CHEM - Chemistry Course Descriptions

Students may register for CHEM 10301 if eligible for Calculus on the basis of mathematics placement test scores or completion of MATH 19500. All others are required to take CHEM 10100 (Introduction to Chemistry) prior to 10301.

CHEM 10100 Introduction to Chemistry

(For students with limited background in mathematics or the physical sciences.) Problem-solving in chemistry: introduction to chemical and physical concepts.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

C grade in MATH 19500;

Corequisites

MATH 19500.

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM 10301 General Chemistry I

This is the first semester of a two-semester general chemistry course-sequence. An in-depth introduction to the fundamental laws and techniques of chemistry for majors in science and engineering. Topics include: measurement; stoichiometry; the gaseous state; thermochemistry; atomic structure and chemical bonding; redox reactions; solids, liquids and intermolecular forces. Materials fee:$30.

Credits

4

Prerequisites

Grade of C or better in MATH 19500 or placement by the department

Contact Hours

3 lect., 2 lab, 2 workshop hr./wk.

CHEM 10401 General Chemistry II

This is the second semester of a two-semester general chemistry course-sequence. An in-depth introduction to the fundamental laws and techniques of chemistry for majors in science and engineering. Topics include: chemical kinetics; chemical equilibrium; acids and bases; free energy, entropy and the second law of thermodynamics; electrochemistry; advanced bonding concepts; metals and coordination chemistry; and nuclear chemistry. Materials fee: $30.

Credits

4

Prerequisites

Grade of C or higher in CHEM 10301 or placement by the department.

Contact Hours

3 lect., 3 lab., 1 workshop hr./wk.

CHEM 11000 Exploring Chemistry

Credits

3

Contact Hours

3

CHEM 21000 Applied Chemistry for Biomedical Engineers

Introduces students to organic chemistry and biochemistry principles relevant to the study of the human body. Topics covered include: hydrocarbons; functional groups; and structure and function of biomolecules (lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids), along with their interactions; and introduction to molecular genetics.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

CHEM 10401 (min. C grade).

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM 24300 Quantitative Analysis

Volumetric, spectrophotometric and electrometric analyses. 

Credits

4

Prerequisites

CHEM 10401

Contact Hours

4

CHEM 25000 Math for Physical Chemistry

This course emphasizes computational chemistry mathematical methods. Topics include multidimensional integration, differential equations and elementary linear algebra.


Credits

2

Prerequisites

Grade of C or better in MATH 20100, MATH 20200

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM 26100 Organic Chemistry I

An introduction to the chemistry of carbon compounds, current interpretation of the reactions and properties of these compounds.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

Grade of C or higher in CHEM 10401 or placement by the department.

Contact Hours

3 lect., 1 rec., hr./wk.

CHEM 26200 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I

Exercises stressing the techniques involved in the preparation, isolation, purification, and analysis of carbon compounds. 

Credits

2

Prerequisites

Grade of C or higher in CHEM 26100 or placement by the department.

Materials Fee

Materials fee: $30.

Contact Hours

1 lect., 3 lab., 4 hr./wk.

CHEM 26300 Organic Chemistry II

A continuation of CHEM 26100.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

Grade of C or better in CHEM 26100 or placement by the department.

Contact Hours

3 lect., 1 rec. hr./wk.

CHEM 27200 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I

(For Chemistry majors). Exercises stressing the techniques involved in the preparation, isolation, purification, and analysis of carbon compounds. 

Credits

3

Prerequisites

Grade of C or higher in CHEM 26100 or placement by the department.

Corequisites

CHEM 26300.

Materials Fee

$30

Contact Hours

6 hr./wk.

CHEM 30100-30400 Honors

Students are provided the opportunity to do individual laboratory research under the direction of a member of the faculty which culminates in a term paper. A GPA of 3.0 in chemistry courses is required. Approval of Department Undergraduate Research Supervisor required prior to registration.

Credits

3

Contact Hours

3 cr./sem.

CHEM 31001-31004 Independent Study

Students are provided the opportunity to do individual library, special project or laboratory research under the direction of a member of the faculty which culminates in a term paper. A GPA of 2.5 in chemistry courses is required. Approval of Department Undergraduate Research Supervisor required prior to registration.

Credits

1-4

Contact Hours

1-4 cr./sem.

CHEM 31100-32000 Selected Topics in Chemistry

Special topics not covered in the usual department offerings. Topics will vary from semester to semester depending on student and instructor interest.

Credits

Determined by instructor

Contact Hours

Credits and hours to be determined by instructor and department with a maximum of 4 cr. per course.

CHEM 32002 Biochemistry I

This is the first semester of a two-semester Biochemistry course sequence. The course covers the cellular biochemistry of amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids, in depth.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

Grade of C or higher in CHEM 26100 or placement by the department. Grade of C or better in Bio 10100 (Biological Foundations I).

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM 32004 Biochemistry Laboratory I

Chromatography, electrophoresis, spectroscopy, and other quantitative laboratory techniques will be applied to the isolation and analysis of amino acids, proteins, enzymes, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. 

Credits

2

Prerequisites

Grade of C or better in CHEM 26300 or placement by the department.

Materials Fee

$30

Contact Hours

4 hr./wk.

CHEM 33000 Physical Chemistry I

The theoretical basis for the equilibrium behavior of chemical systems. Topics include: equations of state, laws of thermodynamics, calculus approaches to thermodynamic functions, properties of solutions, phase equilibria, chemical kinetics, real and ideal gases.

Credits

4

Prerequisites

CHEM 10401 (Grade C or above). PHYS 20700 or PHYS 20800. CHEM 25000 or MATH 21300. Or placement by the department.

Corequisites

PHYS 20800; CHEM 25000 or MATH 21300. Or placement by the department.

Contact Hours

4 hr./wk.

CHEM 33100 Physical Chemistry Laboratory I

Vapor pressures; phase diagram; combustion calorimetry; gas viscosities; electrochemical determination of thermodynamic quantities and other experiments based on topics covered in CHEM 33000

Credits

2

Prerequisites

CHEM 24300; pre-or coreq: CHEM 33000.

Offered

Spring only

Materials Fee

$30

Contact Hours

5 hr./wk.

CHEM 33200 Physical Chemistry II

Spectroscopy, quantum mechanics, and statistical thermodynamics. Students who feel that they would benefit from workshops should also take CHEM 33201.

Credits

4

Contact Hours

4 hr./wk

CHEM 37400 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II

A continuation of CHEM 27200 stressing qualitative organic analysis. 

Credits

3

Prerequisites

CHEM 27200 or (the discretion of the chair) and CHEM 26300.

Materials Fee

$30

Contact Hours

6 hr./wk.

CHEM 38200 Chemistry-Physics-Engineering Seminar I

Required for certain undergraduate students; emphasis on topics in physical, organic and inorganic chemistry.

Credits

1

Offered

Fall semester only

CHEM 38300 Chemistry-Physics-Engineering Seminar II

Required for certain undergraduate students; emphasis on topics in physical, organic and inorganic chemistry.

Credits

1

Offered

Spring semester only

CHEM 40300 Chemical Information Sources

An introduction to the retrieval of chemical information. Topics covered: primary, secondary and tertiary literature, including the major abstract journals, data sources, compendia, patents, current awareness, and computer readable sources.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

CHEM 10401 and CHEM 26100.

Offered

Spring semester only

Contact Hours

1 hr./wk.

CHEM 40500 Safety in Chemistry

Laboratory and plant safety and toxicology; safety regulations.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

CHEM 10401 and CHEM 26100.

Offered

Spring semester only.

Contact Hours

1 hr./wk.

CHEM 40600 Environmental Chemistry I

Chemical cycles, aquatic chemistry and microbial biochemistry, phase interactions, water pollution and treatment, atmospheric chemistry and pollution, geochemistry, soil chemistry, energy resources, hazardous wastes, toxicological chemistry, and analytical methods. Intended to broaden the students' understanding of chemical processes taking place in our environment. The relationship between atmospheric, soil and water chemistry will be underlined. This course draws upon general, analytical and organic chemistry experience.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

Grade of C or better in CHEM 26100 or placement by the department

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM 40601 Environmental Chemistry Laboratory

Introduction to environmental analysis. Samples of water, air, soil, food, etc. will be obtained and analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively for pollutants. The effects of these pollutants on the environment will be discussed and linked to urban problems. Analytical techniques will include titrations, separations (GC, HPLC, GC/MS), and polarography. 

Credits

2

Prerequisites

Grade of C or better in CHEM 26100 or placement by the department.

Corequisites

CHEM 40600

Offered

Fall only

Materials Fee

$30

Contact Hours

4 hr./wk.

Notes

Introduction to environmental analysis. Samples of water, air, soil, food, etc. will be obtained and analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively for pollutants. The effects of these pollutants on the environment will be discussed and linked to urban problems. Analytical techniques will include titrations, separations (GC, HPLC, GC/MS), and polarography.

CHEM 40700 Environmental Organic Chemistry

An examination of processes that affect the behavior and fate of anthropogenic organic contaminants in aquatic environments. Students learn to predict chemical properties that are influencing the transfers between hydrophobic organic chemicals, air, water, sediments and biota. This knowledge will be based on a fundamental understanding of intermolecular interactions and thermodynamic principles. Mechanisms of important thermochemical, photochemical, and biochemical transformation reactions are also investigated, leading to the development of techniques (such as structure-reactivity relationships) for assessing environmental fate or human exposure potential.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

CHEM 26100.

Offered

Spring only

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM 42500 Inorganic Chemistry

Concepts of inorganic chemistry including bonding theory, structure of complexes, symmetry, and reaction mechanisms.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

CHEM 26100, CHEM 26300, CHEM 33000; pre- or coreq: CHEM 33200 or CHEM 33500 recommended.

Offered

Spring only

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM 43400 Physical Chemistry and Chemical Instrumentation Laboratory II

This course will introduce students to experimental methods in physical chemistry, instrumental analysis and the principles and applications of chemical instrumentation. The course will acquaint the student with the behavior of real chemical systems, the theory of the chemical phenomenon under observation and the design and methodology of measurement systems to detect the chemical phenomenon.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

CHEM 33100; pre or coreq: CHEM 33200.

Offered

Fall only

Materials Fee

$30

Contact Hours

1 lect., 5 lab. hr./wk.

CHEM 43500 Physical Biochemistry

(For students taking the biochemistry concentration) Thermodynamics, kinetics, transport, spectroscopy, solids, surface and electrochemistry as applied to biological systems.

Credits

5

Prerequisites

CHEM 24300, CHEM 26300, CHEM 33000, CHEM 32002.

Offered

Spring only

Materials Fee

$30

Contact Hours

3 lect., 1 rec., 4 lab. hr./wk.

CHEM 44000 Journey to the Center of the Cell

A semester long journey that follows the path taken by two extra-cellular signals as they reach a cell, traverse the plasma membrane, navigate the cytoplasm, and finally manifest their effects on the genome. Through reading and discussion of primary research literature, this course highlights how structural biology has helped develop a detailed picture of each step in the pathway.

A portion of this course will be taught in so-called ‘flipped’ course mode. Prior to each class meeting, students will review reading material, listen to lecture podcasts, or view videos. Class time will be devoted to discussion/questions about the lecture, review of selected portions of the lecture, problems sets. Quizzes and other types of assessments will be used to evaluate students.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

Grade of C or better in CHEM 32002, or placement by the department.

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM 44200 RNA Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Chemistry, structure and function of the ribonucleic acids (RNA), and the increasingly important role this ancient biopolymer is recognized to play in Biochemistry and other life sciences, including medicine. Theoretical and methodological concepts will be explored in lectures and in class discussion of classic and contemporary RNA research papers.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

A minimum grade of C in CHEM 32002 and CHEM 48005, or equivalents..

Offered

Spring semester only.

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM 48005 Biochemistry II

Molecular basis of enzyme action, membranes (transport and transduction), protein structure, signal transduction, virology, bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, molecular basis of replication, transcription and translation of genetic information, and immunology.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

CHEM 45902.

Offered

Spring semester only.

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.