General Chemistry I Major topics will include atomic theory and atomic structure; chemical bonding; stoichiometry; introduction to chemical thermodynamics. States of matter; solutions and nuclear chemistry. Laboratory work deals with testing of theories by various quantitative methods. Students with strong secondary school preparation are encouraged to consult the department chair for permission to elect CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107 in place of this course. CHEM 0103 is also an appropriate course for a student with little or no prior preparation in chemistry who would like to learn about basic chemical principles while fulfilling the SCI or DED distribution requirement.

General Chemistry II Major topics include chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acid-base equilibria, chemical thermodynamics, electrochemistry, descriptive inorganic chemistry, and coordination chemistry. Lab work includes inorganic synthesis, qualitative analysis, and quantitative analysis in kinetics, acid-base and redox chemistry.

Bioinorganic Chemistry Bioinorganic chemistry focuses on the role of metals and metal ions in many biological contexts. Whether it is calcium in cell signaling and muscle contraction or iron for the transport and storage of O2 molecules in the blood, metals are engraved in bioorganic systems in different states and concentrations. In this course, we will first familiarize ourselves with the basics of inorganic chemistry needed for understanding bioinorganic chemistry. We will learn the nature of chemical bonding in bioinorganic systems with the theories and examples associated with them. We will then move toward the biochemistry of molecules - the building blocks of proteins: amino acids, followed by processes of RNA, DNA, and protein synthesis. We will conclude the course with a broad discussion on the role of metals in biological systems and their applications with possibly a few specific examples in detail.

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Atomic structure, bonding theories, and properties applicable to inorganic and organometallic compounds will be developed in depth. Specific topics will include valence bond theory, molecular orbital theory, ligand field theory, applications of group theory, and reaction mechanisms.

Kristina Shrestha

Reviews and ratings for Kristina Shrestha at Middlebury College.Kristina Shrestha teaches General Chemistry I, General Chemistry II, Bioinorganic Chemistry and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Kristina Shrestha good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Course is no longer being taught.  I enjoyed the course more than others, but did not find the lectures to be very beneficial as they felt very similar to the info presented in the textbook.  The achieve problem sets were somewhat long, but helpful for understanding the material

CHEM103 is an important course for most STEM majors at Midd. I didn't find lecture very useful. Most of my learning happened through reading the textbook. Lab was definitely helpful. Overall the course was a moderate amount of work and not too difficult. 

The class itself has a lot of homework, but it is manageable. There's a lot of office hours and TA hours which are really helpful. I felt like the lectures themselves were not helpful in my understanding of chemistry, but I felt the lab applied the concepts learned in the class very well.