CH: Courses in Chemistry
Department of Natural Sciences
CH 101-102 General Chemistry 8 credit
Principles of chemistry for students majoring in science or engineering.
First semester topics include stoichiometry, atomic structure, bonding,
thermochemistry, and intermolecular forces. Second semester
topics include solutions, chemical equilibrium, acid/base chemistry.
oxidation/reduction, thermodynamics, kinetics, nuclear chemistry,
and coordination compounds. Three lectures and one three-hour
labratory per week. Prerequisite: High school algebra. High school
chemistry recommended. Students must receive a “C” or better in CH
101 to enroll in CH 102. Offered annually. CH 101 Fall semester,
CH 102 Spring semester.
CH 111 Essentials of Chemistry: General 4 credit
A one-semester course in the fundamentals of general inorganic
chemistry. Principal topics include atomic structure; atomic-molecular
description of matter, solutions, and equilibrium; and basic calculations
and measurements. Recommended for general studies students
and students in nursing and health information management. Three
lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week. Spring semester.
CH 112 Essentials of Chemistry: Organic and Biochemistry 3 credit
A one-semester course in the fundamentals of organic chemistry and
biochemistry. Principal topics include organic nomenclature; chemistry
of functional groups; structures and reactions of fats, carbohydrates,
proteins, enzymes, and nucleic acids. Recommended for students in
nursing. Three lectures per week; no laboratory. Prerequisite: CH
101-102 or CH 111 or consent of the instructor. Students must receive
a “C” or better in the prerequisite to enroll in CH112. Fall semester.
CH 205 Quantitative Analysis 4 credit
A detailed study of chemical equilibria and the classical methods of
chemical analysis. Solubility, acid-base reactions, oxidation-reduction
chemistry, complexometric reactions, phase equilibrium and the
interaction of light with matter are studied in the context of analytical
techniques, including volumetric analysis, titrimetry, gravimetry,
chromatography and spectrophotometry. Basic issues of chemical hygiene
are also covered along with experimental error and statistics. The
laboratory stresses good laboratory technique through the quantitative
analysis of unknown samples by classical and modern methods. Three
50-minute lectures and one 4-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites:
CH 101-102. Spring semester.
CH 301-302 Organic Chemistry 8 credit
The chemistry of carbon-based compounds. The course will examine
the main classes of organic compounds in terms of preparation, structure,
physical and spectral properties, methods of functional group
transformation, and mechanism of reaction. In the second semester of
the laboratory sequence, students will perform an independent organic
laboratory project. There will be an emphasis on oral and written scientific
communication of the projects results. Three lectures and one
3 1/2- hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Grade of “C” or better
in CH 102 or consent of instructor. Students must pass CH 301 with
a “C” or better to enroll in CH 302. Offered annually. CH 301 Fall
semester. CH 302 Spring semester.
CH 306 Instrumental Methods 4 credit
An examination of modern instrumental methods of chemical analysis
from a theoretical and practical standpoint. Students learn the chemical
principles that underlie instrument operation and study the functions
of instrument components and their organization into chemical measurement
systems. An emphasis is placed on the utility and limitations
of each instrument. Principal instrumental techniques include atomic
and molecular optical spectroscopy, gas and liquid chromatography,
mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and electrochemical
methods. The laboratory provides students with hands-on
access to a wide variety of state-of-the-art chemical instrumentation.
Three 50-minute lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite:
CH 205. Fall semester. Fulfills writing intensive requirement.
CH 310 Spectrometric Organic Structure Determination 2 credit
CH 310 is a seminar-style course where students will learn to read
and interpret data produced by chemistry instruments. This course is
intended for chemistry majors who are planning to attend graduate
school, but others who are interested in how spectrometry is used to
determine structure may find this course interesting. The class will meet
twice weekly at the designated time. Prerequisite : CH 302.
CH 353 Biochemistry 4 credit
A study of the chemical principles governing biological macromolecules.
Topics include protein structure and function, enzyme
mechanisms and kinetics, carbohydrates and lipids, energetics and
major metabolic pathways. The laboratory will include both computer
simulations and an introduction to current molecular techniques in
the field. Both lecture and lab will emphasize problem solving and
experimental data analysis. Three lectures and one 4-hour laboratory
per week. Prerequisites: CH 301-302, BI 171. Fall semester. Fulfills
Writing Intensive requirement.
CH 391-392 Physical Chemistry 8 credit
Subjects covered are thermodynamics; group theory, statistical mechanics,
rates and mechanisms; quantum mechanics; atomic and
molecular structure. Lab explores various experimental strategies
and techniques of physical chemistry and includes investigations of
energetics, molecular structure and reaction dynamics requiring the
use of instrumental systems. Two semester course: Three 50 minute
lectures and one 3 hour lab per week. Prerequisite: CH 302, MA 233
and PHYS 206. Student must pass prerequisites with a “C” or better
to enroll in CH 391-392. Offered annually. CH 391 Fall semester.
CH 392 Spring semester.
CH 405 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 4 credit
A detailed study of current topics in inorganic chemistry, including
coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry, homogeneneous
catalysis and bioinorganic chemistry. Emphasis will be placed on
orbital interactions, reactivity and reaction mechanisms of inorganic
molecules. Lab covers synthesis and spectroscopy of inorganic compounds.
Prerequisite: CH 205. Three 50 minute lectures and one 3
hour lab per week. Spring semester, even- numbered years.
CH 406 Advanced Organic Chemistry 4 credit
A study of synthesis and mechanism in organic chemistry. The synthesis
section will encompass the study of theory, design and methods
of modern organic synthesis. The mechanistic section will include
the study of mechanisms and methods of mechanisms and methods
of mechanism elucidation. Original papers will be read and analyzed.
Oral and written scientific communication will be emphasized. Three
lectures per week plus 2 hour seminar. Prerequisite: CH 302. Spring
semester, odd-numbered years.
CH/BI 477 Honors Thesis Writing 1 credit
This course is intended to guide students through the process of
writing an honors thesis based upon data the student have collected.
The course consists of weekly meetings during which the parts of the
thesis (Introduction and Literature Review, Materials and Methods,
Results, and Discussion) will be discussed. Poster and Power Point
presentations are covered. By the end of the semester, students will
have completed a rough draft of their theses. One hour lecture/discussion
per week. Required of all students who wish to graduate with
honors. Prerequisite: 3.25 gpa and completion of an honors research
project. Fall semester.
CH 496 Senior Seminar 1 credit
Senior seminar is intended for senior chemistry majors in their last
semester of study. The focus of the course will be on developing the
skills necessary for the effective communication required in a graduate
program or a job in chemistry. Students will be required to give
professional, polished oral presentations and will practice the skills of
scientific writing, with particular emphasis on the style required for
publication in a chemical journal. Prerequisite: Senior status. Spring
semester.