Department Chair: Acting Chair Liesl B. Jones (Davis Hall, Room 315)
Department Adviser: Marc S. Lazarus
Department Faculty and Staff: Professors: Iraj Ganjian, Marc S. Lazarus, Manfred Philipp, Ralph Salvatore ; Associate Professor: John L. Richards; Assistant Professors: Andrei Jitianu, Naphtali O'Connor; Senior College Laboratory Technician: Bibi N. Gafur; College Laboratory Technician: Habib Girgis
The Department of Chemistry offers degree programs designed to prepare students for advanced study and careers in chemistry, biochemistry, and related fields, including medicine and dentistry. For students majoring in other science or science-related fields, the Department offers courses needed to pursue careers in science teaching, medicine, dentistry, nursing, and nutrition. For non-science majors, courses are offered that present the concepts and facts of chemistry useful in understanding and appreciating present-day scientific knowledge and its application to everyday life.
This major is recommended for those students in chemistry who are preparing for (1)admission to medical, veterinary, or dental school; (2)certification as secondary school teachers of chemistry; or (3) positions in the chemical industry. The required courses and credits are distributed as follows:
Credits (54-59)
34-37 In chemistry: CHE 166-167 (or equivalent), 168-169, 232-233, 234-235, 249, 342, 344, and 345, and either CHE 347 or 449.
20-22 In mathematics and physics: MAT 175-176, MAT 226, and either PHY 166-167 or 168-169.
This major is recommended for students preparing for graduate school in chemistry or for careers in chemical research. The B.S. program is accredited by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society (A.C.S.). The required courses and credits are distributed as follows:
Credits (76-77)
54-55 In chemistry: CHE 166-167 (or equivalent), 168-169, 232-233, 234-235, 249, 327, 342, 344, 345, 347, 442, 443, and 449, and two additional advanced CHE courses
22 In mathematics and physics: MAT 175, 176, MAT 226, and either PHY 166-167 or 168-169
This major prepares students for (1)graduate study in biochemistry, molecular biology, immunochemistry, pharmacology, or clinical chemistry; (2)professional training in medicine, dentistry, and other health-related sciences; and (3)careers in biochemistry or biomedicine in hospitals, medical schools, or the chemical industry. The B.S. program in Biochemistry is accredited by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society (A.C.S.). The distribution of required courses and credits is as follows:
Credits (81)
47 In chemistry: CHE 166-167, 168-169, 232-233, 234-235, 249, 332, 334, 335, 442, 443, 444, and 446-447.
16 In biological sciences: BIO 166, 167, 238, and 420.
18 In mathematics and physics: MAT 175, 176, and either PHY 166-167 or 168-169.
Students planning to teach should consult their advisers as well as the Office of the Dean of Education (Carman B-33).
Students must complete 10 credits in organic chemistry—CHE 232-233 and 234-235—and also choose either CHE 249 (quantitative analysis, 5 credits)or CHE 332 (physical chemistry, 3 credits).
**If it is necessary to repeat either a lecture course or a laboratory course and a passing grade has been obtained in the corequisite laboratory or lecture course, the corequisite course is not to be repeated. Credit will be withheld, and the student will not be admitted to further chemistry courses until both the lecture and laboratory have been completed satisfactorily.
CHE 001: Preparation for General Chemistry. 3 hours, 0 credits. Practice in handling mathematical problems in physical science and an introduction to certain fundamental topics in chemistry, for students who have had insufficient high school training in the physical sciences.
**CHE 104: Introductory Chemistry I. 3 hours, 1.5 credits. (CHE 104 and 106 together are equivalent to CHE 166. Either CHE 104 and 106 or CHE 166 is required of students taking more than one year of chemistry—except students majoring in nutrition—and of pre-engineering students. Either 104 and 106 or 166 is recommended to premedical, preveterinary, and predental students.)A course presenting the fundamental laws and theories of chemistry. Considerable emphasis will be placed on the application of the mathematical and reasoning skills necessary to solve chemical problems. PREREQ: Completion of the College's Requirement in Mathematics. NOTE: CHE 104 is not credited without CHE 106. A student may receive credit for only one of the following: CHE 104 and 106, 114, 136, and 166.
**CHE 105: Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I. 4 hours (3, lab; 1, problem lab), 1 credit. Introduction to the methods of scientific investigation, including basic physical and chemical laboratory techniques. Applications will include the synthesis and analysis of simple chemical systems. COREQ: CHE 104.
**CHE 106: Introductory Chemistry II. 3 hours, 1.5 credits. Continuation of CHE 104: a course presenting the fundamental laws and theories of chemistry. Considerable emphasis will be placed on the application of the mathematical and reasoning skills necessary to solve chemical problems. PREREQ: CHE 104. COREQ: CHE 107.
**CHE 107: Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II. 4 hours (3, lab; 1, problem lab), 1 credit. Continuation of CHE 105: introduction to the methods of scientific investigation, including basic physical and chemical laboratory techniques. Applications will include synthesis and analysis of simple chemical systems. PREREQ: CHE 105. COREQ: CHE 106.
**CHE 114: Essentials of General Chemistry—Lecture. 3 hours, 3 credits. A brief presentation of the essentials of chemistry and their applications to inorganic chemistry. PREREQ: Completion of the College's Requirement in Mathematics. COREQ: CHE 115. NOTE: No student may receive credit for more than one of the following: CHE 104 and 106, CHE 114, CHE 136, CHE 166.
**CHE 115: Essentials of General Chemistry--Laboratory. 3 hours, 1.5 credits. Introduction to laboratory experimentation to familiarize students with scientific measurements and practical chemical reactions. COREQ: CHE 114.
**CHE 120: Essentials of Organic Chemistry Lecture I. 3 hours, 3 credits. Brief presentation of the essentials of organic chemistry and their application to biochemistry. PREREQ: CHE 114. COREQ: CHE 121. Note: No student may receive credit for both CHE 120 and 232.
**CHE 121: Essentials of Organic Chemistry Laboratory II. 3 hours, 1.5 credits. Study of practical organic laboratory techniques and preparations to illustrate the lectures in CHE 120. COREQ: CHE 120. NOTE: No student may receive credit for both CHE 121 and 233 or 235.
CHE 136: Elements of Chemistry. 5 hours (3, lecture; 2, lab), 4 credits. (For nonscience majors.)A survey of the concepts of inorganic and organic chemistry and of biochemistry designed to enable the student to better understand science and its contribution to human culture. NOTE: No student may receive credit for both CHE 136 and CHE 114. A student may receive credit for only one of the following: CHE 104 and 106, 114, 136, and 166.
**CHE 166: General Chemistry I. 3 hours, 3 credits. Either CHE 166 or CHE 104 and 106 are required of students planning to take more than one year of chemistry (except students majoring in nutrition)and of pre-engineering students; CHE 104 and 106 or CHE 166 is recommended to premedical, preveterinary, and predental students. A course presenting the fundamental laws and theories of chemistry in considerable depth. PREREQ: Completion of the College's Requirement in Mathematics and a satisfactory score on the Departmental Placement Examination. COREQ: CHE 167. A student may receive credit for only one of the following: CHE 104 and 106, 114, 136, and 166.
**CHE 167: General Chemistry Laboratory I. 4 hours (3, lab; 1, problem lab), 2 credits. Introduction to the practical aspects of chemical principles, with emphasis on quantitative measurements and analytical technique. COREQ: CHE 166.
**CHE 168: General Chemistry II. 3 hours, 3 credits. Continuation of CHE 166 or 106: the presentation of the fundamental laws and theories of chemistry in considerable depth. PREREQ: CHE 166 or 104 and 106 (or equivalent, as approved by the Chair). COREQ: CHE 169.
**CHE 169: General Chemistry Laboratory II. 4 hours (3, lab; 1, problem lab), 2 credits. Continuation of CHE 167 or 107. Emphasis will be on inorganic preparation, ionic separation, and qualitative analysis. PREREQ: CHE 167 or 107. COREQ: CHE 168.
CHE 209: Clinical Chemistry. 8 hours (2, lecture; 6, lab), 4 credits. PREREQ: Either CHE 120-121 or 168-169. Study of the fundamentals of analytical methods used in the clinical laboratory, including standard clinical procedures and their application to the analysis of body fluids. Metabolic pathways and their relation to normal and pathological conditions will be discussed. PREREQ: Either CHE 120-121 or 168-169.
**CHE 232: Organic Chemistry Lecture I. 3 hours, 3 credits. Study of the structure and properties of the fundamental classes of organic compounds, with emphasis on reactivity, reaction mechanisms,
synthesis, and stereochemistry. PREREQ: CHE 168-169. COREQ: CHE 233. Note: No student may receive credit for both CHE 232 and 120.
**CHE 233: Organic Chemistry Laboratory I. 4 hours, 2 credits. Study of organic synthesis and laboratory techniques, including the use of modern instrumentation and organic qualitative analysis. PREREQ: CHE 168-169. COREQ: CHE 232.
**CHE 234: Organic Chemistry Lecture II. 3 hours, 3 credits. Continuation of CHE 232. PREREQ: CHE 232. COREQ: CHE 235.
**CHE 235: Organic Chemistry Laboratory II. 4 hours, 2 credits. Continuation of CHE 233. PREREQ: CHE 233. COREQ: CHE 234.
CHE 244: Introduction to Biochemistry. 3 hours, 3 credits. (Closed to students majoring in Chemistry.) Fall semester only. Introductory course emphasizing the study of the structure, reactions, and syntheses of biological compounds; mechanism of enzyme-catalyzed reactions; and biochemical genetics. PREREQ: CHE 120. Note: No student may receive credit for both CHE 244 and 444 or 446.
CHE 245: Biochemistry Laboratory. 3 hours, 1.5 credits. (Closed to students majoring in Chemistry.) Fall semester only. Laboratory exercises designed to illustrate the biochemical aspects of nutrition. Properties and metabolic roles of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes, hormones, vitamins, and minerals will be emphasized. PREREQ: CHE 120-121. COREQ: CHE 244. NOTE: Credit may not be received for both CHE 245 and 447.
CHE 249: Quantitative Analysis. 8 hours (2, lecture; 6, lab), 5 credits. Fall term only. Principles of gravimetric, volumetric, and spectrophotometric analysis. Methods involving acidimetry, precipitation, chelation, oxidation, and iodometry. Analytical separations. PREREQ: CHE 168-169.
CHE 266: Introduction to Forensic Science. 5 hours (1, lecture; 4, lab), 3 credits. The application of the natural sciences to matters of law. Recognizing, preserving, analyzing, and interpreting physical evidence to provide information to the courts and law enforcement agencies.
CHE 320: Medicinal Chemistry. 3 hours, 3 credits. An examination of the relationship between molecular structure and biological activity for some of the more important classes of therapeutic agents. Relevant nomenclature, functional group chemistry, and stereochemistry of the major classes of organic compounds; mechanism of action; structure-activity relationships, and other factors that influence drug action will be discussed. PREREQ: CHE 234 and BIO 167.
CHE 327: Structure Determination and Organic Analysis. 8 hours (2, lecture; 6 , lab), 5 credits. Qualitative identification of organic compounds and characteristic groups, including the use of instrumentation, the preparation of derivatives, and the consultation of chemical literature. PREREQ: CHE 234-235.
CHE 332: Introductory Physical Chemistry I. 3 hours, 3 credits. Fall term only. (Intended for students majoring in Biochemistry or Biology.)An introduction to the principles of thermodynamics, kinetics, and molecular structure fundamental to the understanding of living systems. Applications of principles will include such topics as physical properties of proteins and nucleic acids, membrane transport, diffusion, enzyme kinetics, x-ray diffraction, and molecular spectroscopy. PREREQ: CHE 168-169, MAT 175, and PHY 166. PRE- or COREQ: MAT 176 and PHY 167.
CHE 334: Introductory Physical Chemistry II. 3 hours, 3 credits. Spring term only. Continuation of CHE 332. PREREQ: CHE 332.
CHE 335: Introductory Physical Chemistry of Biosystems Laboratory. 6 hours, 3 credits. Spring term only. Experimental work employing physico-chemical techniques in the investigation of biochemical processes. PREREQ: CHE 249 and 332. PRE- or COREQ: CHE 334.
CHE 342: Physical Chemistry Lecture I. 3 hours, 3 credits. Fall term only. An in-depth study of thermodynamics, states of matter, statistical thermodynamics, kinetics, and an introduction to quantum mechanics. The relation between experiment and theory will be emphasized. PREREQ: CHE 168-169, either PHY 167 or 169, and MAT 176. PRE- or COREQ: MAT 226. Note: This course meets the requirements of the A.C.S.-certified B.S. in chemistry.
CHE 344: Physical Chemistry Lecture II. 3 hours, 3 credits. Spring term only. Continuation of CHE 342. PREREQ: CHE 342 and MAT 226.
CHE 345: Physical Chemistry Laboratory I. 4 hours, 2 credits. Experimental work employing important physicochemical techniques. PREREQ: CHE 249 and 342. COREQ: CHE 342, with Departmental permission.
CHE 347: Physical Chemistry Laboratory II. 4 hours, 2 credits. Continuation of CHE 345. PREREQ: CHE 344 and 345. COREQ: CHE 344, with Departmental permission.
CHE 391: Chemical Investigations. 9 hours (1, conference; 8, lab), 3 credits (maximum 6 credits). (Limited to students majoring in Chemistry and Biochemistry.) A course designed to allow qualified students to participate in original chemical investigation under the supervision of a faculty member. A written report is required each semester. PREREQ: CHE 234-235 and Departmental permission. Note: The total credits received for CHE 391 and 491 may not exceed 9.
CHE 440: Quantum Chemistry. 3 hours, 3 credits. PREREQ: CHE 344 or 334. RECOMMENDED: MAT 323.
CHE 442: Inorganic Chemistry. 3 hours, 3 credits. Developments in modern chemical theories in the interpretation and explanation of the properties of, and relationships existing between, the elements and their compounds. PREREQ: CHE 234. PRE-or COREQ: CHE 334 or 344.
CHE 443: Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory. 2 hours, 1 credit. Inorganic synthesis and characterization of compounds by instrumental and other modern techniques. PREREQ: CHE 234-235. PRE- or COREQ: CHE 344 and 442.
CHE 444: Biochemistry I. 4 hours (3, lecture; 1, problem session), 3 credits. (Closed to students who have taken CHE 244.)Fall term only. Study of amino acids, protein structure and conformation, kinetic and molecular basis of enzyme action, lipids, and membrane structure, carbohydrates and intermediary metabolism, regulatory mechanisms, elementary thermodynamics in biochemical equilibria, and relationships between structure and function of biological macromolecules. PREREQ: CHE 234. PRE- or COREQ: CHE 334 or 344.
CHE 446: Biochemistry II. 3 hours, 3 credits. Spring term only. A continuation of CHE 444. Study of photosynthesis, biosynthetic pathways, structure and reactivity of nucleic acids, regulation of gene expression, active transport, mechanism of muscle contraction, and immunochemistry. PREREQ: CHE 444.
CHE 447: Biochemistry Laboratory. 6 hours, 3 credits. Spring term only. Techniques for the study of large molecules of biological importance; physical and chemical methods of isolation, characterization, structure determination, sequence, and biosynthesis of macromolecules; and kinetics and mechanism of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Laboratory work will include the application of the following methods to the study of biological molecules: spectrophotometry, chromatography (thin layer, ion exchange, and column), gradient centrifugation, electrophoresis, and radiochemical assays. PRE- or COREQ: CHE 335 and 446. Note: Credit may not be received for both CHE 447 and CHE 245.
CHE 448: Advanced Organic Chemistry: Lecture. 2 hours, 2 credits. Detailed examination of heterocyclic and homocyclic compounds, polynuclear condensed ring systems, and natural products. Special emphasis on synthetic methods and structure determination, including kinetics and mechanisms of organic reactions. PREREQ: CHE 234 and 344.
CHE 449: Instrumental Analysis. 8 hours (2, lecture; 6, lab), 5 credits. Electroanalytical, spectrophotometric, chromatographic, and other instrumental methods as applied to analytical chemistry. PREREQ: CHE 344 and 345.
CHE 450: Chemistry Seminar. 1 credit, 1 hour. Topics of interest in chemistry and biochemistry are presented by members of the scientific community. (May be repeated for a total of four credits.)PREREQ: CHE 168. PRE- or COREQ: CHE 232.
CHE 451: Advanced Laboratory Techniques. 4 hours, 2 credits; 6 hours, 3 credits; or 8 hours, 4 credits. PREREQ: CHE 234 and 344. PRE- or COREQ: CHE 442.
CHE 454, 456, 458, 460, 462, and 464: Advanced Topics in Chemistry. Each 3 hours, 3 credits. Opportunity for in-depth study of topics in chemistry. (Topics will be announced in advance.) PREREQ: CHE 344, one 300- or 400-level CHE course in the area(s) of interest, and Departmental permission.
454: Studies in Analytical Chemistry
456: Studies in Biochemistry
458: Studies in Inorganic Chemistry
460: Studies in Organic Chemistry
462: Studies in Physical Chemistry
464: Intradisciplinary Studies
CHE 491: Chemical Research. 9 hours (1, conference; 8, lab), 3 credits (maximum 6 credits). (Limited to students majoring in Chemistry or Biochemistry.) This course is designed to enable the advanced student to pursue an investigation of some topic of common interest to the student and a faculty member of the Department. A written research report is required each semester. PREREQ: CHE 234-235, or 344, or 334, and Departmental permission. Note: Satisfactory completion of 3 credits of CHE 491 is one of the requirements for Departmental honors. The total credits received for CHE 491 and 391 may not exceed 9.