Chemistry and Biochemistry Courses
This course is designed for students with lower level math backgrounds to successfully complete the freshman level entry course in general chemistry, a foundational and core science survey course. This is a 5 credit hr course for students who are taking, or meet the requirements to take, MATH 112 or 113 and who do not have placement into at least MATH 115. Chemistry topic coverage for CH100 is identical to that of CH101 and CH117 (ch E-10, Tro textbook), but the course content is expanded to include additional development of basic science, chemistry, math, and problem-solving skills. Additional lecture time is included for instruction in these areas, including added supervised problem-solving and mentoring of these students to better prepare and train them for successful completion of the first semester of general chemistry. Students who receive credit for CH100 will qualify to subsequently take CH102. Students cannot receive credit for both CH 100 and CH 101.
Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory. First semester of the general chemistry sequence designed for students majoring in science, engineering, or pre-health profession pathways. Topics include basic chemical calculations, structure and naming of compounds, and behavior of gases. Degree credit is not awarded for both CH 101 and CH 100 or for both CH 101 and CH 117. Usually offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory. Second semester of the general chemistry sequence designed for students majoring in science, engineering, or pre-health profession pathways. Topics include chemical equilibria, kinetics, and thermodynamics. Degree credit is not awarded for both CH 102 and CH 105 or both CH 102 and CH 118. Usually offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory. The course is primarily for students in the Capstone College of Nursing and the College of Human Environmental Sciences; it may not be substituted for CH 101 except with departmental permission. Degree credit is not awarded for both CH 104 and CH 107. An introductory survey of the facts, principles, and theories of chemistry. Usually offered in the fall and summer semesters.
Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory. Not open to chemistry majors or minors or to students who have earned credit for CH 102. Degree credit is not awarded for both CH 105 and CH 102 or both CH 105 and CH 108. The course may not be substituted for CH 101 or CH 102. Brief survey of organic and biochemistry. Usually offered in the spring and summer semesters.
Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory. Not open to students who have earned credit for CH 101. Degree credit is not awarded for both CH 117 and CH 101. A comprehensive study of the fundamental facts, principles, and theories of general chemistry. Usually offered in the fall semester.
Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory. Not open to students who have earned credit for CH 102. Degree credit is not awarded for both CH 118 and CH 102, or both CH 118 and CH 105. Continuation of CH 117 with basic inorganic chemistry. Includes a systematic study of the elements and of the structures, properties, and reactions of their compounds. Usually offered in the spring semester.
First semester of a two-semester sequence in organic chemistry for students majoring in the sciences, engineering, and pre-health professional programs. Topics include structure, stereochemistry, and reactivity (addition, substitution, and elimination reactions) of organic compounds.
Second semester of a two-semester sequence in organic chemistry for students majoring in the sciences, engineering, and pre-health professional programs. Topics include structure, reactivity, and analysis of major organic functional groups, including carbonyls, amines, and conjugated pi systems.
A one-hour lecture and five-hour laboratory. The course is designed for chemistry majors to demonstrate advanced organic chemistry concepts. Writing proficiency is required for a passing grade in this course. A student who does not write with the skill normally required of an upper-division student will not earn a passing grade, no matter how well the student performs in other areas of the course.
Three lectures. This course is designed for students in the pre-health professional degree or pursuing the chemistry minor and is a study of the application of physical chemical concepts in biological systems. It is a general course not requiring extensive preparation in calculus.
Fundamental considerations in drug design. Includes lead discovery, target identification and validation, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and metabolism, and formulations/drug delivery systems. Chemical modifications to improve efficacy and pharmacokinetics will be emphasized.
Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory. Survey in areas of coordination, main-group, and organometallic chemistry. Laboratory experiments involve the preparation, purification, and identification of inorganic compounds. Usually offered in the fall semester.
This course is designed for students interested in pursuing research in materials chemistry. This course looks at materials science from the chemist’s point of view and uses chemistry language.
Two lectures and one five-hour laboratory. The course covers the general operating principles of the commonly used analytical instruments with an emphasis on theory. Wherever possible, mathematical interpretations and derivations are given. Usually offered in the spring semester. Writing proficiency is required for a passing grade in this course. A student who does not write with the skill normally required of an upper-division student will not earn a passing grade, no matter how well the student performs in other areas of the course.
Chemometrics involves the application of statistical and mathematical methods to chemistry. Areas of emphasis will be data and error analysis, calibration, experimental design, signal processing and transform procedures, and data description and enhancement.
This class provides an overview of the theory and mechanism of organic molecular structure and transformations. Topics will include evaluation of organic electronic structure; molecular orbitals; molecular dynamics and energetics; tools to study organic reaction mechanisms; and energetics of reaction paths.
This course is an introduction to the theory, application, and interpretation of four major types of structural analysis used by synthetic chemists: absorption, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, as well as mass spectrometry. We will focus heavily on interpretation of spectra and application of these tools to address questions of structure and reactivity. While this is an organic chemistry class, examples of applications to organometallic and inorganic materials will also be presented.
The course is designed for chemistry majors in the BCH degree and is a study of the structure and properties of matter with emphasis on theoretical principles and their mathematical interpretation.
This course covers the principles that govern the macroscopic behavior of chemical systems. These principles are contained in the laws of thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. The goal of the first part of the course is to understand the laws of thermodynamics and learn to apply them to chemical systems. The second part will deal with understanding the kinetic theory of gases and elementary chemical kinetics.
This class is designed to illustrate the experimental principles behind the theory presented in the physical chemistry lecture courses. The course is designed to be taken concurrently with CH 442. Writing proficiency is required for a passing grade in this course. A student who does not write with the skill normally required of an upper-division student will not earn a passing grade, no matter how well the student performs in other areas of the course.
One lecture and one six-hour laboratory. Biochemical techniques within the structure of a semester-long research project. Topics include protein purification and chromatography, spectroscopy, electrophoresis, kinetics, and DNA manipulation. Writing proficiency is required for a passing grade in this course. A student who does not write with the skill normally required of an upper-division student will not earn a passing grade, no matter how well the student performs in other areas of the course.
This course will be divided into two main areas. We will begin with methods for studying enzyme reaction mechanisms. This section will include steady-state enzyme kinetics, derivation of rate equations, enzyme inhibition, isotope exchange methods, pH and viscosity effects, kinetic isotope effects, and site-directed mutagenesis. We will then utilize these methods in order to investigate the chemical mechanisms enzymes use to catalyze specific reactions (hydrolysis; group transfer; 1,1 hydrogen shift; 1,2 hydrogen shift; C-C bond formations; and redox chemistry). We will also cover the chemistry associated with several cofactors required by enzymes (flavins, thiamin pyrophosphate, tetrahydrofolate, etc).
This course provides an introduction to the science of brewing beer, its historical impacts, and how the modern beer industry operates. The history of fermentation and its impact on culture will be discussed. Students will learn about the complex chemical substances and chemical transformations responsible for the flavor, aroma, texture, & color variations beer. The Science and Chemistry of Beer & Brewing exposes students to the process of making beer from fermentation and flavoring of sweet mashes through yeast growth and accompanying chemical transformations. Participants will learn about the different types of grains and mashes used to make beer and will learn to evaluate beer, choose beer to compliment the chemistry and taste of foods and differentiate between many locally and internationally produced ales. There is a significant biochemistry and organic Chemistry involved in the malting, mashing and fermentation process and understanding the chemistry behind the flavor, aroma, and color of beer. Participants will learn to correlate the scientific underpinnings with the flavor and aroma characteristics of the resultant beers. Field trips will allow students to see the beer brewing process in action, visit QA laboratories, interact with brewers directly, and evaluate ingredients such as barley, yeast and hops.
The course is designed for students in the Chemistry Department Honors Program.
The course is designed for students in the Chemistry Department Honors Program.