
Independent research guided by a faculty advisor. Research areas include organic synthesis; organometallic catalysis; enzyme inhibition; X-ray crystallography; computational chemistry; molecular modeling; solid state chemistry; and spectroscopic studies of air pollution.

490 Senior Thesis in Chemistry
An extensive, in-depth, independent research project with faculty guidance. Includes a formal written dissertation and oral presentation. Satisfies the Senior Studies Requirement.