Chemistry (CHEM)

Head of Department: Professor Steven Suib
Department Office: A100, Chemistry Building

For major requirements, see the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of this Catalog.

101. Chemistry for an Informed Electorate

Either semester. Three credits. Three class periods.  Not open to students who have passed CHEM 122, 124, 127, 129, or 137. Knox

Basic concepts and applications of chemistry. Contributions of chemistry to our everyday lives. Chemical issues and problems in our society. Designed for students in fields outside of science. Assumes no prior knowledge of chemistry. CA 3.

122. Chemical Principles and Applications

Either semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 1-hour discussion and one 2-hour laboratory per week. Not open for credit to students who have passed CHEM 124, 127 or 129 or 137.

Brief but comprehensive survey of important chemical theories and applications of chemistry. Preparation for one-semester courses in organic chemistry and biochemistry. Atomic structures, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, states of matter, and theories of solutions. Does not fulfill the two-semester general chemistry requirement for majors in biology, chemistry, pharmacy, physics and agriculture and natural resources. Does not satisfy the admission requirements of medical and dental schools. With high grade, may serve as a prerequisite for CHEM 128 or 138. A fee of $10 is charged for this course. CA 3-LAB.

124Q. Fundamentals of General Chemistry I

Either semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Not open to students who have passed CHEM 122, 127Q, 129Q, or 130Q. Recommended preparation: MATH 101 or equivalent.

This course is the first semester of a 3-semester sequence that is designed to provide a foundation for the principles of chemistry with special guidance provided for the quantitative aspects of the material. Topics include the physical and chemical properties of some elements, chemical stoichiometry, gases, atomic theory and covalent bonding. A fee of $10 is charged for this course. CA 3-LAB.

125Q. Fundamentals of General Chemistry II

Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: CHEM 124Q. Two class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Open by consent of instructor for only 1 credit to students who have passed CHEM 122, with high standing or who have passed CHEM 127Q, 129Q or 137Q. Not open to students who have passed CHEM 128Q, 130Q, or 138Q. A fee of $10 is charged for this course.

Follows CHEM 124Q. Topics include the properties of aqueous solutions and chemical equilibria. CA 3-LAB.

126Q. Fundamentals of General Chemistry III

Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: CHEM 125Q. Two class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Not open to students who have passed CHEM 128Q, 130Q, or CHEM 138Q. A fee of $10 is charged for this course.

Follows CHEM 125Q. Topics include the properties of kinetics, complex ions, thermodynamics and electrochemistry. CA 3-LAB.

127Q-128Q. General Chemistry

Either semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Students who have passed CHEM 122 will receive only 2 credits for CHEM 127Q but 4 credits will be used for calculating the GPA. Very high standing in CHEM 122 may substitute for CHEM 127Q with the consent of intructor. CHEM 127Q is not open for credit to students who have passed CHEM 124, or 129 or 137; CHEM 128 is not open to students who have passed CHEM 126 or 130 or 138. Recommended preparation for CHEM 127Q: MATH 101 or equivalent.

Designed to provide a foundation for more advanced courses in chemistry. Atomic theory; laws and theories concerning the physical and chemical behavior of gases, liquids, solids, and solutions. Properties of some of the more familiar elements and their compounds. Quantitative measurements illustrating the laws of chemical combination in the first semester lab. Equilibrium in solutions and qualitative reactions of the common cations and anions in the second semester lab. A fee of $10 is charged for this course. CA 3-LAB.

129Q-130Q. Honors General Chemistry

(Honors Course.) Both semesters. Four credits each semester. Three class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Prerequisite: Strong background in high school chemistry and physics. Prerequisite or corequisite: MATH 112 or 115; consent of instructor. Designed primarily for exceptionally well-prepared science and engineering students, although any qualified honors student may take it. This course can be used as an alternate wherever CHEM 127Q-128Q is listed as a prerequisite. Not open for credit to students who have passed CHEM 124Q-125-126Q or CHEM 137Q-138Q. Recommended preparation for CHEM 129Q: MATH 101 or equivalent.

Atomic and molecular theory and the properties of gases, liquids, solids, and solutions. Topics which may be covered in depth are the nature of the chemical bond, chemical equilibria, thermodynamics, electrochemistry and nuclear chemistry. The laboratory work is primarily quantitative in nature. Considerable personal initiative will be demanded of students in carrying out the laboratory assignments. A fee of $10 is charged for this course each semester. CA 3-LAB.

137Q-138Q. Enhanced General Chemistry

Both semesters. Four credits each semester. Three class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Prerequisite: One year of high school chemistry. Prerequisite or corequisite: MATH 112 or 115; or consent of instructor. Primarily for majors in chemistry and related disciplines. This course can be used as an alternate wherever CHEM 127Q-128Q is listed as a prerequisite. Not open for credit to students who have passed CHEM 129Q-130Q. Recommended preparation for CHEM 137Q: MATH 101 or equivalent.

Atoms, molecules, ions, chemical bonding. Gases, liquids, solids, solutions, equilibrium, thermodynamics, nuclear chemistry, kinetics and organic chemistry. May include modern materials, environmental chemistry, metallurgy, and biochemistry. A fee of $10 is charged for this course each semester. CA 3-LAB.

141. Organic Chemistry

First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: CHEM 122 or 124 or 127 or 129 or 137. Not open for credit to students who have passed CHEM 243.

An abridged course in organic chemistry designed to provide a background for related fields in which a general rather than a detailed knowledge of the compounds of carbon is required.

142. Organic Chemistry Laboratory

First semester. One credit. One 4-hour laboratory period including discussion. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHEM 141. Not open to students who have passed CHEM 243. 

A fee of $20 is charged for this course.

155. Introduction to Chemical Research

Either semester. Credits, not to exceed 3 and hours by arrangement; three laboratory hours for each credit. Prerequisite: CHEM 127 or 129 or 137 and instructor consent.

Internship in research laboratories.

195. The Science of Chemistry

Second semester. One credit. One 1-hour class period.

Readings, lectures, films and field trips exploring the field of chemistry and its scientific and social implications.

210. Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry

First semester. Two credits. Two class periods. Prerequisite: CHEM 126 or 128 or 130 or 138. 

Introduction to bonding, structure, spectroscopy, physical properties, and reactivity of inorganic compounds.

214. Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: CHEM  210. Recommended preparation: CHEM 264.

A systematic presentation of bonding, structure, properties, and reactions of inorganic compounds.

215. Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory

Second semester. Three credits. One class period and two 3-hour laboratory periods. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHEM 214.

The preparation, isolation, purification, and characterization of inorganic compounds; special techniques and instrumentation may be required. A fee of $20 is charged for this course.

216. Selected Topics in Inorganic Chemistry

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: CHEM 214.

A systematic study in special topics format of the theory, bonding, and structure of the transition metals and their compounds. The correlation of structure and electronic states with physical properties will be developed.

232. Quantitative Analytical Chemistry

Second semester. Four credits. Two class periods and two 3-hour laboratory periods. Prerequisite: CHEM 126 or 128 or 130 or 138.  Recommended preparation: CHEM 263. Open to sophomores or higher.

Fundamentals of analytical Chemistry. While it is a course for chemistry majors, it is also suitable for students in other technical fields who have an interest in learning quantitative analytical chemistry procedures applicable to analytical instrumentation. Traditional wet chemical techniques and instrumental methods. Quantitative chemistry and chemical computations. A fee of $20 is charged for this course.

234. Instrumental Analysis I

First semester. Four credits. Two class periods and two 3-hour laboratory periods. Prerequisite: CHEM 232. Recommended preparation: CHEM 264.

Instrumental analytical techniques including molecular spectroscopy, atomic spectroscopy, electrochemistry, separations, and introductory electronics. This course is an extension of the instrumental portion of CHEM 232. A fee of $20 is charged for this course.

235. Instrumental Analysis II

Second semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Prerequisite: CHEM 234.

Analytical aspects of electron, X-ray, vibrational, and other spectroscopic methods. Analysis of surfaces. Advanced topics in data analysis and modern analytical methodology. A fee of $20 is charged for this course.

240. Organic Chemistry Laboratory

Either semester. One credit. One 4-hour laboratory period. Not open for credit to students who have passed CHEM 245. Prerequisite: CHEM 243. This course is open only to Chemical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering majors or by consent of instructor. Open to sophomores or higher.

Introduction to techniques, manipulations, calculations and spectroscopy. A fee of $20 is charged for this course.

242W. Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory

Either semester. Three credits. One class period and two 3-hour laboratory periods. Prerequisite: CHEM 245; ENGL 110 or 111 or 250. 

Advanced techniques and fundamentals of organic synthesis and identification. A fee of $20 is charged for this course.

243. Organic Chemistry

Either semester. Three credits. (Two credits for students who have passed CHEM 141.) Prerequisite: CHEM 126 or 128 or 130 or 138. Open to sophomores or higher.

Structure and reactions of the simpler classes of the compounds of carbon.

244. Organic Chemistry

Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: CHEM 243. Open to sophomores or higher.

A continuation of CHEM 243.

245. Organic Chemistry Laboratory

Either semester. Three credits. (Students who have passed CHEM 240 will receive only 2 credits for CHEM 245. Students who have passed CHEM 142 will receive only 2 credits for CHEM 245, but 3 credits will be used for calculating GPA scores.) Two 3-hour laboratory periods and one 1-hour discussion period. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHEM 244. Open to sophomores or higher.

A fee of $20 is charged for this course.

251. Introduction to Quantum Chemistry

First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: CHEM 264.

An introduction to quantum theory and its applications to atomic and molecular structure and spectroscopy.

256. Physical Chemistry Laboratory

First semester. One credit. One 3-hour laboratory period. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHEM 263. Not open for credit to students who have passed CHEM 265. This laboratory course is for students majoring in chemical engineering and cannot be counted toward the chemistry major group.

Laboratory experiments in thermodynamics, kinetics and spectroscopy. A fee of $20 is charged for this course.

263-264. Physical Chemistry

Both semesters. Four credits each semester. Prerequisite: CHEM 126 or 128 or 130 or 138; PHYS 123, or 132, or 142, or 152; MATH 210 or 230 for CHEM 263; and MATH 211 or 221 for CHEM 264.

A study of gases, liquids, solids, solutions, and thermodynamics in CHEM 263 and kinetics, atomic and molecular theory and spectroscopy in CHEM 264.

265WC. Physical Chemistry Laboratory

Either semester. Two credits. Two 3-hour laboratory periods. Prerequisite: CHEM 264, may be taken concurrently; ENGL 110 or 111 or 250.

A fee of $20 is charged for this course.

270W. Technical Communications

First or second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: CHEM 243; ENGL 110 or 111 or 250. 

This course will cover various aspects of technical writing and oral presentation of technical reports. The student will be introduced to the broad spectrum of the chemical literature; various approaches to information retrieval, including computer searches, will be demonstrated. Short reports based on chemical literature will include references and bibliographies. A major paper on a technical topic will be evaluated and corrected at each stage of its development. An oral report based on this material will also be required.

280. Polymeric Materials

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: CHEM 244. Not open for credit to students who have passed CHEG 256.

Structure, properties and chemistry of high polymers. Methods of production and applications.

291. Variable Topics

Either semester. Three credits. With a change in topic, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites, required preparation, and recommended preparation vary.

293. Foreign Study

Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement up to a maximum of six credits. May be repeated for credit. Consent of Department head required prior to student's departure. May count toward the major with consent of the Department Head.

295. Undergraduate Seminar

First semester. One credit. Open only to chemistry majors or by consent of instructor. With a change of subject, this course may be repeated once for credit. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).

Discussion of topics relevant to further study and work in the field of chemistry.

296. Undergraduate Research

Either or both semesters. Credits, not to exceed 3 each semester, and hours by arrangement (three laboratory hours for each credit). Open only with consent of instructor.

Original investigation carried on by the student under the guidance of a staff member. The student is required to submit a brief report at the end of each semester.

297W. Thesis for Undergraduate Chemistry Majors

Either semester. Three credits. Hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: A minimum of three credits in CHEM 296 or 299; ENGL 110 or 111 or 250. Open only with consent of instructor.

A formal thesis is required, based on original investigation carried on by the student.

298. Special Topics

Either semester. Credits and hours by arrangement. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary.

299. Independent Study

Either or both semesters. Credits, not to exceed 3 per semester, and hours by arrangement. Open only with consent of instructor. With a change of subject, this course may be repeated for credit.