Undergraduate Catalog
Chemistry
Chairs: Nikolaus Loening
Administrative Coordinator: Amy Timmins
The Department of Chemistry curriculum serves four groups of students: chemistry and biochemistry/molecular biology majors; biology, engineering, and environmental studies majors; students planning to apply to professional schools in the health sciences; and nonscience majors satisfying their scientific and quantitative reasoning General Education requirement.
Special Programs
The departments of chemistry and biology offer an interdisciplinary biochemistry/molecular biology major. See Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Resources for Nonmajors
CHEM 100 Perspectives in Environmental Chemistry, CHEM 105 Perspectives in Nutrition, and CHEM 114 The Origins of Life in the Universe are specifically designed to help nonscience majors learn chemistry and relate it to the world around them.
Facilities
The Olin Center for Physics and Chemistry has more than 40,000 square feet of classroom, laboratory, and study space. Facilities and equipment used by the chemistry department include one lecture-demonstration theatre; a well-equipped biochemistry laboratory; modern scientific instrumentation (FT-NMR, FT-IR, GC-MS, HPLC, UV-VIS, AA, 12 molecular modeling workstations); a data analysis room; an organic chemistry instrumentation room; special laboratories for general chemistry, organic chemistry, and advanced analytical, physical, and inorganic chemistry; and student-faculty research laboratories.
The Major Program
The Department of Chemistry provides a flexible, challenging curriculum to accommodate and encourage a diversified approach to the major. Following a core of required courses in general, organic, and physical chemistry, including laboratories, students select advanced courses from several electives.
In all chemistry courses, instructors encourage students to think for themselves and work independently. This is accomplished in some classes by having students work at the blackboard in small discussion groups to solve problems. In other courses, students survey chemical literature to make class presentations or write papers to discuss the nature of the work under study.
All students are encouraged to participate in research with a faculty member at the first opportunity, which may be as early as the sophomore year. The department uses research not only to foster independence of thought but also as a means of teaching students to teach themselves. Although the emphasis is on educating students, projects explore current areas of research and are often supported by grants. Frequently, projects result in publications coauthored by students and faculty.
Since the department's curriculum is regularly reviewed and approved by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society (ACS), a student may select the specific set of courses that leads to an ACS-certified degree. Students also have the option of meeting the major requirements with courses that more closely reflect their particular interests and more optimally prepare them for certain advanced fields of study. Students who expect to attend a professional school after graduation (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and so on) will find that the flexible chemistry major curriculum more than meets their needs. A chemistry major may also elect to complete a series of education and certification courses and teach chemistry at the high school level following graduation.
Major Requirements
A minimum of 42 semester credits in chemistry, plus courses in mathematics and physics, distributed as follows:
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
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CHEM 310 Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics
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CHEM 320 Physical Chemistry: Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Chemistry
Advanced Laboratory
Advanced Chemistry
-
CHEM 405 Chemistry Seminar
-
CHEM 420 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
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Four semester credits of an upper-division elective selected from the following:
CHEM 305 Aquatic Chemistry CHEM 330 Structural Biochemistry CHEM 335 Metabolic Biochemistry CHEM 355 Experimental Methods in the Physical Sciences CHEM 415 Nanomaterials Chemistry CHEM 421 Neurochemistry CHEM 443 Medicinal Organic Chemistry CHEM 460 Topics in Modern Physical Organic Chemistry CHEM 464 Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy
Mathematics
Physics
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One of the following sequences:
orPHYS 141 Introductory General Physics I PHYS 142 Introductory General Physics II
PHYS 151 Physics I: Motion PHYS 152 Physics II: Waves and Matter PHYS 251 Physics III: Electromagnetism
For an American Chemical Society–certified major, in addition to the above requirements, the student must also complete the following:
CHEM 330 Structural Biochemistry or CHEM 335 Metabolic Biochemistry
CHEM 355 Experimental Methods in the Physical Sciences
Four additional semester credits at the 300 or 400 level (higher than CHEM 310 Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics)
Students may also be required to take CHEM 299 Independent Study, CHEM 480 Senior Research, CHEM 490 Chemistry Honors Research, or CHEM 499 Independent Research so that they have a total of 500 laboratory contact hours. MATH 225 Linear Algebra, MATH 233 Calculus III, and MATH 235 Differential Equations are recommended, with preference given to MATH 225 Linear Algebra and MATH 235 Differential Equations.
Minor Requirements
A minimum of 28 semester credits (six courses) taken for a grade, including the following:
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
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Eight semester credits of chemistry courses at the 300 or 400 level in at least two different subdisciplines. Students may use a maximum of 4 semester credits from the CHEM 310 Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics and CHEM 320 Physical Chemistry: Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Chemistry sequence and a maximum of 4 semester credits from the CHEM 330 Structural Biochemistry and CHEM 335 Metabolic Biochemistry sequence to meet minor requirements.
Honors and Senior Research
Students are especially encouraged to do senior-level thesis research. Students who have distinguished themselves academically through the junior year (GPA of 3.500 or higher in chemistry and overall) are invited to participate in the honors program. Students who complete the program are, with faculty approval, awarded honors in chemistry on graduation. Students not qualifying for the honors program may elect to participate in the senior research program. In both programs, each student proposes a research project in consultation with a faculty member, presents the proposal to the department in a seminar, performs the laboratory work, prepares a written thesis, and defends the thesis orally before the department faculty.
Faculty
Barbara A. Balko. Associate professor of chemistry. Physical chemistry. Ph.D. 1991 University of California at Berkeley. A.B. 1984 Bryn Mawr College.
Anne K. Bentley. Assistant professor of chemistry. General, inorganic, and materials chemistry; nanotechnology. Ph.D. 2005 University of Wisconsin at Madison. B.A. 1997 Oberlin College.
Julio C. de Paula. Professor of chemistry, associate vice president and director of special projects. Physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry, nanotechnology. Ph.D. 1987 Yale University. B.A. 1982 Rutgers University.
James A. Duncan. Professor of chemistry. Physical organic chemistry. Ph.D. 1971 University of Oregon. B.A. 1967 Luther College.
Tuajuanda C. Jordan. Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, professor of chemistry. Biochemistry, genomics, protein biochemistry. Ph.D. 1989 Purdue University. B.S. 1982 Fisk University.
Louis Y. Kuo. Professor of chemistry. Organometallic/bioorganic chemistry. Ph.D. 1989 Northwestern University. B.S. 1984 Harvey Mudd College.
Janis E. Lochner. Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. Professor of Science. Biochemistry. Ph.D. 1981 Oregon Health Sciences University. B.S. 1976 Allegheny College.
Nikolaus M. Loening. Associate professor of chemistry, chair of the Department of Chemistry. Physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry. Ph.D. 2001, M.Phil. 1998 University of Cambridge. B.S. 1997 Harvey Mudd College.
Kenneth Strothkamp. Visiting professor of chemistry. Ph.D. 1973 Columbia University. B.S. 1968 The City College of New York.
CHEM 100 Perspectives in Environmental Chemistry
Faculty: Balko, Bentley, Chemistry Faculty.
Content: General and organic chemistry concepts developed
for a more thorough understanding of chemically
related environmental issues such as meeting
energy needs (including through nuclear energy),
atmospheric pollution (the greenhouse effect,
stratospheric ozone depletion, photochemical smog,
acid rain), toxicology, and plastics. Lecture,
laboratory.
Prerequisites: CS 102, MATH 055, or equivalent.
Usually offered: Annually, spring semester.
Semester credits: 4.
CHEM 105 Perspectives in Nutrition
Faculty: Lochner, Chemistry Faculty.
Content: The fundamental basis of human nutritional needs
and contemporary controversies in nutrition.
Extracting energy from carbohydrates, fats, and
proteins; essential amino acids and the cellular
synthesis of proteins; water-soluble vitamins in
major nutrient metabolism; biological function of
fat-soluble vitamins; physiological roles of
minerals. Readings on contemporary controversies
in nutrition including the relationship between
diet and disease. Lecture, laboratory.
Prerequisites: None.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 4.
CHEM 110 General Chemistry I
Faculty: Balko, Bentley, Loening, Chemistry Faculty.
Content: Introduction to the general principles of
chemistry required for students planning a
professional career in chemistry, a related
science, the health professions, or engineering.
Stoichiometry, atomic structure, chemical bonding
and geometry, thermochemistry, gases, types of
chemical reactions, statistics. Weekly laboratory
exercises emphasizing qualitative and quantitative
techniques that complement the lecture material.
Lecture, discussion, laboratory.
Prerequisites: CS 102, MATH 055, or equivalent. Previous high school
chemistry not required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall semester.
Semester credits: 5.
CHEM 114 The Origins of Life in the Universe
Faculty: Clifton, Loening, Safran, Tufte.
Content: Processes of stellar evolution and planet
formation that set the stage for life on Earth.
Theories and evidence from diverse scientific
disciplines on the origins of life and how
physical and chemical aspects of the environment
contributed to the emergence and transformations
of life-forms. Scientific evaluation of the
possibility of extraterrestrial life. Attention is
devoted both to the processes and content of
scientific discovery. Lecture, discussion,
laboratory. Cross-listed with BIO 114, GEOL 114,
and PHYS 114. Not applicable toward any major.
Prerequisites: CS 102, MATH 055, or equivalent.
Usually offered: Alternate Years, spring semester.
Semester credits: 4.
CHEM 120 General Chemistry II
Faculty: Balko, Bentley, Kuo, Loening, Chemistry Faculty.
Content: Continuation of General Chemistry I. Chemical
equilibrium, kinetics, thermodynamics,
electrochemistry, descriptive inorganic chemistry,
coordination chemistry, nuclear chemistry. Weekly
laboratory exercises emphasizing quantitative
techniques that complement the lecture material.
Lecture, discussion, laboratory.
Prerequisites: CHEM 110 or equivalent.
Usually offered: Annually, spring semester.
Semester credits: 5.
CHEM 210 Organic Chemistry I
Faculty: Duncan, Kuo.
Content: The basic principles of organic chemistry from a
mechanistic perspective. Bonding (Lewis
structures, atomic and molecular orbitals);
stereochemistry (chiral compounds, enantiomers,
diastereomers, conformers, optical activity,
Fischer projections); nomenclature; chemistry of
alkanes (free-radical substitution,
reaction-coordinate energy diagrams, asymmetric
induction); chemistry of alkyl halides, alcohols,
ethers (substitution and elimination reactions,
carbocations, pKa, nucleophilicity, leaving
groups, kinetics); infrared (IR) and nuclear
magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy; chemistry
of alkenes (addition and elimination reactions,
oxidation and reduction, hydroboration, inductive
and resonance effects of substituents, regio- and
stereoselectivity); chemistry of alkynes (acidity,
addition reactions); introduction to
organometallic compounds. Lecture, discussion,
laboratory.
Prerequisites: CHEM 120.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required, unless section number is
preceded by an "F."
Usually offered: Annually, fall semester.
Semester credits: 5.
CHEM 220 Organic Chemistry II
Faculty: Duncan, Kuo.
Content: Chemistry of aldehydes and ketones (reactions at
and adjacent to the carbonyl group, enolization,
conjugate addition, oxidation, reduction).
Lecture, conference, laboratory. Synthesis,
chemistry of carboxylic acids and derivatives (pKa
of acids, nucleophilic substitution of
derivatives, acyl chlorides, esters, amides,
anhydrides, nitriles). Carbohydrates
(stereochemistry, aldoketoses, aldopentoses,
aldohexoses, ketosugars, derivatives, furanose and
pyranose forms, reducing and nonreducing sugars,
disaccharides and polysaccharides); fats and oils;
aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, resonance and
molecular orbital approaches, electrophilic and
nucleophilic aromatic substitution); aromatic
nitrogen and oxygen chemistry (diazotization,
synthesis); chemistry of amines, amino acids,
peptides, proteins, DNA; other topics. Lecture,
discussion, laboratory.
Prerequisites: CHEM 210.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required, unless section number is
preceded by an "F."
Usually offered: Annually, spring semester.
Semester credits: 5.
CHEM 299 Independent Study
Faculty: Chemistry Faculty.
Content: Laboratory research or individual study topics
arranged in consultation with a faculty
supervisor. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing and consent required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 1-4.
CHEM 305 Aquatic Chemistry
Faculty: Balko.
Content: Principles of chemistry applied to processes
governing the composition of natural waters. Focus
on the solubility equilibria that control the
concentration of inorganic compounds (e.g.
carbonate and silicates), kinetics of mineral
growth and dissolution, the role of acid-base
reactions and redox equilibria.
Prerequisites: CHEM 210. CHEM 220 (may be taken concurrently--contact the
registrar for assistance in registration) or consent of
instructor.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Alternate Years, fall semester.
Semester credits: 2.
CHEM 310 Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics
Faculty: Balko, Kuo, Loening.
Content: Fundamental concepts of classical physical
chemistry. Thermodynamics first, second, and third
laws; phase equilibria; chemical equilibria;
kinetics theory and practice; reaction rates.
Prerequisites: CHEM 120. PHYS 142 or PHYS 152. MATH 132.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, spring semester.
Semester credits: 4.
CHEM 320 Physical Chemistry: Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Chemistry
Faculty: Balko, Loening.
Content: Statistical mechanics; quantum mechanics; quantum
theory; molecular orbital theory; atomic and
molecular spectroscopy; magnetic resonance
spectroscopy; molecular modeling.
Prerequisites: CHEM 120. PHYS 142 or PHYS 152. MATH 132.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall semester.
Semester credits: 4.
CHEM 330 Structural Biochemistry
Faculty: Lochner, Loening.
Content: The structure-function relationship of biological
molecules. Principles governing protein folding
and methods used to assess protein structure; case
studies illustrating how protein structure
dictates function; DNA structure and the chemistry
of protein-DNA interactions; membrane biochemistry
and the dynamics of membrane organization; role of
the membrane in facilitating transport,
intracellular communication, and mediating the
transmission of nerve signals.
Prerequisites: CHEM 220.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall semester.
Semester credits: 4.
CHEM 335 Metabolic Biochemistry
Faculty: Lochner, Chemistry Faculty.
Content: Systematic assessment of how the cell derives
metabolic energy and uses the energy to drive
biosynthetic reactions. Principles of
thermodynamics as applied to biological
transformations of energy; allosterism and enzyme
reaction mechanism; metabolic regulation in
guiding the flow of cellular metabolites; defects
in metabolic pathways; the biochemical basis of
disease.
Prerequisites: CHEM 220.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, spring semester.
Semester credits: 4.
CHEM 336 Biochemistry Laboratory
Faculty: Lochner, Loening.
Content: Contemporary biochemical techniques introduced in
a project-based format. Protein purification using
both recombinant DNA techniques and classical
tools such as affinity chromatography; functional
characterization of the purified protein. Cellular
metabolic responses and transmembrane signaling
reactions studied using HPLC, radioisotope
studies, enzyme analyses.
Prerequisites: CHEM 330 or CHEM 335 (may be taken concurrently; contact the
registrar for assistance with registration).
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, spring semester.
Semester credits: 2.
CHEM 355 Experimental Methods in the Physical Sciences
Faculty: Loening, Tufte, Chemistry Faculty.
Content: Experimental methods and instrumentation in the
physical sciences. Design experiments, construct
instrumentation, make measurements, and analyze
and interpret data in order to reach meaningful
conclusions. Discussion and use of modern
experimental techniques, including analog and
digital electronics, many types of sensors,
computerized data acquisition, spectroscopy
(atomic, fluorescence, and infrared), mass
spectrometry, and chromatography. Final
student-designed project provides opportunities
for interdisciplinary investigations. This course
is taught in conjunction with PHYS 201. Credit may
not be earned for both CHEM 355 and PHYS 201.
Prerequisites: CHEM 120. PHYS 141 or PHYS 151; or consent of instructor.
Corequisites: CHEM 220. PHYS 142 or PHYS 152; or consent of instructor.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, spring semester.
Semester credits: 4.
CHEM 365 Physical Chemistry Laboratory
Faculty: Balko, Loening.
Content: Laboratory course to demonstrate the principles of
physical chemistry and to develop research
aptitude in chemistry. Investigation of
thermochemistry, phase equilibria, kinetics,
spectroscopy, and solid-state studies using
techniques such as calorimetry, UV-visible, IR,
NMR, mass spectroscopies, and diffraction.
Attendance at departmental seminars required.
Lecture, laboratory, oral presentations.
Prerequisites: CHEM 310 or CHEM 320 (may be taken concurrently).
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, spring semester.
Semester credits: 2.
CHEM 366 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
Faculty: Bentley, Kuo.
Content: Introduction to classical and modern techniques
for synthesizing inorganic compounds of
representative and transition metal elements and
the extensive use of IR, NMR, mass, and UV-visible
spectroscopies and other physical measurements to
characterize products. Syntheses and
characterization of inorganic and organic
materials/polymers are included. Attendance at
departmental seminars required. Lecture,
laboratory, oral presentations.
Prerequisites: CHEM 220.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall semester.
Semester credits: 3.
CHEM 405 Chemistry Seminar
Faculty: Chemistry Faculty.
Content: Preparation and delivery of a seminar with
accompanying abstract and bibliography. The
seminar focus is either on a relevant topic in the
chemical literature or, for students pursuing
senior and honors research, on the thesis
proposal.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: Senior standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 1.
CHEM 415 Nanomaterials Chemistry
Faculty: Bentley.
Content: Chemical preparation and characterization of
materials featuring at least one physical
dimension constrained to 100 nm or less. Emphasis
on applications chosen from energy, medicine,
catalysis, and information storage. Emerging
public understanding of nanotechnology and
research into environmental health and safety
impacts.
Prerequisites: CHEM 210. CHEM 220 (may be taken concurrently?see registrar
for assistance with registration).
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Alternate Years, spring semester.
Semester credits: 2.
CHEM 420 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
Faculty: Bentley.
Content: Modern concepts of inorganic and transition-metal
chemistry with emphasis on bonding, structure,
thermodynamics, kinetics and mechanisms, and
periodic and family relationships. Atomic
structure, theories of bonding, symmetry,
molecular shapes (point groups), crystal
geometries, acid-base theories, survey of familiar
elements, boron hydrides, solid-state materials,
nomenclature, crystal field theory, molecular
orbital theory, isomerism, geometries, magnetic
and optical phenomena, spectra, synthetic methods,
organometallic compounds, cage structures,
clusters, lanthanides, actinides.
Prerequisites: CHEM 320 or consent of instructor.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, spring semester.
Semester credits: 4.
CHEM 421 Neurochemistry
Faculty: Lochner.
Content: Neurochemistry of synaptic transmission and an
introduction to chemical approaches used to
unravel the mechanistic basis of neuronal
communication. Neurotransmitters, neuromodulatory
proteins, and the mechanistic workings of ion
channels and neuroreceptors. Neuronal processing
of sensory information and intracellular signal
transduction pathways. Neurochemical mechanisms
that underlie memory, learning, and behavior.
Behavioral sequelae that result from neurochemical
abnormalities.
Prerequisites: CHEM 220. BIO 200 recommended.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Alternate Years, fall semester.
Semester credits: 2.
CHEM 443 Medicinal Organic Chemistry
Faculty: Kuo.
Content: Bioorganic chemistry for selected medicinal
compounds. Biophysical and chemical concepts of
drug-receptor interactions and drug action.
Biochemical basis for drug action elucidated in
the context of fundamental organic mechanisms.
Prerequisites: CHEM 220.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Every third year.
Semester credits: 2.
CHEM 460 Topics in Modern Physical Organic Chemistry
Faculty: Duncan.
Content: Modern approach to the study of the
interrelationships between structure and
reactivity in organic molecules: advanced
stereochemistry; energy surfaces and kinetics;
advanced electronic structure theory, including
computational methods; thermal pericyclic
reactions. Subject to interests of students and
instructor, substitute physical organic topics
might include photochemistry, linear free-energy
relationships, catalysis, electronic organic
materials, molecular recognition, supramolecular
chemistry.
Prerequisites: CHEM 220.
Corequisites: CHEM 320 or consent of instructor.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Alternate Years, fall semester.
Semester credits: 2.
CHEM 464 Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy
Faculty: Loening.
Content: Advanced topics in nuclear magnetic resonance
spectroscopy, with an emphasis on structural
biology applications. Fundamental NMR theory,
multidimensional methods, heteronuclear
experiments, correlation spectroscopy, the nuclear
Overhauser effect, chemical exchange, protein
structure determination, protein dynamics.
Prerequisites: CHEM 220. CHEM 320 and/or CHEM 330 are recommended.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.
Usually offered: Alternate Years, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 2.
CHEM 480 Senior Research
Faculty: Chemistry Faculty.
Content: Experimental and/or theoretical research on an
advanced topic of current significance in
chemistry. Students present their thesis proposals
in an early fall seminar and detail results of
their investigations in a thesis in the spring.
Taken for 4 semester credits each semester of the
senior year.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: Senior standing and consent of instructor required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 4.
CHEM 490 Chemistry Honors Research
Faculty: Chemistry Faculty.
Content: Experimental and/or theoretical research on an
advanced topic of current significance in
chemistry. Students present their thesis proposals
in an early fall seminar and detail results of
their investigations in theses in the spring.
Taken for 4 semester credits each semester of the
senior year.
Prerequisites: None.
Restrictions: By invitation. Senior standing required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 4.
CHEM 499 Independent Research
Faculty: Chemistry Faculty.
Content: Participation in a faculty-supervised research
project. Details, including academic credit,
determined by the student in consultation with
faculty supervisor. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: Research experience.
Restrictions: Junior standing, consent of department chair, and consent of
supervising faculty member required.
Usually offered: Annually, fall and spring semester.
Semester credits: 1-4.
Programs of Study