Three hours of lecture per week. Topics relating to the chemistry of metabolic processes in living organisms. Emphasis on analysis of key concepts in the field with reference to classical papers and recent literature. Prerequisite: 370.
In the field of science, objectivity, facts, and data are core to our identity as scientists. However, in our current cultural context there is a growing claim that all knowledge is biased and influenced by a myriad of overt and covert agendas. While a minority of people in our current culture maliciously use information as means to change or control others (with no regard for what actually is true), many have long in good faith questioned whether true objectivity is even possible.
Three lecture/discussion per week. The major goal of the course is to write and present a research proposal by identifying a problem, completing a literature review of that topic, and designing an experiment. The student will also learn the methods and expectations for appropriate behavior in the conduct of scientific research: developing a question, conducting a literature search, developing a bibliography, understanding the fundamentals of safety in a research setting, ethical behavior, plagiarism, and writing and presenting a research proposal. Prerequisite: C or higher in 240.
Four hours lab per week. This laboratory component to CHEM 372 will reinforce and enhance certain lecture topics, including air, water, soil, and computer modeling studies. Spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses will be performed. Must be taken concurrently with CHEM 372.
Three hours lecture per week. Fundamental chemical processes of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and anthrosphere. Topics include biogeochemical cycles, smog formation, global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, air pollution, acid rain, groundwater and soil pollution, deforestation, wastewater treatment, genetically modified crops, and other social environmental concerns. Prerequisite: 240.
Three hours of lecture/four hours of lab per week. This course will explore the roles of essential biological molecules and seeks to analyze the structures, properties, and functions of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids while providing a biological application of general and organic chemistry principles. Students will explore the structure of proteins, their function, their binding properties and the methodologies for the purification and characterization of proteins.
Three hours lecture/three hours lab per week. A continuation of CHEM 240. Topics include reaction mechanisms including regio- and stereoselectivity, total synthesis, and retrosynthetic analysis. Prerequisite: grade of C or higher in 240.
Three hours lecture/four hours lab per week. An introduction to the theoretical and practical fundamentals of analytical chemistry. Lecture includes statistical evaluation of analytical data, acid-base equilibria, reduction-oxidation equilibria, and the principles of spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis. Laboratory includes gravimetric, titrimetric, kinetic, potentiometric, and spectroscopic techniques. Prerequisite: C or higher in 121.
Three hours lecture per week. A study of how energy interacts with and is transformed in chemical and biological systems. Topics include kinetic energy of molecules, thermodynamics, equilibrium, enzyme kinetics, spectroscopy and quantum properties. Prerequisite: grade of C or higher in 121.
Three hours lecture per week. Investigation of the molecules and chemical reactions of life. Chemical principles are used to explore biology at the molecular level with an emphasis on biochemical and physiological basis of nutrition. Prerequisites: C or higher in 140 and BIOL 296; or C or higher in 240. (Equivalent to BIOL 305.)