Course Descriptions
These course descriptions may not be current; please consult the University Course Listings for current information, as well as description of graduate-level (500+) courses.
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Chem 111A: General Chemistry I
Systematic treatment of fundamental chemical and physical principles and their applications to the properties and transformations of materials, including the concept of energy and its uses, gas laws, kinetic molecular theory, laws of chemical combination, atomic and molecular structure, periodic classification of the elements, and chemical bonding. Prerequisite, two years of high school mathematics, one of high school chemistry, and one year of high school physics, or permission of instructor. Credit 3 units.
Chem 112A: General Chemistry II
An introduction to the principles of chemical equilibrium and chemical change. Topics include chemical equilibria, acid/base chemistry, and other ionic equilibria, electrochemistry, elementary chemical thermodynamics and kinetics. Prerequisite, Chemistry 111A and prior completion (or concurrent registration in) Math 131 (Calculus I) or permission of the instructor. Credit 3 units.
Chem 151: General Chemistry Laboratory I
Introduction to basic quantitative chemical laboratory techniques. Principles of chemical reactions and physical measurements are illustrated. Co-requisite: Chem 111A. Four hours of laboratory and one hour of lecture every week. Credit 2 units.
Chem 152: General Chemistry Laboratory II
Introduction to basic quantitative chemical laboratory techniques. Principles of chemical reactions and physical measurements are illustrated. Co-requisite: Chem 112A. Four hours of laboratory and one hour of lecture every week. Credit s units.
Chem 181: Freshman Seminar in Chemical Sciences
A weekly lecture by a chemistry faculty member, or other scientist from academia or industry, on their current research activities. The goal is to provide students with a sampling of fundamental and applied research problems that are being approached from a chemical point of view. Students will see how chemical principles can be obtained from experiment and theory, and used to better understand the world we live in and make the world we live in better. Each week a different scientist will present a lecture or offer an additional activity. Intended primarily for freshman who anticipate majoring in science, but interested upperclass students should also find the lectures interesting and stimulating. Students are expected to attend all lectures and associated activities during the semester. Enrollment is limited. Credit/No Credit only. Credit 1 unit.
Chem 261: Organic Chemistry I with Lab
The first part of a two-semester survey of organic chemistry. The course will include an introduction to organic structures, reactions, and reaction mechanisms. The laboratory will meet on alternate weeks and include an introduction to laboratory methods in organic chemistry, including separation and methods of purification of organic compounds. Prerequisite, Chem 112A, Chem 152.
Chem 262: Organic Chemistry II with Lab
A course covering certain areas of organic chemistry in more detail than the prerequisite course, with special emphasis on the mechanisms and the synthetic applications of organic reactions and on the organic chemistry of biological compounds. The laboratory will meet on alternate weeks and include organic synthesis and spectroscopic techniques. Required course for chemistry majors. Prequisite, Chem 261.
Chem 290: First-Year and Sophomore Research
Introduction to laboratory research for first- and second year students. Students work under supervision of a faculty sponsor. Prerequisite: permission of the sponsor and the Department of Chemistry. Credit/No Credit only. Credit variable 1 -3 units.
Chem 358: Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
Introduction to the methods of qualitative organic analysis. including the use of chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. One hour of lecture and six laboratory hours a week. An additional three to six hours a week usually are needed to complete laboratory work. Prerequisites: Chem 251, 252, and 257. Credit 4 units.
Chem 401: Physical Chemistry I
Introduction to quantum chemistry (with applications to elementary spectroscopy) and kinetics. Prerequisites: Chem 111A-112A, Math 233; prior completion of Physics 117A and 118A is strongly encouraged (but concurrent enrollment in Physics 117A will be accepted); or permission of instructor. Required course for all Chemistry majors. Credit 3 units.
Chem 402: Physical Chemistry II
Introduction to chemical thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and transport phenomena. Required course for all Chemistry majors. Prereqs.: Chem 111A-112A, Chem 401, Math 233, prior completion of Physics 117 and 118 is strongly encouraged (but prior completion of Physics 117 and concurrent enrollment in Physics 118 will be accepted); or permission of instructor. Credit 3 units.
Chem 435: Nuclear and Radiochemistry Laboratory
Application of radiochemical techniques to problems in chemistry, physics, and nuclear medicine. Prerequisites: 3 units of physical chemistry and permission of instructor. One lecture hour and five hours of laboratory a week. Credit 3 units.
Chem 436: Radioactivity and Its Applications
Introduction to the production and decay of radioactive nuclides, the structure and properties of nuclei, and the applications of nuclear and radiochemical techniques to current scientific problems. Prerequisites: one year each of chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Credit 3 units.
Chem 438: Radiopharmaceuticai Chemistry
Radiolabeled compounds are used in medicine for both diagnosis and therapy. The properties of "ideal" radiopharmaccuticals described, and the behavior of compounds in clinical use evaluated. Methods for preparing radiopharmaceuticals labeled with radionuclides of technetium, gallium. indium, iodine, bromine carbon, and fluorine surveyed. Prerequisite: Chem 252. Credit 2 units.
Chem 445: Instrumental Methods in Physical Chemistry
A course providing experience with instrument components found in the modern laboratory: basic electronics, the computer as an instrument controller: instruments built with modular components, experiments in optical spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and kinetics. Prerequisite: Chem 421 or 422, or concurrent enrollment in Chem 424. Credit 3 units.
Chem 451: Organic Chemistry III
A lecture course that builds on the material in Chem 251, 252, covering in more detail certain topics in those courses while also introducing new topics. A transition to graduate-level study in organic chemistry; recommended for chemistry, biochemistry, and biology majors. Prerequisite: Chem 252. Credit 3 units.
Chem 452: Synthetic Polymer Chemistry
A course that describes various methods for the synthesis and characterization of polymers. Copolymers, control of architecture, polymer reactivity, polymer properties, structure/property relationships, and applications of polymers will be discussed. Current topics of interest from the recent literature will also be covered. Prerequisite: Chem 252 or permission of the instructor.
Chem 453: Bioorganic Chemistry
Organochemical concepts used to explore the structure, reactivity and pathways of biosynthesis of alkaloids, proteins, saccharides, nucleic acids, and other natural products, and to examine the molecular basis of drug action. Prerequisite, Chemistry 252.
Chem 456: Biochemistry
A biochemistry class that emphasizes structure biology, biophysics, enzyme mechanisms and regulation. Topics covered: protein structure-function; information transfer compartmentation; primary metabolism; energy transduction; biosynthesis; drug design and action. Prerequisites: Biol 297A (or permission of the instructor) and Chem 252. Students should have achieved grades of B or better in the prerequisites: Credit. 3 units
Chem 458: Chemical Reaction Mechanism Journal Club
This seminar meets for one hour each week. During the meetings, student participants are responsible for presenting topics from the current literature. The format of the presentation varies from informal talks to student-authored problem sets. Attendance at meetings is strongly recommended for all students who are currently taking the organic cumulative examinations. Prerequisite: Chem 252. Credit 1 unit.
Chem 459: Organometallic Chemistry
Survey of organometallic compounds with discussion of their synthesis, structure, spectroscopy, and reactivity. Prerequisite: Chem 252. Credit 3 units.
Chem 461: Inorganic Chemistry
Introduction to modem inorganic chemistry; emphasis on relation of structure and bonding to the chemical and physical properties of compounds. Prerequisite: Chem 421, or permission of instructor. Credit 3 units.
Chem 464: Inorganic Biochemistry
A class in biological chemistry that emphasizes the role of metals in electron transfer and enzymatic catalysis. After a brief survery of essential concepts from biology, coordination chemistry, and spectroscopy, topics will include: electron transfer systems; oxygen transport and activation; metal ion acquisition, transport, and homeostasis; enzymes catalyzing group transfer reactions, atom transfer reactions, and radical-mediated processes. Additional information available from the course web-page.
Chem 465: Solid-State and Materials Chemistry
Topics include structural types and trends, including descriptive chemistry, crystal defects, nonstoichiometry, solid solutions, use of phase diagrams. Course includes overview of materials synthesis and processing; subtopics include sol-gel science, chemical vapor deposition, photolithography, and small-particle formation. Families of Tc superconductors, semiconductors. ion-conducting solids, and "designer" solids are discussed. Prerequisites: Chem 111A and 112A. Credit 3 units.
Chem 470: Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
A laboratory course emphasizing both the synthesis of inorganic compounds and the study of their physical properties. Laboratory excercises will introduce novel synthetic techniques such as high-temperature synthesis and vacuum line manipulations. Compounds will be spectroscopically characterized by UV-visible, gas-phase infrared, and multinuclear and dynamic NMR spectroscopy. Measurements of electrochemical behavior, magnetic susceptibility, and electrical conductivity will be performed. Prerequisites: Chem 461 or permission of the instructor. Credit: 3 units.
Chem 476: Chemistry of Biological Membranes
Molecular interactions responsible for the organization, dynamics, and functions of biological membranes: spectroscopic and analytical methods used to quantify the dynamics and to identify and quantify chemical constituents of membranes. Chemical synthesis of phospholipids and purification of enzymes responsible for membrane biosynthesis. Prerequisites: Chem 252 and 421, or permission of instructor. Credit 3 units.
Chem 490: Introduction to Research
Advanced laboratory work on a selected topic in chemistry. Prerequisite: permission of the department. Credit/ No Credit only. Credit to be determined: maximum 6 units. Credit for this course does not count towards the Chemistry major (any type). Arrangements for registration should be completed during the preregistration period. Variable units.
Chem 495: Advanced Undergraduate Research in Chemistry
The student will conduct research supervised by a Chemistry Department faculty member. At the end of the semester, the Chemistry supervisor will chair a faculty committee to evaluate an oral public presentation and/or a concise written report, and a letter grade will be assigned. The committee members and completion requirements must be approved by the supervisor prior to registration. This course may provide a Capstone Experience but does not fulfill the Writing Intensive requirement. The units earned may be applied as elective advanced credits towards a Chemistry major with Latin honors eligibility. Course may be taken only once for credit. A form (Word format, PDF format) describing the plan for the completion of Chem 495 must be submitted at the time of registration. Prerequisite: Chem 490 and/or other advanced electives or research experience as specified by the supervisor. Credit: 3 units.
Chem 500: Independent Work
A detailed literature search on a specific topic of current interest. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of the chair of the department. Credit to be determined maximum 6 units.