Chemistry Courses

Semester specific course desciptions

103, 104. General Chemistry. (1.25 units each)
An introduction to chemistry for science and non-science majors. Both courses use in-class experimentation, discussion and lecture to ask and answer questions of general chemical interest, including applications in biology, physics, astronomy and geology. Students discuss experimental data using the logic and language of chemistry and are frequently asked to substantiate conclusions using both conceptual and quantitative reasoning. Topics include water and its unique properties, atomic structure and properties, molecular structure, types of chemical bonding and reactions, redox systems and electrochemistry, reaction equilibria, thermodynamics and kinetics. Three class periods plus one laboratory period per week; students may also 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. In-class experiments and discussion are used to develop students’ knowledge of chemical concepts. 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)
This course is 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 only (1 unit) or lecture plus one laboratory per week (1.25 units). 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 synthesis 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. Prerequisites: Chemistry 104 or 105 and a grade of 2.0 or higher for 221. Chemistry 221 is 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). Also offered as Biochemistry 309 and Biology 309.

341. Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy.
A study of the sometimes unexpected consequences of quantization and the wave-particle duality of light and matter in chemical systems that will uncover the foundations of quantum chemistry. Experimental evidence, usually collected from spectroscopic results, is 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.
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 others are impossible. We will study reaction kinetics to determine the timescales and possible reaction mechanisms of favorable reactions, and 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 is 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 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.
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. This course, normally taken in 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.
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 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). Also offered as Biochemistry 415 and Biology 415.

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, and 351 or 352.

489, 490. SYE: Research for Seniors. (.5 or 1 academic credit).