Course Listings - Spring 2003
Chemistry Department Course Descriptions
Spring 2003
CHEM 100 – Chemistry and Society, (4 credits), A. Anderson
This course is designed to present some of the essential aspects of
chemistry to the non-science major and applies to the Natural World
non-lab general education requirement (N course). Emphasis will be
placed on how chemistry connects with issues and problems of current
concern for the liberally-educated chemist. We will become involved
in a number of pro/con discussions which will make use of the chemical
language and concepts learned in this course.
CHEM 100 - Chemistry and Society, (4 credits), K. Cline
This course will focus on the chemistry of art and architecture.
Students will learn basic concepts of chemistry as they relate
to the materials and processes of art. Topics covered will
include photography, painting, ceramics and architectural materials.
Class sessions will include lectures and chemical demonstrations
with class participation. Grades will be based on in-class work, papers and homework assignments, quizzes, exams and a comprehensive final.
CHEM 162 - Chemical Structure & Analysis, (5 credits), M. Ellison, D. Finster, W. Clark
Pre-requisites: Chem 121; Math Placement Score of 25 or
Math 120 or simultaneous registration in Math 120.
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.
CHEM 281 - Analytical Chemistry, (5 credits), K. Cline
Prerequisites: Chem 162 and Math 201 or equivalent.
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.
CHEM 282 - Qualitative Organic Analysis Lab, (2 credits), P. Hanson
Prerequisites: Chem 201 and Chem 281.
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.
CHEM 290 - Introduction to Research, (1-3 credits), Staff
Prerequisite: approval of the Department.
Pursuit of a special project or problem under the
supervision of a member of the faculty involving
either laboratory or library work.
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), P. Hanson
Prerequisite: Chem 201.
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.
CHEM 352 - Physical Chemistry II, (5 credits), M. Ellison
Prerequisite: Chem 311.
Exploring the structure and properties of individual
atoms and molecules with emphasis on quantum chemistry,
spectroscopy, and statistical thermodynamics. Laboratory
required. Writing Intensive.
CHEM 372 - Biochemistry II, (5 credits), A. Anderson
Prerequisites: Chem 271, Math 201, and Phys 200.
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.
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
Prerequisites: Chem 281 and prior approval of the department.
Chemical research or activity during the summer or academic
semester at an approved site or program.
CHEM 492 - Directed Research, (2 - 4 credits), Staff
Prerequisites: Permission of the supervising instructor.
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.
