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Division of Natural Sciences & MathematicsDepartment of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Degree Programs

Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions

CHEM 1001 Science of Contemporary Iss I (0 or 4 credits)
First class in a three-quarter sequence that draws from chemistry, biochemistry, materials and the environment. The goal of the course is to provide a vehicle to help the student achieve some degree of scientific literacy. It begins with atoms, chemical bonds, molecules and eventually leads into larger, more biological molecules and polymers. The fall quarter covers topics such as dirt, diamonds and salt using the concepts of how atoms interact as ions, acids and bases, the nature of chemical bonds and the structure of organic molecules. Examples will cover topics as varied as minerals and nutrition, soaps, artificial joints, storage batteries, vinegar and buckyballs. Cannot be taken for credit for chemistry major or minor. Lab fee associated with this course.

CHEM 1002 Science of Contemporary Iss II (0 or 4 credits)
Second class in a three-quarter sequence that draws from chemistry, biochemistry, materials and the environment. The winter quarter covers topics such as fuel combustion, explosives, air, water, sunshine, and scum on the pond using concepts of nitrogen fixation, functional groups and chemical reactions. Grocery chemistry emphasizing carbohydrate and fat metabolism (fat conversion and storage, trans fats), formation and reactions of proteins. In addition the gaseous atmosphere (greenhouse effect), photochemical reactions (air pollution), light absorption and color (dyes) will be discussed. Cannot be taken for credit for chemistry major or minor. Lab fee associated with this course.

CHEM 1003 Science of Contemporary IssIII (0 or 4 credits)
Third class in a three-quarter sequence that draws from chemistry, biochemistry, materials and the environment. The spring quarter deals with the impact of chemicals both within and upon biological systems. The emphasis is on both biological and chemical topics such as hereditary materials (nucleic acids, genetic engineering), natural polymers, drugs (design and benefit; broccoli, morphine) and forensic science. Cannot be taken for credit for chemistry major or minor. Lab fee associated with this course.

CHEM 1010 General Chemistry (0 or 3 credits)
For natural science and engineering majors. Atomic and molecular structure, reactions in solution, thermochemistry and thermodynamics. Co-requisite: CHEM 1240.

CHEM 1240 General Chemistry Lab (1 credits)
Laboratory to accompany CHEM 1010. Experiments illustrate aspects of atomic structure, chemical bonding and thermodynamics. Lab fee associated with this course. Co-requisite: CHEM 1010.

CHEM 1610 Chemistry for Engineers (3 credits)
Lecture course for engineering majors and other science majors with strong background in chemistry. Topics covered include atomic and molecular structure, reactions in solution, thermochemistry and thermodynamics, electrochemistry and intermolecular forces. Co-requisite: CHEM 1640. Prerequisite: MATH 1951.

CHEM 1640 Chemistry for Engineers Lab (1 credits)
Laboratory to accompany CHEM 1610. Experiments illustrate aspects of atomic structure, chemical bonding, and thermodynamics. Lab fee associated with this course. Co-requisite: CHEM 1610.

CHEM 1992 Directed Study (1 to 10 credits)

CHEM 2011 Analysis Equilibrium Systems (3 credits)
Chemical equilibria, starting from simple examples and extending to complex systems, including salt solutions, acids and bases, and metal complex formation. Prerequisites: CHEM 1010 and 1240. Co-requisite: CHEM 2041.

CHEM 2041 Analysis Equilibrium Sys Lab (1 credits)
Laboratory to accompany CHEM 2011. Experiments illustrate equilibrium principles applied to acids/bases, salts and metal complexes, and methods for analysis. Prerequisites: CHEM 1010 and 1240. Lab fee associated with this course. Co-requisite: CHEM 2011.

CHEM 2131 Chemistry of the Elements (3 credits)
Descriptive chemistry of main group and transition elements including redox and coordination chemistry. Prerequisites: CHEM 2011 and 2041. Corequisite: CHEM 2141.

CHEM 2141 Chemistry of the Elements Lab (1 credits)
Laboratory to accompany CHEM 2131. Study of reactions of main group and transition elements including redox and coordination chemistry. Prerequisites: CHEM 2011 and 2041. Lab fee associated with this course. Co-requisite: CHEM 2131.

CHEM 2451 Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)
Structure and reactions of covalent compounds of carbon. Satisfies organic chemistry requirement in chemistry, biology and related fields. Prerequisites: CHEM 1010 and 1240. Co-requisite: CHEM 2461.

CHEM 2452 Organic Chemistry II (3 credits)
Structure and reactions of covalent compounds of carbon. Satisfies organic chemistry requirement in chemistry, biology and related fields. Prerequisite: CHEM 2451. Co-requisite: CHEM 2462.

CHEM 2453 Organic Chemistry III (3 credits)
Structure and reactions of covalent compounds of carbon. Satisfies organic chemistry requirement in chemistry, biology and related fields. Prerequisite: CHEM 2452. Co-requisite: CHEM 2463.

CHEM 2461 Organic Chemistry Lab I (1 credits)
Laboratory course in theory and practice of preparative and analytical organic chemistry, including introduction to IR and NMR spectroscopy. Lab fee associated with this course. Co-requisite: CHEM 2451.

CHEM 2462 Organic Chemistry Lab II (1 credits)
Laboratory course in theory and practice of preparative and analytical organic chemistry, including introduction to IR and NMR spectroscopy. Lab fee associated with this course. Co-requisite: CHEM 2452.

CHEM 2463 Organic Chemistry Lab III (1 credits)
Laboratory course in theory and practice of preparative and analytical organic chemistry, including introduction to IR and NMR spectroscopy. Lab fee associated with this course. Co-requisite: CHEM 2453.

CHEM 2701 Topics in Chemistry (1 to 4 credits)
Topical course changes with subject matter. Restricted to sophomore level students or above.

CHEM 2900 Careers in Chem & Biochemistry (1 or 2 credits)
This course is designed to give students in the natural and physical sciences total exposure to opportunities after graduation. This will encompass graduate schools, professional school, industry, education and government.

CHEM 2992 Directed Study (1 to 10 credits)

CHEM 3110 Chemical Systems I (3 credits)
Advanced discussion of modern concepts of organic chemistry; bonding, stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms. Prerequisites: CHEM 2453 and equivalent of one year of physical chemistry.

CHEM 3120 Chemical Systems II (3 credits)
Interpretation of trends in the chemistry of the elements in terms of orbital interactions. Most examples will be taken from the third row transition metals and the boron and carbon groups. Prerequisites: CHEM 2131, 3310 and CHEM 3110.

CHEM 3130 Chemical Systems III (3 credits)
Advanced-level physical biochemistry course intended for advanced-level undergraduates and graduate students. Focuses on kinetic, thermodynamic and dynamic aspects of biopolymers; delineates the relationship of these properties to the mechanism and function of biological macromolecules. Prerequisites: CHEM 3811, 3812, 3813, 3610 or the equivalent.

CHEM 3210 Instrumental Analysis (0 or 4 credits)
Course focus is toward students' understanding of instrumental components and the theory behind both component's and instrument's operation. Emphasis is on techniques such as spectroscopy and chromatography. Students will experience extensive hands-on use of a number of instruments. Course provides a strong background for Chemistry Frontiers (CHEM 3500) and emphasizes techniques and skills sought by chemical and biotechnology industries. Prerequisites: CHEM 2011 and 2041.

CHEM 3220 Advanced Analytical Chemistry (3 credits)
Principles of chemical instrumentation applied to analytical measurements; principles, instrumentation and applications of spectrometric and chromatographic measurements. Prerequisites: CHEM 2011 and 3621, or the equivalent.

CHEM 3310 Structure and Energetics I (3 credits)
Fundamentals of quantum chemistry, and introduction to symmetry and molecular structure of small and large systems. Prerequisite: one year of physical chemistry.

CHEM 3320 Structure and Energetics II (3 credits)
Computational methods in chemistry. Prerequisites: CHEM 3310, one year of physical chemistry.

CHEM 3410 Atmospheric Chemistry (3 credits)
The concepts of equilibrium thermodynamics, kinetics, and photochemistry will be applied to understanding atmospheric processes. Covers urban air pollution in detail with focus on primary pollutants. Also covers stratospheric chemistry with focus on ozone chemistry and the chemistry of climate change. Prerequisites: CHEM 2011, 2041, 2131, 2453, and 2463.

CHEM 3411 Aquatic Chemistry (3 credits)
The circulation of the oceans and their chemical make-up. 'Classical water pollution problems' like biological oxygen demand and turbidity are discussed. Also presented: aquifer structure and flow, ground water chemistry, pollutant partitioning between stationary and mobile phases, heterogeneous surface chemistry, and the detection of trace contaminants. Prerequisites: CHEM 2011, 2041, 2131, 2453, 2463 or instructor's permission.

CHEM 3412 Environmental Chem& Toxicology (3 credits)
A survey of environmental toxicology concepts: animal testing, dose-response data, epidemiology, risk assessment. The course includes ecotoxicology, focusing on the alteration of biological and chemical systems beyond the simple response of an individual to an environmental chemical. Prerequisites: CHEM 2011, 2041, 2131, 2453, 2463 or instructor's permission.

CHEM 3500 Chemistry Frontiers (3 credits)
Advanced-level laboratory course required for all undergraduates majoring in chemistry or environmental chemistry. Emphasis on the development of oral, written, computer and presentation skills necessary for success as a scientist. Skills will be honed through state-of-the-art laboratory experiences from diverse areas of chemistry. Lab fee associated with this course. Prerequisites: CHEM 3210 and 3610.

CHEM 3610 Physical Chemistry I (3 credits)
Fundamentals of thermodynamics, including phase and reaction equilibria, properties of solutions, and electrochemistry needed for advanced study in life sciences and for Physical Chemistry II and III. May be taken for graduate credit by nonchemistry majors. Prerequisites: CHEM 2011, calculus and physics.

CHEM 3620 Physical Chemistry II (3 credits)
Fundamentals of quantum chemistry, including theories of atomic and molecular structure and spectroscopy. May be taken for graduate credit by nonchemistry majors. Prerequisite: CHEM 3610.

CHEM 3621 Physical Chemistry III (3 credits)
Fundamentals of kinetic theory and statistical mechanics. May be taken for graduate credit by nonchemistry majors. Prerequisite: CHEM 3620.

CHEM 3703 Topics in Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
May include organic photochemistry, organic synthesis, organic electrochemistry or natural products. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: CHEM 2453 or equivalent and others depending on topic.

CHEM 3705 Topics in Biochemistry (3 or 4 credits)
May include physical techniques for exploring biological structure, biological catalysis, and selected fields within biochemistry taught from original literature. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: CHEM 3811, 3812, 3813.

CHEM 3811 Biochemistry-Proteins (3 credits)
Protein structure and function, starting with the building blocks and forces that drive the formation of protein structure and the basic concepts of protein structure, and continuing with enzyme catalysis, kinetics, and regulation. Prerequisites: CHEM 2453 and 2011, or instructor permission.

CHEM 3812 Biochemistry-Membranes/Metab (3 credits)
Membranes and membrane mediated cellular processes, energy and signal transduction, and metabolic/biosynthetic pathways. Prerequisite: CHEM 3811.

CHEM 3813 Biochemistry-Nucleic Acids (3 credits)
Molecular processes underlying heredity, gene expression and gene regulation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Prerequisite: CHEM 2453.

CHEM 3820 Biochemistry Lab (3 credits)
Purification and properties of biological molecules and structures. Lab fee associated with this course. Prerequisite: CHEM 3811.

CHEM 3991 Independent Study (1 to 10 credits)
May be repeated for credit.

CHEM 3992 Directed Study (1 to 10 credits)

CHEM 3995 Research in Chemistry (1 to 10 credits)
Research project conducted under guidance of a faculty member. Credit hours and projects arranged on an individual basis. May be repeated for credit.

CHEM 4400 Adv. Topics: Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
Physical organic chemistry; reaction mechanisms, structure reactivity relationships, kinetics, photochemistry, molecular orbital theory, etc.; current literature. May be taken for credit more than once.

CHEM 4900 Chemistry Seminar (1 credits)
A weekly presentations of research in progress and of current literature by outside speakers. faculty and graduate students.

CHEM 4991 Independent Study (1 to 10 credits)

CHEM 4992 Directed Study (1 to 10 credits)

CHEM 4995 Independent Research (1 to 10 credits)

CHEM 5991 Independent Study (1 to 10 credits)

CHEM 5995 Independent Research (1 to 10 credits)