Chemistry (CHEM)

College of Arts and Sciences

 

(GE) = Approved General Education Course

100 Fundamentals of Chemistry, 4 credit hours (GE)
Three lectures. One two-hour laboratory. An introduction to the fundamental concepts of chemistry and the role of chemistry in everyday life. Discussions cover energy, foods and household products, natural and synthetic materials, waste and pollution. Prerequisite: High school algebra. Students may not take this course for credit after completing a higher-level chemistry course with a grade of C or better.

101 Basic Chemistry I, 4 credit hours (GE)
Three lectures. One two-hour laboratory. Common elements and their compounds, fundamental laws and theories of chemistry, and an introduction to organic chemistry. Course intended for pre-nursing students and non-science students. May not be applied toward either major or minor. Prerequisite: MATH 131 or higher. Fall Semester, Summer Session.

102 Basic Chemistry II, 4 credit hours
Three lectures. One two-hour laboratory. A continuation of CHEM 101, with particular emphasis on general concepts of organic and biological chemistry at an elementary level, for students interested in family and consumer sciences, nursing, and some health-related programs. An introduction to organic chemistry that includes selected methods of preparation, principles of reactions, and chemical properties of the major classes of compounds. May not be applied toward either major or minor. Prerequisite: CHEM 101. Spring Semester.

121 General Chemistry I, 4 credit hours (GE)
Three lectures. One three-hour laboratory. A comprehensive study of the fundamental facts, principles, and theories of chemistry. Topics covered include units, problem solving, atoms, elements formulas, nomenclature, chemical reactions and equations, stoichiometry, atomic structure, periodicity, and theories of bonding and structure. Open to students in the following majors: Biology, Chemistry and Kinesiology or by consent of instructor. Students who have not successfully completed a high school chemistry course are strongly encouraged to complete CHEM 101 before enrolling in this course. Prerequisite: MATH 131 or higher.

122 General Chemistry II, 4 credit hours (GE)
Three lectures. One three-hour laboratory. A continuation of the introductory studies of basic facts, principles, and theories beyond those of CHEM 121. Topics covered include solid, liquid, and gaseous states; an introduction to chemical equilibria including acid base chemistry; thermodynamics and electrochemistry. Prerequisite: CHEM 121 with a C or better. Spring Semester.

221 Organic Chemistry I, 4 credit hours
Three lectures. One three-hour laboratory. An introduction to nomenclature, selected methods of preparations, and selected chemical properties of the following classes of organic compounds: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alkyl halides, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, ethers, alcohols and thiols, amides, anhydrides, and amines. Prerequisite: CHEM 102 or 122 with grade of C or better. Fall Semester.

222 Organic Chemistry II, 4 credit hours
Three lectures. One three-hour laboratory. An introduction to reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, and spectroscopy (IR, MS, NMR, UV) as they may be applied to the classes of compounds studied in CHEM 221. Prerequisite: CHEM 221 with a C or better. Spring Semester.

235 Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry, 3 credit hours
Three lectures. A descriptive overview and comparison of the properties and reactions of the main group and transition metal elements, with an emphasis on the correlation between an element’s properties and its position in the periodic table. Discussion will include a review of atomic structure, and an overview of acid/base properties, redox properties, coordination chemistry and a brief description of bonding and structure. Prerequisite: CHEM 122. Spring Semester.

255 Chemical Computations, 3 credit hours
Three lectures. An introduction to the use of standard software packages for carrying out scientific calculations and scientific presentations. The primary emphasis will focus on spreadsheets, scientific drawing programs, and molecular modeling. Topics will include data entry and manipulation, graphing, statistical analysis, chemical structure and model building, and use of these programs in scientific written and oral presentations. Prerequisite: CHEM 122.

270 Introductory Biochemistry, 3 credit hours
Three lectures. This course is designed for non-science majors. It provides the fundamental principles and basic concepts of biochemistry. Topics covered include amino acids, peptides and proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, enzymes, nucleic acids and protein synthesis, nutrition and energy for life. Prerequisite: CHEM 102 or 221.

310 Principles of Physical Chemistry, 3 credit hours
An introduction to physical chemistry covering thermodynamics, kinetics, atomic and molecular structure, and spectroscopy. Prerequisites: CHEM 235 and 221 with a C or better, MATH 170, and PHYS 202 or 242. This course cannot be applied to the B.S. major.

320 Analytical Chemistry, 4 credit hours
Three lectures. One three-hour laboratory. An introduction to the theory and practice of analytical chemistry, with an emphasis on classical volumetric and gravimetric techniques. Topics covered include acid-base and solubility equilibria, complex formation equilibria, and oxidation-reduction equilibria. A brief introduction to spectrophotometric and electrochemical techniques will be presented at the end of the term. Prerequisite: CHEM 122 with a grade of C or better. Fall Semester.

321 Physical Chemistry I, 4 credit hours
Three lectures. One three-hour laboratory. Physiochemical properties of matter in the gaseous, liquid, and solid states; solutions, equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics of chemical reactions. Prerequisites: CHEM 221, PHYS 202 or 242, and MATH 170. Fall Semester.

322 Physical Chemistry II, 4 credit hours
Three lectures. One three-hour laboratory. Symmetry, quantum mechanics, molecular spectroscopy, chemical bonding, x-ray diffraction, and kinetics. Prerequisites: CHEM 321 with a C or better and MATH 171; Math 270 is recommended. Spring Semester.

331 Techniques in Experimental Chemistry I, 3 credit hours
Two three-hour laboratories. Advanced synthetic techniques and characterization used in chemistry including: organometallic synthesis, polymer synthesis, separation techniques, inert atmosphere techniques, and vacuum line and Shlenck techniques. Students will spend 4–6 hours in the laboratory per week completing the required experimental work. Prerequisites: Junior standing and consent of instructor.

332 Techniques in Experimental Chemistry II, 3 credit hours
Two three-hour laboratories. Continuation of CHEM 331.

370 Biochemistry I, 4 credit hours
Three lectures. One three-hour laboratory. Metabolism, energetics, enzyme kinetics, nutrition, biosynthesis of proteins, and concepts in molecular biology. Prerequisites: CHEM 221 with a C or better. Spring Semester.

375 Environmental Sampling, 2 credit hours
One two-hour laboratory. Students learn the methods and instruments used to sample chemical, bacteriologic, hydrologic, and meteorologic data. This course entails extensive laboratory time and field work at the local UM Ebenezer Swamp Ecological Preserve. Topics vary. Course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisites: CHEM 121 (CHEM 222 and 230 strongly recommended but not required) and BIO 205. (Cross-listed with BIO 375.)

380 Special Projects in Chemistry, 1–6 credit hours
For students requiring special skills in chemistry. Credit commensurate with complexity and effort required. Topics vary. Course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisites: Junior standing and consent of instructor.

381 Chemistry in the Community, 3 credit hours
Two lectures. One two-hour laboratory. The course is designed to help current and prospective middle and high school chemistry teachers provide their students with an understanding and appreciation of scientific phenomena, and with the ability to apply scientific methods, critical thinking, and problem solving to improve their lives and the lives of others. Prerequisite: CHEM 221.

410 Physical Biochemistry, 3 credit hours
Systematic treatment of fundamental principles and applications of physical chemistry used to solve problems in biology, biochemistry, and medicine. Overview of physical chemistry principles including the basic concepts of thermodynamics, kinetics, and molecular structure, with emphasis on biological applications. Prerequisites: CHEM 370 with a grade of C or better, PHYS 202 or 242, and MATH 170 with a grade of C or better. MATH 171 is recommended. Fall Semester.

420 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, 4 credit hours
Three lectures. One two-hour laboratory. Detailed discussions of theories of bonding and group theory, with applications to interpretation and understanding of the structure, spectra, and magnetic properties of coordination compounds. Prerequisite: CHEM 222 with a C or better.

421 Advanced Physical Organic Chemistry, 3 credit hours
The theory and mechanism of organic transformations. Emphasis on the physical and mechanistic basis of organic chemistry rather than on synthetic applications. Topics include organic structure, molecular dynamics, symmetry, stereochemistry of reactions, and energetics of reaction paths.

431 Research Project, 4 credit hours
Special project to be completed while working with a faculty member as a mentor. Students survey the literature, design and perform experiments, interpret results, and write or present a paper based on the research. Topics vary. Course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

440 Special Topics in Chemistry, 3–4 credit hours
A discussion of recent advances in theory, instrumentation, or techniques in analytical, inorganic, or physical chemistry. Topics vary. Course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

450 Instrumental Analysis, 4 credit hours
Three lectures. One three-hour laboratory. Theory and applications of physiochemical methods of analysis, including electroanalytical, spectrophotometric, and chromatographic methods. Prerequisites: CHEM 222 with a C or better, CHEM 320 with a C or better.

490 Chemistry Seminar I, 1 credit hour
Students will choose a chemistry seminar topic and begin developing an oral and written presentation to be offered during the spring semester of their senior year. Limited to senior chemistry majors. This course is graded pass/fail and is offered only during the Fall semester.

491 Chemistry Seminar II, 1 credit hour
Students will present an oral seminar on a chemistry topic developed in CHEM 490. The student will also prepare a research paper reflecting the chemistry presented in the oral seminar.