CHEM 110 Chemistry of Renewable Energy (4)
Chemistry of Renewable Energy invites nonscience majors to engage in a topic that profoundly impacts our society. In this course, renewable (and non-renewable) energy sources are investigated from a scientific and critical point of view. We will study the fundamental scientific principles behind energy sources such as biofuels, solar, hydrogen, nuclear, and fossil fuels. Within this context, we shall explore the power and the limitations of the scientific method as well as the implications of our findings in political, social, economic, international, and ethical contexts. Students will have opportunities to reflect on their own attitudes towards energy usage and will engage in the local community.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences
- Offering: Spring semester
- Instructor: Staff
CHEM 115 General Chemistry I (4)
A comprehensive, one-semester introduction to the field of chemistry, stressing concepts and a semiquantitative understanding rather than detailed theory. Discussions include: chemical reactions, equations, and stoichiometry; atomic and molecular structure, chemical bonding, and molecular polarity; reactions in solutions, especially acid/base, redox, and solubility; chemical energy including heat and enthalpy, entropy, free energy, and chemical equilibrium; electrochemical cells; chemical reaction rates; the gas laws, liquids, intermolecular forces, and phase changes. Laboratory required.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences
- Offering: Fall
- Instructor: Staff
CHEM 116 General Chemistry II (4)
An in-depth look at the chemical phenomena that are at work in the world around us. Case studies (e.g., lasers, fossil fuels, air pollution, blood chemistry) are used to explore in further detail concepts first introduced in CHEM 115. Discussions include: light, energy, and energy levels; electron configuration and the periodic table; bonding and bond energies; kinetics and reaction mechanisms; solubility and colligative properties; acid/base equilibria; and redox reactions as biological energy sources. These chemical principles will be discussed in relation to such modern phenomena as smog, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, the ozone hole, and other aspects of everyday life. Laboratory required.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences
- Prerequisite: CHEM 115
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Staff
CHEM 199 Topics in Chemistry (1-4)
A semester-long study of topics in Chemistry. Topics and emphases will vary according to the instructor. This course may be repeated for credit with different topics. See the New and Topics Courses page on the Registrar’s webpage for descriptions and applicability to majors/minors in other departments.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Topic dependent
- Prerequisite: Topic dependent
- Offering: Occasionally
- Professor: Staff
CHEM 225 Organic Chemistry I (4)
Integration of aliphatic, alicyclic, and aromatic chemistry by means of a mechanistic approach. Nomenclature, stereochemistry, structure and reactivity, elementary theoretical organic chemistry, and substitution, elimination, addition, condensation, and rearrangement reactions. Laboratory: Isolation and purification techniques, synthesis, and qualitative organic analysis. Laboratory required.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences
- Prerequisite: CHEM 116 and CHEM 116Y
- Offering: Fall
- Instructor: Duncan
CHEM 226 Organic Chemistry II (4)
Integration of aliphatic, alicyclic, and aromatic chemistry by means of a mechanistic approach. Nomenclature, stereochemistry, structure and reactivity, elementary theoretical organic chemistry, and substitution, elimination, addition, condensation, and rearrangement reactions. Laboratory: Isolation and purification techniques, synthesis, and qualitative organic analysis. Laboratory required.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences
- Prerequisite: CHEM 225
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Duncan
CHEM 230 Environmental Chemistry (4)
We will examine the fate of contaminants in a variety of environments and explore the implications for human and ecosystem health. Quantitative approaches are emphasized, including structure-activity relationships, methods of estimating chemical activity, and mass balance calculations. We will use these tools to predict how organic chemicals partition between air, water, soils/sediments, and biomass, and estimate environmental concentrations given basic information about chemical structures, transformation processes, and environmental characteristics. We will explore these topics in the context of applied problems, case studies, and a comprehensive site analysis project.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences
- Prerequisite: CHEM 115, and CHEM 116 or ENVS 121
- Offering: Alternate years in spring
- Instructor: Griffith
CHEM 291 Intermediate Research Projects (1-4) (1-4)
Individual laboratory and library research projects selected in consultation with chemistry faculty.
- Prerequisite: Instructor consent
- Offering: On demand
- Instructor: Staff
CHEM 299 Topics in Chemistry (1-4)
A semester-long study of topics in Chemistry. Topics and emphases will vary according to the instructor. This course may be repeated for credit with different topics. See the New and Topics Courses page on the Registrar’s webpage for descriptions and applicability to majors/minors in other departments.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Topic dependent
- Prerequisite: Topic dependent
- Offering: Occasionally
- Professor: Staff
CHEM 321 Physical Chemistry I (4)
This course presents a theoretical basis for the equilibrium behavior of bulk chemical systems. Topics include: mathematical tools; equations of state; Laws of Thermodynamics; derivation and application of thermodynamic functions; physical behavior of single- and multi-component systems; colligative properties; phase diagrams; chemical reactions and equilibrium; and thermodynamics of electrolyte solutions. Laboratory required.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences, Mathematical Sciences
- Prerequisite: CHEM 116, MATH 152
- Offering: Fall
- Instructor: Williamson
CHEM 322 Physical Chemistry II (4)
Quantum mechanics, a theoretical description of the microscopic world, is developed and connected to the equilibrium behavior of macroscopic systems through statistical mechanics. Topics include: mathematical tools; the failure of classical mechanics; the postulates of quantum mechanics; prototype microscopic systems; hydrogen-like atoms; multi-electron atoms; molecular orbitals; rotational, vibrational, and electronic spectroscopy; the Boltzmann distribution; introductory statistical mechanics; chemical equilibrium; and chemical kinetics.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences, Mathematical Sciences
- Prerequisite: CHEM 321, PHYS 221
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Williamson
CHEM 341 Instrumental Analysis (4)
Instrumental methods for qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Topics include experimental design, calibration approaches, analytical figures of merit, molecular spectroscopy (UV-visible, IR, NMR, fluorescence), atomic spectroscopy, chromatographic separators (GC, LC), ionization methods, mass spectrometry, and special topics.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences
- Prerequisite: Either CHEM 344W or CHEM 346W
- Offering: Fall
- Instructor: Griffith
CHEM 344W Experimental Chemistry I (4)
Theory and practice of chemical analysis in the laboratory. Students design and carry on qualitative and quantitative analysis on chemical systems using spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. Analysis of real world sample when possible. Statistics of small data sets. Introduction to formal scientific writing. Laboratory required.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing-centered; Natural Sciences
- Prerequisite: Junior Standing and declared Chemistry major
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Griffith, Holman, Williamson
CHEM 345W Experimental Chemistry II (2)
Theory and practice of chemical analysis in the laboratory. Students design and carry out qualitative and quantitative analysis on chemical systems using electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Analysis of real world sample when possible. Emphasis on formal scientific writing.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing-centered; Natural Sciences
- Prerequisite: CHEM 321 and CHEM 344W
- Offering: Fall
- Instructor: Griffith, Holman
CHEM 346W Experimental Biochemistry I (4)
Theory and practice of chemical and biochemical analysis in the laboratory. Students design and carry out qualitative and quantitative analyses using electrochemical, chromatographic, and spectroscopic techniques. Biochemical systems explored include tastant and odorant molecules, protein structure and ligand binding, enzyme catalysis, biosensor fabrication and analysis, and phospholipid membrane structure/dynamics. Both thermodynamic and kinetic analyses are carried out. Statistics of small data sets. Introduction into formal scientific writing. Laboratory required.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing-centered; Natural Sciences
- Prerequisite: Junior Standing and declared Chemistry major, and CHEM 351 (or concurrent enrollment)
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Fisher, Battle
CHEM 347W Experimental Biochemistry II (2)
Theory and practice of chemical and biochemical analysis in the laboratory. Students design and carry out qualitative and quantitative analyses using electrophoretic and spectroscopic techniques, as well as the polymerase chain reaction, and protein purification. Biochemical phenomena explored include gene expression, protein function, and tRNA structure, dynamics, and ligand binding. Emphasis on formal scientific writing.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing-centered; Natural Sciences
- Prerequisites: CHEM 346W and CHEM 351
- Offering: Fall
- Instructor: Fisher, Battle
CHEM 351 Biochemistry (4)
A comprehensive introduction to biochemistry, stressing a chemical understanding of life processes and how molecules interact in cells and organisms. Discussion of important biomolecules (e.g., proteins, lipids, carbohydrates) and their dynamic interactions: how enzymes speed up reactions, how muscles contract, how cells use and transduce energy, how cells receive and transmit signals, and how flaws in these processes can lead to disease. The underlying chemistry (organic mechanisms, thermodynamics) involved in these molecular interactions will be closely examined.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences
- Prerequisite: CHEM 225
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Battle, Fisher
CHEM 362 Inorganic Chemistry (4)
This course presents a comprehensive interrogative of transition metal complexes. Topics include: atomic structure and periodicity of d-block metals; bonding theories of transition metal and main group elements; spectra and magnetism as they relate to electronic structure; and reactions, kinetics, and mechanisms of coordination compounds. Examples from organometallic, solid state, and bioinorganic chemistry are used. An introduction of symmetry and chemical group theory provides a theoretical basis for understanding spectral details.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences
- Prerequisite: CHEM 225
- Offering: Fall
- Instructor: Holman
CHEM 399 Topics in Chemistry (1-4)
A semester-long study of topics in Chemistry. Topics and emphases will vary according to the instructor. This course may be repeated for credit with different topics. See the New and Topics Courses page on the Registrar’s webpage for descriptions and applicability to majors/minors in other departments.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Topic dependent
- Prerequisite: Topic dependent
- Offering: Occasionally
- Professor: Staff
CHEM 429 Topics in Chemistry (1-4)
A semester-long study of topics in Chemistry. Topics and emphases will vary according to the instructor. This course may be repeated for credit with different topics. See the New and Topics Courses page on the Registrar’s webpage for descriptions and applicability to majors/minors in other departments.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Topic dependent
- Prerequisite: Topic dependent
- Offering: Occasionally
- Professor: Staff
CHEM 430 Advanced Topics in Chemistry (2 or 4)
An in-depth study of topics selected for their interest and relevance to modern Chemistry. Topics may be chosen from the areas of analytical, physical, inorganic, organic, biological, polymer chemistry, computational chemistry, or history and philosophy of chemistry. Taught in a seminar format.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Staff
CHEM 431 Advanced Topics in Biochemistry (2)
An in-depth study of selected topics in modern biochemistry. Topics will be chosen from the areas of bioinorganic, bioorganic, biophysical, bioanalytical, bioinformatics, or bioenergetic chemistry. Topics may include: bioinorganic of photosynthetic electron transfer; plant biochemistry; protein, lipid, nucleic acid or carbohydrate chemistry; drug design; membrane transport; neurochemistry, or cell signaling. This course may be taken multiple times for credit.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Science
- Prerequisite: CHEM 351
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Fisher
CHEM 491 Advanced Research Projects (1-4)
Individual laboratory and library research projects selected in consultation with chemistry faculty. Written reports and seminar presentations are required. Occasional field trips to nearby research facilities may be made.
- Prerequisite: Instructor consent
- Offering: Every semester
- Instructor: Staff
CHEM 495 Senior Research Projects I (2)
Capstone course in independent chemical research for senior Bachelor of Science Chemistry majors. Students read and evaluate primary scientific literature, develop project objectives for a thesis, and begin experimental work to meet those objectives. Weekly meetings include seminars, discussions of research activities, experimental design, laboratory safety, career pathways, and ethical issues in chemistry. Laboratory required.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Natural Sciences
- Corequisite: CHEM 345W or CHEM 347W
- Offering: Fall
- Instructor: Staff
CHEM 496W Senior Research Projects II (2)
Continuation of the capstone course in independent chemical research for senior Bachelor of Science Chemistry majors. Students carry out experimental work to meet the project objectives of their thesis. Weekly meetings include seminars, progress reports, and writing workshops. The course culminates with a written senior thesis and a formal oral presentation. Laboratory required.
- General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing-centered; Natural Sciences
- Prerequisite: CHEM 495W and instructor consent
- Offering: Spring
- Instructor: Staff