Chemistry Courses
Semester
specific course desciptions
103, 104. General Chemistry. (1.25 units
each)
This series is an introduction to chemistry for science and
non-science majors. Both courses use a combination of in-class experimentation,
discussion and lecture to ask and answer questions of general chemical
interest including applications in biology, physics, astronomy and geology.
Students will discuss experimental data using the logic and language
of chemistry. Students will frequently be asked to substantiate conclusions
using both conceptual and quantitative reasoning. The specific topics
include water and its unique properties, atomic structure and properties,
molecular structure and its relationship to properties of different substances,
types of chemical bonding and reactions, redox systems and electrochemistry,
reaction equilibria, thermodynamics and kinetics. The experiments in
the laboratory, like those done in class, are designed to confirm, reinforce
and extend the ideas presented in class. The course is organized into
three class periods plus one laboratory period per week. In addition,
students will have the opportunity to participate in weekly peer-led
team learning workshops. Prerequisites: secondary school algebra or enrollment
in a college mathematics course. A grade of 1.75 or higher in 103 is
required to fulfill the prerequisite for enrollment in 104. A grade of
2.0 or higher in 104 is required to fulfill the prerequisite for enrollment
in 200-level courses. Required for the neuroscience major.
105. Accelerated General Chemistry. (1.25
units)
A one-semester introductory chemistry course designed primarily for
those with strong high school preparation in chemistry. Atomic theory,
periodic trends, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium
chemistry and electrochemistry are presented. Completion of 105 with
a grade of 2.0 or higher satisfies the general chemistry prerequisite
for enrollment in 200-level courses. Course includes lectures plus
one laboratory per week. Students not majoring in chemistry may elect
to take a second semester of general chemistry laboratory (without
lecture) to satisfy admissions requirements for some medical programs.
Prerequisites: secondary school algebra or enrollment in or completion
of a college mathematics course. It is suggested that students contemplating
enrollment in this course consult with the instructor or department
chair. Students may drop back into a traditional section of 103 at
any point through the first examination. Offered only in the fall semester.
106. Chemistry and the Environment. (1.25
units)
A one-semester course designed for non-science majors and environmental
studies majors. Basic chemical concepts are examined with special reference
to the environment. Topics include elements and compounds; atomic structure
and the periodic table; chemical change, energy and entropy; oxidation
and reduction; acidity; and the 10 questions a chemist needs to answer
before fully characterizing a chemical reaction. These topics are related
to pollution, waste management, recycling, energy sources and the limits
to growth. Lecture plus one laboratory period per week. Also offered
as Environmental Studies 106.
205. Quantitative Analysis. (1.25 units)
An introductory course dealing with the chemical, physical and logical
principles underlying quantitative chemical analysis. Among the broad
topics treated are data evaluation, titrimetry, solution equilibria,
potentiometry and absorption spectroscopy. Lectures plus one laboratory
per week. Prerequisite: Chemistry 104 or 105 (with a 2.0 grade or higher)
or permission of instructor. Also offered, with variations, as
Environmental Studies 205.
221, 222. Organic Chemistry. (1.25 units
each)
An introductory course focusing on the chemistry of naturally
occurring and synthetic carbon compounds; description and determination
of structure with an emphasis on spectroscopic methods; reactivity and
its theoretical basis; mechanism; and syn-thesis of organic compounds.
The microscale laboratory emphasizes preparation, purification and identification
of organic compounds, isolation of organic substances, mechanistic studies
and separation techniques. Spectroscopic methods are applied to structure
elucidation. Prerequisite: Chemistry 104 or 105 with a grade of 2.0 or
higher for 221. A grade of 2.0 or higher in Chemistry 221 is a prerequisite
for 222. Chemistry 221 required for the neuroscience major.
306. Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology.
This course is designed for chemistry majors and students in environmental
studies who have a strong background in chemistry. It explores the
sources and levels of chemical pollutants, the pathways along which
they move through the environment and the toxicological effect they
have on humans and other living things. A laboratory program accompanies
the lecture. Prerequisite: Chemistry 221 or permission of instructor. Also
offered as Environmental Studies 306.
309. Biochemistry.
The course is organized around several themes: the relationship
of structure to function in biomolecules, production of energy, regulation
and control of metabolism. Topics covered to illustrate these themes
include enzyme action and regulation, hemoglobin and the transport of
oxygen and carbon dioxide, metabolism of carbohydrates for energy production,
structure and function of biological membranes, and structure and function
of molecules involved in transmission and expression of genetic information.
Prerequisite: Chemistry 222 or permission of instructor. Counts toward
the neuroscience major (cellular track).
322. Medicinal Chemistry.
This course focuses on the organic chemistry of drug design and on
the molecular level basis of drug action. Topics include the pharmaceutical,
pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic phases of drug action, drug targets
and a survey of the drug development process from lead identification
to marketed therapeutic agent. Representative pharmaceuticals are studied
in depth in terms of discovery and mode of therapeutic action. Competitive,
non-competitive, irreversible and mechanism-based “suicide” enzyme
inhibitors; G-protein coupled receptor, ligand gated ion channel and
transporter protein targeted agonists and antagonists; and DNA targeted
agents are covered. Prerequisite: Chemistry 222.
341. Quantum Chemistry
and Spectroscopy.
In this course we will study the sometimes unexpected consequences
of quantization and the wave-particle duality of light and matter in
chemical systems. In the process, we will uncover the foundations of
quantum chemistry. Experimental evidence, usually collected from spectroscopic
results, will be used to support postulates and gain further insight
into the macroscopic properties of atoms and molecules. Topics include
tunneling, molecular motions, quantum mechanical origins of orbitals
and energy levels of the hydrogen atom, molecular orbitals, chemical
bonding and related spectroscopic methods. Prerequisites: Chemistry
104 or 105, Physics 104 or 152, Mathematics 136.
342. Biophysical Chemistry.
In this one-semester course, the foundations of chemical equilibria
in thermodynamics are used to ask why some reactions are always favorable,
some are only possible under particular conditions and why others are
impossible. We will study reaction kinetics to determine the timescales
and possible reaction mechanisms of favorable reactions. Throughout
the semester, we will read and discuss journal articles relevant to
thermodynamic and kinetic questions of current importance in biochemistry.
Prerequisites: Chemistry 104 or 105, Physics 104 or 152, Mathematics
135. Recommended: Mathematics 136.
351. Advanced Organic Laboratory: Synthesis, Separation, Analysis.
Experimental emphasis on advanced laboratory techniques associated
with organic synthesis, structure elucidation and study of reaction mechanism.
Examples include diastereo- and enantio-selective reactions, low temperature
reactions, organometallic reagents, sample manipulation, multistep syntheses,
natural product isolation and structure determination. Various chromatographic
separation techniques are explored. Analysis by IR, GC GC-MS, multi nuclear
1 and 2 dimensional NMR and UV-VIS are integral to experiments. Classroom
presentations on theory associated with reactions undertaken, separation
science and spectroscopic analysis accompany and complement the laboratory
work. This course is designated to be writing intensive; special emphasis
is placed on written and oral presentation of experimental results. Two
lectures and two laboratories per week. Normally taken by first-semester
juniors, and required of all chemistry majors. Offered only in the fall
semester. Prerequisite: Chemistry 222.
352. Physical and Inorganic Chemistry.
The laboratory experiments include examination of physical,
thermodynamic and kinetic properties of chemical reactions and the preparation
of inorganic compounds. Spectroscopic methods are used to study fundamental
properties of molecules. Products of inorganic syntheses are characterized
using a variety of techniques, such as ultraviolet-visible, infrared
and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility.
Written assignments are designed to develop rhetorical skills using chemical
language, primary literature sources, practical data processing and presentation
software. The course is organized into two lectures and two laboratories
per week. The classroom material presents the theoretical and practical
background material to the laboratory experiments. This course, normally
taken in the second semester of the junior year, is required for all
chemistry majors and is offered only during the spring semester. Prerequisites:
Chemistry 205 and 341 or 342.
378, 379. Special Studies for Juniors.
389, 390. Research for Juniors. (.5 or
1 academic credit).
403. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry.
This course presents a study of the field of modern inorganic
chemistry, with the central theme of understanding the periodic trends
of the elements. To conduct this survey of the periodic table, this course
draws upon and extends the skills and knowledge acquired by students
in their previous chemistry courses. Topics include acid-base theories,
chemical bonding and molecular structure, descriptive chemistry of non-transition
elements, and coordination chemistry. The course also explores the application
of the principles of inorganic chemistry to such active fields of research
as materials/nanoscale, organometallic and bioinorganic chemistry. Prerequisite:
Chemistry 341, 342, or permission of instructor.
415. Advanced Biochemistry.
A variety of topics are covered in depth depending on the interests
of the students. The course begins with an overview of metabolism and
its hormonal regulation. Other topics may include some of the following:
protein synthesis and targeting, molecular immunology, sensory systems
and neurotransmission, hormone action, membrane transport, oncogenes
and cancer, photosynthesis and advanced topics in metabolism. Topics
of current interest may also be included. Through both written and oral
presentation students develop their abilities to use the scientific literature
and communicate in science. Prerequisite: Chemistry 309 or permission
of instructor. Counts toward neuroscience major (cellular track).
452. Instrumental Analysis.
An advanced course emphasizing instrumentation in methods of
chemical analysis. Principal instrumental methods examined include absorption
and emission spectrometry, electroanalytical methods and chromatographic
and other separation methods. Some introduction to analog and digital
signal processing principles and computer-assisted data acquisition and
processing is presented. Two lectures and two laboratories per week.
Prerequisites: Chemistry 205, 342, 352.
478,
479. SYE: Special Studies for Seniors.
489,
490. SYE: Research for Seniors. (.5 or 1 academic credit).
