Chemistry
Chair Susan J. Klein, Mark A. Bryant, Kathryn L. Davis, Jeffrey P. Osborne, Terese Salupo-Bryant
The courses are designed for students who desire (a) a knowledge of chemistry to understand the technological society in which they live and to supplement other sciences; (b) to prepare for graduate work in the chemical sciences; (c) to secure training toward professions in medicine, medical technology, nursing, dentistry, engineering, etc.; (d) to teach chemistry in the secondary schools.
Baccalaureate Degrees
Courses listed in parentheses are prerequisites.
Major in chemistry, 50 hours: CHEM 111, 111L, 113, 113L, 235, 235L, 311, 311L, 312, 312L, CHEM 341, 341L, 342, 342L; (MATH 121) PHYS 210, 220; two hours of laboratory work selected from: CHEM 405L, 441, 443; six hours of electives selected from: CHEM 405, 406, 425, 435.
Majors must successfully complete the senior comprehensive evaluation prior to graduation. Details are available from the department chair.
Minor in chemistry, 23 hours: CHEM 111, 111L, 113, 113L, 235, 235L, 311, 311L, and seven hours of electives selected from CHEM 200-400 level courses with no more than four hours from CHEM 380, 385, 475, 480, 485.
Requirements for the teaching major are available in the Office of Teacher Education.
Courses CHEM
101 CHEMICAL SCIENCE - 3 hours
Applications of chemistry in society. Topics covered include an introduction to chemical bonding, chemical energy and organic chemistry. These concepts are applied to fossil fuels, the food system, nutrition, drugs, plastics and current topics of pollution. C-4NC. Fall. Spring.
105 INTRODUCTION TO INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - 3 hours
A broad overview of the basic theory and principles of general and inorganic chemistry. Topics include bonding theories, stoichiometry, thermodynamics, kinetics, acids and bases, and nuclear chemistry. The CHEM 105 and 106 sequence is recommended for students needing one year of chemistry. Prerequisite: MATH 105 or placement into a higher-level mathematics course. C-4NC. Fall.
105L INTRODUCTION TO INORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB - 1 hour
Focuses on investigation of the topics covered in CHEM 105, including stoichiometry, thermodynamics, kinetics and acid-base chemistry. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment or successful completion of CHEM 105.
106 INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - 3 hours
Emphasizes organic and biological aspects of chemistry. Lectures cover bonding, structure, reactions, and naming of organic and biologically important molecules. Applications of organic chemistry to life sciences, industry and the home are stressed. The CHEM 105 and 106 sequence is recommended for students needing one year of chemistry. Prerequisite: CHEM 105. Spring.
106L INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB - 1 hour
Focuses on investigation of the topics covered in CHEM 106, including properties of organic compounds, reactivity, synthesis. Lab fee. Prerequisites: CHEM 105L and concurrent enrollment or successful completion of CHEM 106.
111 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I - 3 hours
Basis for all higher level chemistry courses. Topics covered include atomic and molecular structure; stoichiometry; energy relationships; bonding; and solid, liquid and gaseous states. C-4NC. Fall.
111L GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LAB - 1 hour
Laboratory experience in stoichiometry and introductory quantitative analysis supplement the classroom material. Lab fee. Prerequisite: Successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 111. Fall.
113 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II - 3 hours
Thermodynamics as it relates to chemical equilibrium, acid-base systems and slightly soluble salts. The theory and application of kinetics to chemical systems is covered. Appropriate descriptive chemistry is included at all phases of the course. Prerequisite: CHEM 111. Spring.
113L GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LAB - 1 hour
Includes work in kinetics, colligative properties and ionic equilibria. Prerequisites: CHEM 111L or CHEM 112LH, successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 113. Spring.
136 FORENSIC SCIENCE - 3 hours
Various aspects of analysis in the crime laboratory. Fingerprinting, drug analysis, arson investigation, blood analysis, DNA analysis, ballistics, and a variety of other topics will be studied. Laboratory work will be emphasized. A field trip will be included. Prerequisite: one CHEM course.
235 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY - 3 hours
An introduction to volumetric, photometric, chromatographic, potentiometric and gravimetric analytical techniques. Prerequisites: CHEM 113. Fall.
235L ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY LAB - 1 hour
Laboratory work requires the use of spreadsheets for data analysis and computer searching of the Chemical Abstracts database. Students will also investigate acid-base equilibria, redox equilibria, spectroscopic techniques and separations. Lab fee. Prerequisite: CHEM 113L and concurrent enrollment or successful completion of CHEM 235.
260 ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY - 3 hours
An introduction to chemical processes in key areas of the Earth’s environment, including the stratosphere, the ground-level atmosphere, ground water, sand soils and sediments. Emphasis on the impact of human activity and remediation strategies. Prerequisite: Six hours of college-level chemistry.
311 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I - 3 hours
Fundamental concepts of organic chemistry including bonding, nomenclature, isomerism, stereochemistry, and the relation of structure to chemical and physical properties are covered. Descriptive chemistry and reaction mechanisms related to hydrocarbons, alkyl halides and alcohols are included. Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHEM 113. Fall.
311L ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I LAB - 1 hour
Experience in techniques of purification, separation and identification. Reactions illustrative of topics covered in lecture are included. Lab fee. Prerequisites: CHEM 113L; successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 311. Fall.
312 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II - 3 hours
Concepts covered in CHEM 311 as applied to the chemistry of aromatics, carbonyl compounds, amines, carbohydrates, etc. Continues to use reaction mechanisms and reactive intermediates in understanding the reactions of these compounds. Applications to related fields are made. Prerequisite: CHEM 311. Spring.
312L ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II LAB - 1 hour
Experience in functional group transformation, synthetic sequences and laboratory techniques. Lab fee. Prerequisite: CHEM 311L; successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 312. Spring.
341 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I - 3 hours
Principles of quantum mechanics, chemical thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics with application to pure substances including phase equilibria will be explored. Prerequisites: CHEM 113, MATH 122, PHYS 210 and 220. Fall.
341L PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I LAB (W) - 1 hour
Laboratory to accompany CHEM 341. Prerequisite: CHEM 113L, CHEM 341 concurrent enrollment. Fall.
342 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY II - 3 hours
Principles of chemical kinetics and dynamic equilibrium as well as application of equilibrium and non-equilibrium theory to a variety of chemical applications including electrochemistry and spectroscopy will be explored. Prerequisites: CHEM 341 or PHYS 340. Spring.
342L PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY II LAB - 1 hour
Laboratory to accompany CHEM 342. Prerequisites: CHEM 113L, CHEM 342 concurrent enrollment. Spring.
405 BIOCHEMISTRY I (W) - 3 hours
The chemical aspects of living organisms with an emphasis on structure-function relationships. Topics include biomonomers, protein structure and function, and degradative and synthetic biochemical cycles. Prerequisite: CHEM 312; FYS or ENG 111. Fall.
405L BIOCHEMISTRY I LAB - 1 hour
Experience in the isolation, purification and characterization of proteins. Lab fee. Prerequisites: CHEM 312L, 405 concurrent. Fall.
406 BIOCHEMISTRY II - 3 hours
Advanced topics on the chemical aspects of living organism with an emphasis on biopolymer interactions. Topics include protein-nucleic acid interactions, genetic information processing and molecular physiology. Prerequisite: CHEM 405. Spring.
425 ADVANCED ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - 3 hours
A physical organic approach to structure and reactions. The use of chemical literature and electronic searching with STN are practiced. Prerequisite: CHEM 312 and 342.
427 INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS LAB - 2 hours
Experience in the use of chemical instrumentation. Various methods will include spectroscopy, chromatography, electrochemistry, mass spectrometry and others. Experiments include characterization and synthesis of organic and inorganic compounds. Includes six hours of laboratory work per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 233.
435 ADVANCED INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - 3 hours
Electronic structures and periodicity of elements. Includes bonding theories for covalent, ionic and metallic compounds; molecular symmetry; acid-base theories; and redox, transition metal and organometallic chemistry. Prerequisite: CHEM 342.
441 ADVANCED ANALYTICAL LAB I - 1 hour
Experience in the use of chemical instrumentation. Various methods will include spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectrometry, electrochemistry and others. Includes three hours of laboratory work per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 235, 235L.
443 ADVANCED ANALYTICAL LAB II - 1 hour
Experience in the use of chemical instrumentation. Multi-week projects of chemical, environmental and biochemical analysis involving multiple methods will be employed. Various methods will include spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectrometry, electrochemistry and others. Includes three hours of laboratory work per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 235, 235L.
451 TOXICOLOGY & HUMAN HEALTH - 4 hours
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of general principles, mechanisms, current trends and recent developments in the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic toxicities from drug and chemical exposures from a variety of sources (medications, environment, food, water, etc.). Topics will discuss distribution, cellular penetration, metabolic conversion, and elimination of toxic agents, as well as the fundamental laws governing the interaction of foreign chemicals with biological systems. Emphasis will be placed upon application of these concepts to the understanding and prevention of mortality and morbidity resulting from exposure to toxic substances. Overall rationale is to learn strategies to prevent toxicity after intentional or accidental poisonings, and various forms of natural and man-made disasters. Prerequisites: CHEM 312 and two semesters of BIOL courses.
475 INTERNSHIP (W) - 2-4 hours
Students with junior or senior status work in a professional setting related to chemistry: industrial, governmental or private research facilities. The students are supervised and evaluated by professionals who submit reports to the students and the chemistry faculty supervisor. May be repeated once with consent of the department. Prerequisite: FYS or ENG 111; consent of department chair.
496 RESEARCH - 1-4 hours
Independent research under the supervision of a faculty member or other designee. May be used toward completion of the major Senior Comprehensive Evaluation. May be repeated for a maximum of four hours. Prerequisite: CHEM 311L.
380 or 480 SPECIAL PROBLEMS - 1-4 hours
A student who has demonstrated ability to work independently may propose a course and pursue it with a qualified and willing professor. The department chair and the vice president and dean for academic affairs also must approve. A set of guidelines is available at the Office of the Registrar.
385 or 485 SEMINAR - 1-4 hours
An in-depth consideration of a significant scholarly problem or issue. Students pursue a supervised, independent inquiry on an aspect of the topic and exchange results through reports and discussions.