Chemistry Department Course Descriptions
Spring 2002

CHEM 100 - Chemistry and Society
(4 credits)
K. Cline

Students will learn basic concepts of chemistry and its role in current issues and familiar phenomena. Topics of discussion will include the chemistry of materials, the environment and nutrition. Class sessions will include lectures and chemical demonstrations with class participation. Grades will be based on classroom participation, homework assignments, exams and a comprehensive final.

CHEM 162 - Chemical Structure & Analysis
(5 credits)
M. Ellison, D. Finster, P. Hanson

This course follows Chem 121 and uses the same textbook. Topics include simple kinetics, equilibrium, acid-base chemistry, basic thermodynamics and electrochemistry, wet and instrumental analytical techniques, and a selected survey of main group elements and transition metals and their compounds. The weekly laboratory will emphasize data gathering and analysis, the use of computers in the lab, analytical techniques and inorganic synthesis. Pre-requisites: Chem 121; Math Placement Score of 25 or Math 120 or simultaneous registration in Math 120.

CHEM 281 - Analytical Chemistry
(5 credits)
K. Cline

This course will emphasize problem solving through chemical analysis. Students will learn how to choose methods for analysis, acquire data and use statistics to analyze data. The course will cover complex chemical equilibria as it applies to quantitative analysis. Specific methods to be studied and used in lab include volumetric analysis, UV-Vis absorption spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, fluorescence spectrometry, gas and liquid chromatography and potentiometry. Students will design and perform an independent lab project to analyze samples of their choice.

Assignments will include problem sets and lab reports. Several quizzes and three exams will be given during the semester. The final exam will include the ACS standardized exam on Analytical Chemistry. Prerequisites: Chem 162 and Math 201 or equivalent.

CHEM 282 - Qualitative Organic Analysis Lab (2 credits)
P. Hanson

The function of organic molecules is intimately related to their structure. New compounds are being prepared at the rate of over 100,000 per year. This high rate of preparation places an enhanced emphasis on our ability to determine molecular structure as a means to assess molecular function.

In Chem 282, students will be given the task of identifying a set of unknown compounds. A variety of wet lab chemistry (functional group determination) and spectroscopic (NMR, GC/MS, FTIR and UV-Vis) techniques will be used. Prerequisites: Chem 201 and Chem 281.

CHEM 290 - Introduction to Research
(1-3 credits)
Staff

Pursuit of a special project or problem under the supervision of a member of the faculty involving either laboratory or library work. Prerequisite: approval of the Department.

CHEM 300 - Junior Seminar
(1 credit)
Staff

Required of each Chemistry major of junior standing. Attendance at weekly one-hour seminars and discussions is required throughout the year. Each student delivers a one-half hour presentation on a chemical topic prepared under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Several sessions in the fall are devoted to bibliographic instruction, on-line searching, and standard formats for oral and written communication used by practicing chemists. Students register for this course for 0 credits in the fall semester and for 1 credit in the spring semester.

CHEM 302 - Organic Chemistry II
(5 credits)
N. Sartoris

This is the second organic course in the two-tier sequence. It is designed for those students who need two semesters of organic chemistry for medical school and other health related careers, chemistry majors interested in organic synthesis and reaction mechanisms, and biology majors interested in molecular biology who would benefit from an in-depth study of organic chemistry. The course will focus on organic spectroscopy, structure-reactivity relationships, reaction mechanisms, and organic multistep synthesis. The course will be organized around a reaction mechanism format. The weekly laboratory will emphasize the synthesis and characterization of selected organic compounds. Prerequisite: Chem 201.

CHEM 303 - Advanced Organic Chemistry
(4 credits)
N. Sartoris

An advanced treatment of organic chemistry with an emphasis on physical organic chemistry, reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, kinetics quantitative structure-property relationships, molecular orbital theory, aromaticity and symmetry controlled reactions. A problem solving approach will be emphasized. There will be graded problem sets and two examinations plus a final examination. Prerequisites: Chem 201 and Chem 311, or permission of the instructor.

CHEM 321 - Inorganic Chemistry
(5 credits)
D. Finster

The content of this course will examine atomic and molecular structure, bonding theories, symmetry analysis and group theory, the structure of solids, acid-base theories, structure and bonding of coordination complexes, and brief overviews of organometallic compounds, cluster compounds and multinuclear FT-NMR. The weekly laboratory will involve the synthesis and characterization of inorganic compounds, experiments using the Computational Chemistry Lab and the Qualitative Analysis Scheme. While covering these traditional content areas, we will also focus on the development of careful critical thinking skills in science and strengthening investigative skills using the textbook and the lab. Exams, homework and lab reports are the primary methods of evaluation. Prerequisites: Chem 281, Math 202 and Phys 218.

CHEM 352 - Physical Chemistry II
(5 credits)
M. Ellison

Exploring the structure and properties of individual atoms and molecules with emphasis on quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, and statistical thermodynamics. Laboratory required. Writing Intensive. Prerequisite: Chem 311.

CHEM 372 - Biochemistry II
(5 credits)
A. Anderson

This course will focus on two aspects of biochemistry. First, experimental techniques for biochemical studies will be explored both in the lecture and the laboratory. In conjunction with the lab, we will explore some aspects of scientific writing. Approximately five laboratory reports will be written and revised. Protein X-ray crystallography will be explored in the lecture part of the course. The second focus is on metabolic control analysis. This approach provides a more powerful framework for analyzing issues of regulation in metabolism. The classroom sessions will be primarily lecture with students responsible for giving a short presentation. There will be two or three exams during the semester as well as a Final Exam. Laboratory will typically meet one afternoon a week. Writing Intensive. Prerequisites: Chem 271, Math 201, and Phys 200.

CHEM 380 - Topics: Materials Science
(2 credits)
M. Ellison

This course will investigate the optical, electrical, and mechanical properties of materials. Subjects will be presented as principles underlying the properties of materials. Emphasis will be given to using scientific knowledge to develop practical applications, such as light-emitting diodes, space shuttle tiles, lasers, semiconductor devices, and bullet-proof vests. Prerequisites: Chem 162, Phys 200, or permission of instructor.

CHEM 400 - Senior Seminar
(1 credit)
Staff

Required of each Chemistry major of senior standing. Attendance at weekly one-hour seminars and discussions is required throughout the year. Each student delivers a one-hour presentation on a chemical topic prepared under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Several sessions in the fall are devoted to discussions of the social context in which science transpires in our culture and the ethical and professional issues of being a chemist. Students register for this course for 0 credits in the Fall semester and for 1 credit in the spring semester.

CHEM 491 - Internship
(2 - 4 credits)
Staff

Chemical research or activity during the summer or academic semester at an approved site or program. Prerequisites: Chem 281 and prior approval of the department.

CHEM 492 - Directed Research
(2 - 4 credits)
Staff

Laboratory or library research project in collaboration with a member of the faculty. This is often a more intense continuation of a project started in Chem 290. Prerequisites: Permission of the supervising instructor.

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