The College Catalogue

First-Year Seminars

For a full description of first-year seminars, see the First-Year Seminar section.

11 {1011} a. Great Issues in Science. Fall 2012. Daniel M. Steffenson.

Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced Courses

[56 {1056} a - MCSR, INS. Investigations: The Chemistry of Forensic Science.]

[57 {1057} a - INS. Chemistry of Poisons.]

59 {1059} a - INS. Chemistry of Consumer Goods. Fall 2012. Yi Jin Gorske.

Natural and synthetic “chemicals” make up virtually everything we purchase and consume from breakfast cereals to soaps, shampoo bottles, and over-the-counter medications. Examines the chemical components of food, drugs, soaps, plastics, and other consumer goods we encounter daily. Explores scientific resources that can be used to obtain information on product components, safety, and regulations. Also considers topics related to some of the current safety concerns raised by chemicals found in common household items through case studies and research projects. Assumes no background in science. Not open to students who have credit for a chemistry course numbered 100 or higher.

101 {1101} a - INS. Introductory Chemistry I. Every fall. Michael P. Danahy and Jeffrey K. Nagle.

The first course in a two-semester introductory college chemistry sequence. Introduction to the states of matter and their properties, stoichiometry and the mole unit, properties of gases, thermochemistry, atomic structure, and periodic properties of the elements. Lectures, review sessions, and four hours of laboratory work per week. To ensure proper placement, students must take the chemistry placement examination and must be recommended for placement in Chemistry 101. Students continuing in chemistry will take Chemistry 102, not Chemistry 109, as their next chemistry course.

102 {1102} a - MCSR, INS. Introductory Chemistry II. Every spring. The Department.

The second course in a two-semester introductory college chemistry sequence. Introduction to chemical bonding and intermolecular forces; characterization of chemical systems at equilibrium and spontaneous processes; the rates of chemical reactions; and special topics. Lectures, review sessions, and four hours of laboratory work per week. Students who have taken Chemistry 109 may not take Chemistry 102 for credit.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 101 or permission of the instructor.

105 {1105} a - MCSR, INS. Perspectives in Environmental Science. Every spring. Spring 2013. John Lichter and Dharni Vasudevan.

Functioning of the earth system is defined by the complex and fascinating interaction of processes within and between four principal spheres: land, air, water, and life. Leverages key principles of environmental chemistry and ecology to unravel the intricate connectedness of natural phenomena and ecosystem function. Fundamental biological and chemical concepts are used to understand the science behind the environmental dilemmas facing societies as a consequence of human activities. Laboratory sessions consist of local field trips, laboratory experiments, group research, case study exercises, and discussions of current and classic scientific literature. (Same as Biology 158 {1158} and Environmental Studies 201 {2201}.)

Prerequisite: One 100-level or higher course in biology, chemistry, earth and oceanographic science, or physics.

109 {1109} a - MCSR, INS. General Chemistry. Every fall and spring. Fall 2012. Ronald L. Christensen. Spring 2013. The Department.

A one-semester introductory chemistry course. Introduction to models of atomic structure, chemical bonding, and intermolecular forces; characterization of chemical systems at equilibrium and spontaneous processes; the rates of chemical reactions; and special topics. Lectures, review sessions, and four hours of laboratory work per week. Students who have taken Chemistry 102 may not take Chemistry 109 for credit. To ensure proper placement, students must take the chemistry placement examination and must be recommended for placement in Chemistry 109.

205 {2050} a - INS. Environmental Chemistry. Spring 2013. Dharni Vasudevan.

Focuses on two key processes that influence human and wildlife exposure to potentially harmful substances—chemical speciation and transformation. Equilibrium principles as applied to acid-base, complexation, precipitation, and dissolution reactions are used to explore organic and inorganic compound speciation in natural and polluted waters; quantitative approaches are emphasized. Weekly laboratory sections are concerned with the detection and quantification of organic and inorganic compounds in air, water, and soils/sediments. (Same as Earth and Oceanographic Science 206 {2325} and Environmental Studies 211 {2205}.)

Prerequisite: Chemistry 109.

210 {2100} a - MCSR, INS. Chemical Analysis. Every fall. Ryan C. Nelson.

Methods of separating and quantifying inorganic and organic compounds using volumetric, spectrophotometric, electrometric, and chromatographic techniques are covered. Chemical equilibria and the statistical analysis of data are addressed. Lectures and four hours of laboratory work per week.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 102 or 109, or any 200-level course in chemistry.

225 {2250} a. Organic Chemistry I. Every fall. Richard D. Broene, Michael P. Danahy, and Benjamin C. Gorske.

Introduction to the chemistry of the compounds of carbon. Describes bonding, conformations, and stereochemistry of small organic molecules. Reactions of hydrocarbons, alkyl halides, and alcohols are discussed. Kinetic and thermodynamic data are used to formulate reaction mechanisms. Lectures, review sessions, and four hours of laboratory work per week.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 102 or 109, or any 200-level course in chemistry.

226 {2260} a. Organic Chemistry II. Every spring. Richard D. Broene, Michael P. Danahy, and Benjamin C. Gorske.

Continuation of the study of the compounds of carbon. Highlights the reactions of aromatic, carbonyl-containing, and amine functional groups. Mechanistic reasoning provides a basis for understanding these reactions. Skills for designing logical synthetic approaches to complex organic molecules are developed. Chemistry 225 and 226 cover the material of the usual course in organic chemistry and form a foundation for further work in organic chemistry and biochemistry. Lectures, review sessions, and four hours of laboratory work per week.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 225.

232 {2320} a - MCSR. Biochemistry. Every spring. Danielle H. Dube.

Focuses on the chemistry of living organisms. Topics include structure, conformation, and properties of the major classes of biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids); enzyme mechanisms, kinetics, and regulation; metabolic transformations; energetics and metabolic control. Lectures and four hours of laboratory work per week.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 226.

240 {2400} a - MCSR, INS. Inorganic Chemistry. Every spring. Jeffrey K. Nagle.

An introduction to the chemistry of the elements with a focus on chemical bonding, periodic properties, and coordination compounds. Topics in solid state, bioinorganic, and environmental inorganic chemistry also are included. Provides a foundation for further work in chemistry and biochemistry. Lectures and four hours of laboratory work per week.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 102 or 109, or any 200-level course in chemistry.

251 {2510} a - MCSR, INS. Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics. Every fall. Daniel M. Steffenson.

Thermodynamics and its application to chemical changes and equilibria that occur in the gaseous, solid, and liquid states. The behavior of systems at equilibrium and chemical kinetics are related to molecular properties by means of statistical mechanics and the laws of thermodynamics. Lectures and four hours of laboratory work per week. Mathematics 181 is recommended.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 102 or 109, or any 200-level course in chemistry; Mathematics 171 or higher; and Physics 104; or permission of the instructor.

252 {2520} a - MCSR, INS. Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy. Every spring. Soren N. Eustis.

Development and principles of quantum chemistry with applications to atomic structure, chemical bonding, chemical reactivity, and molecular spectroscopy. Lectures and four hours of laboratory work per week. Mathematics 181 is recommended.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 102 or 109, or any 200-level course in chemistry; Mathematics 171 or higher; and Physics 104; or permission of the instructor.

Note: Chemistry 251 is not a prerequisite for Chemistry 252.

291–294 {2970–2973} a. Intermediate Independent Study in Chemistry. The Department.

Laboratory or literature-based investigation of a topic in chemistry. Topics are determined by the student and a supervising faculty member. Designed for students who have not completed at least four of the 200-level courses required for the chemistry major.

299 {2999} a. Intermediate Collaborative Study in Chemistry. The Department.

[305 {3050} a. Environmental Fate of Organic Chemicals. (Same as Environmental Studies 305 {3905}.)]

306 {3060} a. Advanced Environmental Organic Chemistry. Fall 2012. Dharni Vasudevan.

Human activities result in the intentional or inadvertent release of organic chemicals into the natural environment. Interconnected physical, chemical, and biological processes influence the environmental fate of chemicals and the extent human and ecosystem exposure. Focuses on the thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical transformations in the natural environment via nucleophilic, redox, photolytic, and biological (microbial) reactions. (Same as Environmental Studies 306 {3906}.)

Prerequisite: Chemistry 225.

310 {3100} a. Instrumental Analysis. Spring 2013. Ryan C. Nelson.

Theoretical and practical aspects of instrumental techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry are covered, in conjunction with advanced chromatographic methods. Applications of instrumental techniques to the analysis of biological and environmental samples are covered. Lectures and two hours of laboratory work per week.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 210 or permission of the instructor.

325 {3250} a. Structure Determination in Organic Chemistry. Spring 2013. Richard D. Broene.

The theory and application of spectroscopic techniques useful for the determination of the molecular structures of organic molecules are discussed. Mass spectrometry and infrared, ultraviolet-visible, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are applied to structure elucidation. Heavy emphasis is placed on applications of multiple-pulse, Fourier transform NMR spectroscopic techniques. Lectures and at least two hours of laboratory work per week.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 226.

327 {3270} a. Biomimetic and Supramolecular Chemistry. Fall 2012. Benjamin C. Gorske.

A guided exploration of the primary scientific literature concerning weak covalent and noncovalent interactions that collectively determine the three-dimensional structures of biomimetic and foldameric molecules and that govern the aggregation of molecules into discrete multi-molecular assemblies. Surveys practical applications in biochemical investigation, catalysis, and medicine, as well as in the young but rapidly expanding sciences of molecular and nanostructural engineering.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 226.

331 {3310} a. Chemical Biology. Spring 2013. Danielle H. Dube.

The power of organic synthesis has had a tremendous impact on our understanding of biological systems. Examines case studies in which synthetically derived small molecules have been used as tools to tease out answers to questions of biological significance. Topics include synthetic strategies that have been used to make derivatives of the major classes of biomolecules (nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) and the experimental breakthroughs these molecules have enabled (e.g., polymerase-chain reaction, DNA sequencing, microarray technology). Emphasis on current literature, experimental design, and critical review of manuscripts.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 232.

340 {3400} a. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. Fall 2012. Jeffrey K. Nagle.

Inorganic chemistry is incredibly diverse and wide-ranging in scope. Symmetry, spectroscopy, and quantum-based theories and computational methods are employed to gain insight into the molecular and electronic structures and reaction mechanisms of inorganic compounds. Examples from the current literature emphasized, including topics in inorganic photochemistry and biochemistry. Chemistry 252 is recommended.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 240 or permission of the instructor.

401–404 {4000–4003} a. Advanced Independent Study and Honors in Chemistry. The Department.

Advanced version of Chemistry 291–294. Students are expected to demonstrate a higher level of ownership of their research problem and to have completed at least four of the 200-level courses required for the major.

405 {4029} a. Advanced Collaborative Study in Chemistry. The Department.