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Courses

Fall Courses

117 Chemistry (prerequisites: facility with algebra)
230 Organic Chemistry I (prerequisites: Chem 117)
245 Molecular Modeling, Visualization, and Computational Chemistry (prerequisites: Physics 101, Math 110)
250 Solid State Chemistry (prerequisites: Chemistry 220 or 230 or Geology 200 or Physics 210)
300 DNA & Protein Biochemistry (prerequisites: Chemistry 220, 235, some Biology)

Spring Courses

117 Chemistry (prerequisites: facility with algebra)
150 Nanochemistry (prequisites: some chemistry or physics)
220 Environmental, Analytical and Geochemistry (prerequisites: Chem 117 or facility with mole calculations)
235 Organic Chemistry II (prerequisites: Chem 230)
240 Thermodynamics and Kinetics (prerequisites: one unit of chemistry, Physics 101, Math 110)
260 Nutrition and Metabolism: Biochemical Mechanisms (prerequisites: Chem 230, any 100-level biology)

Other Fractional Unit Courses

225 Topics in Instrumental Analysis (1/2 unit, prerequisites: Chem 220 or 230 but may vary with topic)
390 Special Projects (1/4, 1/2, or 1). Research work under faculty supervision.
395 Teaching Assistant (1/4, 1/2). Work with faculty in classroom and laboratory instruction.
396 Teaching Assistant Research (1/4, 1/2). Course, laboratory, and curriculum development projects with faculty.

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Chem 117 - General Chemistry

Why is chemistry important to other sciences, technology, and society? What processes do chemists use when dealing with real problems? What conceptual models do chemists use to understand and explain their observations? The focus of this course is on the reasons for doing science, the intellectual and instrumental tools used, the models developed to solve new problems and the assertion that chemistry has a tremendous effect on your personal life and on the decisions made by society. Along the way we will cover atoms, molecules, ions, and periodic properties; chemical equations, stoichiometry and moles; Lewis structures and VSEPR model of bonding; reactivity and functional groups; states of matter and intermolecular forces; relationships between structure and properties. Topical applications and issues vary with the instructor and may include climate change, automobile pollution, and health/nutrition. Three two-hour class periods per week of combined lecture, laboratory, and discussion. (U, W) Offered each semester.

Prerequisite: Facility with algebra. Note: Students with a strong prior background in chemistry are encouraged to consult with the department about placement into a more advanced chemistry course.


Chemistry 150 - Nanochemistry

Chemistry plays a significant role in the emerging interdisciplinary fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The nanoscale refers to materials with dimensions on the scale of nanometers (a thousandth of a thousandth of a thousandth of a meter). Control of the material world at the scale of atoms and molecules can produce materials with fundamentally different properties and behavior and has been touted as the next technological revolution. Some questions we will consider include: What nanotechnology already exists? What makes nanomaterials special? How can they be prepared? What tools can be used to study such materials? Three class periods and one laboratory period per week. (U) Offered each spring.

Prerequisite: Some chemistry or physics


Chem 220 - Environmental, Analytical and Geochemistry

Chemical equilibria are fundamental in the understanding of biological and environmental processes and in chemical analysis. This course emphasizes quantitative and graphical interpretation of acid-base, solubility, distribution, complex ion, and redox equilibria in aqueous solution and soils. Laboratory work stresses application of gravimetric, volumetric, spectrophotometric, and potentiometric techniques. Pre-professional preparation requiring one term of quantitative analysis is satisfied by Chemistry 220. Three class periods and one laboratory period per week. (U) Offered each spring.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 117 or facility with mole calculations.


Chemistry 225 - Topics in Instrumental Analysis (1/2 unit)

Possible topics include nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, infrared, Raman, electronic and atomic absorption and x-ray spectroscopies; mass spectrometry; gas and liquid chromatography; microcalorimetry; and voltammetry. Three class periods and one laboratory period per week. May be taken more than once under different topics.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 220 or Chemistry 230.


Chem 230: Organic Chemistry I

Reaction and properties of aliphatic and aromatic compounds of carbon. Considerable emphasis on modern theoretical interpretation of structure and of reaction mechanisms. Laboratory: basic techniques and synthetic procedures and modern spectroscopic methods of structure determination. Three class periods and one laboratory period per week. (Q, U) Offered each fall.

Prerequisite: Chem 117.


Chem 235: Organic Chemistry II

Reaction and properties of aliphatic and aromatic compounds of carbon. Considerable emphasis on modern theoretical interpretation of structure and of reaction mechanisms. Laboratory: basic techniques and synthetic procedures and modern spectroscopic methods of structure determination; as part of the laboratory experience for Chemistry 235, each student is required to prepare an independent laboratory project and carry it out under the supervision of the instructor. Three class periods and one laboratory period per week. Offered each spring.

Prerequisite: Chem 117, 230.


Chem 240: Thermodynamics and Kinetics

First, second, and third laws of thermodynamics; phase and chemical equilibria; electrochemistry; experimental chemical kinetics, mechanisms, photophysics and theories of chemical reactions. Offered each spring.

Prerequisite: one unit of chemistry, Physics 101, and Mathematics 110 or consent of instructor.


Chem 245: Molecular Visualization, Modeling, and Computational Chemistry

Quantum mechanics applied to one-dimensional systems; structure and visualization of molecules using molecular modeling and computational chemistry. Three class periods and one laboratory period per week. (Q) Offered each fall.

Prerequisites: Physics 101 and Mathematics 110, or consent of instructor.


Chem 250: Solid State Chemistry

Solids are an important part of our materials-intensive world and at the foundation of many emerging technologies. This course focuses on the relationships among structure, composition, and periodic properties; the characterization of atomic and molecular arrangements in crystalline and amorphous solids such as metals, minerals, ceramics, semiconductors and proteins; and applications to the fields of electronics, optics, magnetics, catalysis, and energy generation and storage. Laboratory work emphasizes the synthesis, purification and characterization of inorganic compounds. Three class periods and one laboratory period per week. Offered each fall.

Prerequisite: Chemistry 220 or Chemistry 230 or Geology 200 or Physics 210.


Chem 260 / Bio 260: Nutrition and Metabolism: Biochemical Mechanisms

Molecular biology, bioenergetics and regulation of cellular processes. Metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and nucleic acids. Laboratory experiments investigate metabolism and electron transport utilizing techniques for preparation and purification of enzymes, carbohydrates, and lipids. Three class periods and one laboratory period per week. Offered each spring.

Prerequisites: Chem 230, any 100 level biology course, or consent of instructor.


Chem 300 / Bio 300: DNA & Protein Biochemistry

At the fundamental chemical level, how do cells maintain and extract information from DNA to build and utilize proteins? Considerable emphasis on the chemical basis of biological information storage and processing, structure and function of proteins, enzyme catalysis theory, and quantitative analysis of enzyme kinetics. Two combined class and laboratory periods per week. (Q) Offered each fall.

Prerequisites: Chem 220, 235, and one from Biology 110, 111, 121, or 141.


Chem 360: Next-Generation Antimicrobials (1)

This course explores the chemistry of antibiotics, including their chemical structures, mechanisms of antibiotic action, mechanisms of bacterial resistance, methods of drug discovery, and stewardship and policy. Students engage in critical reading and discussion of scientific literature. During the laboratory component of the course, students discover and characterize antibiotic-producing bacteria from soil. Techniques include aseptic microbiological work, PCR and introductory bioinformatics (BLAST, and antiSMASH), chemical extraction, and biochemical assays. Students engage in experimental design during a semester-long research project and communicate their findings by preparing and presenting a poster about their research project. (CP) (Also listed as Biology 360.) Offered every other spring.

Prerequisite: One 200-level biology course, Chemistry 235, and junior or senior standing, or consent of instructor.


Chem 370, 375: Advanced Topics (1/2 or 1 unit)

In-depth study of selected topics stressing primary research literature. Lecture, discussion, student presentations and papers. May include laboratory. Past offerings have included advanced organic chemistry, scientific glassblowing, medicinal chemistry, and laser spectroscopy. May be repeated for credit if topic is different. Offered each semester.

Prerequisite: Varies with topic.


CHEM 390. Special Projects (1/4 - 1 unit)

Research work under faculty supervision.

Prerequisite: sophomore standing.


CHEM 395. Teaching Assistant (1/4, 1/2 unit).

Work with faculty in classroom and laboratory instruction. Graded credit/no credit.


CHEM 396. Teaching Assistant Research (1/4, 1/2 unit).

Course, laboratory, and curriculum development projects with faculty.

Prerequisite: consent of instructor.


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Last updated August 11, 2011