World of Chemistry The goal of this course is to investigate how chemistry impacts our daily lives in both common and extraordinary ways.  After learning basic concepts of elements, atoms, and molecules, we will explore topics in energy (petroleum, nuclear, batteries, and solar), environment (global warming and the ozone hole), health (food and drug), and art (color, conservation, and forgery detection).  We will perform occasional hands-on activities.

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. The fall 2020 lab modality is a “Remote-Flexible” format, which is composed of approximately 75% asynchronous sessions with the remaining 25% of lab time dedicated to synchronous remote sessions or optional in-lab/in-person foundational laboratory skills training (scheduled with instructor and limited to 5-6 students at a time in the lab). Recordings of the in-person trainings will be provided for those students studying remotely.

Exercise Biochemistry and the Limits of Human Endurance In this course we will investigate the biochemical, biological, genetic, and psychological factors associated with athletic performance.  We will discuss the origins of exercise physiology in the early 1900’s, introducing topics such as metabolic fuels and their utilization, oxygen and water, and physiological adaptations to training.  Special attention will be paid to muscle (power), pulmonary organization and function (VO2 max),  and how psychology and the brain (the master regulator) contribute to achieve maximum performance.  We will also read and discuss recent papers from popular and primary literature.   Films and guest lectures by experts and accomplished endurance athletes will provide a personal perspective.  Laboratory and training room sessions will put themes into practice. We will also consider controversies such as performance enhancing drugs and sex determination.

Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Reactivity In Fall 2020, this course will be taught remotely using “flipped class” pedagogy.  Students will be expected to watch videos prior to class, and classroom time will be dedicated to small group problem solving with faculty guidance. The course will provide students with an introduction to the structure and reactivity of organic molecules sufficient to continue directly to study of biochemistry (CHEM 0322). Topics covered will include models of chemical bonding, acid-base relationships, three-dimensional molecular structure (conformations and stereochemistry), reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams, substitution and elimination reactions, carbonyl reactions (additions, reductions, interconversions, and alpha-reactivity), and the fundamentals of biological molecules (carbohydrates, DNA, and RNA). Remote laboratory experiments will relate to purification techniques (recrystallization, distillation, extraction, and chromatography) as well as microscale organic reactions that complement the lecture portion of the course.

Organic Chemistry II: Synthesis and Spectroscopy In this course we will explore the ways that organic molecules are made and their structures identified. The study of organic reactions will continue from CHEM 0203 with radical reactions, alkene and alkyne additions, aromatic reactions, oxidations and reductions, and additional carbonyl reactions. Emphasis in this course will be placed on using reactions in sequences to synthesize larger and more complex molecules. The theory and practice of mass spectrometry and UV-Vis, IR, and NMR spectroscopy will be studied as a means to elucidate the exact structures of organic molecules. Laboratory experiments will focus on synthetic techniques that complement the lecture portion of the course and the identification of complex unknowns via GC-MS, IR, and NMR.

Bioinorganic Chemistry Life depends on the proper functioning of proteins and nucleic acids that are often metalated. In this course we will study the structure and function of metalloproteins and other metallobiomolecules. We will begin with an overview of bioinorganic chemistry. Next, we will look at two classic questions in bioinorganic chemistry. (1) How does hemoglobin cooperatively bind dioxygen? and (2) Why is cis-platin an anti-cancer drug whereas trans-platin is not? We will then spend the rest of the first half of the course learning the inorganic chemistry that will allow us to answer these questions and many others: simple bonding, symmetry, transition metal chemistry, and ligand field theory. In the second half of the course, we will start with some biochemistry fundamentals and then move on to case studies of zinc, iron, copper proteins, and metals in medicine. The textbooks will be Inorganic Chemistry by Miessler, Fisher, and Tarr, and Biological Inorganic Chemistry by Crichton, both available on-line for free. (CHEM0104 or CHEM0107) 3hrs lect/disc

Environmental Chemistry & Health IIn this course we will investigate the relationship between molecular structure and the behavior of chemical pollutants in natural and built environments, the science underlying health effects of toxic exposures, and environmental justice concerns associated with pollutant exposures. Through readings and active problem solving, we will examine the chemistry governing global transport and partitioning of chemicals among soils/sediments, waters, the atmosphere, and biota (including humans), as well as contaminant remediation strategies. We will study foundational principles of environmental toxicology and take a case study approach to identifying patterns of environmental injustice. In the laboratory, we will apply methods for monitoring pollution, understanding pollutant behavior, and assessing toxicity.

Medicinal Chemistry Medicinal chemistry combines organic chemistry with biochemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, and medicine. As chemists we try to correlate the molecular structure of pharmaceutical treatments (i.e., "drugs") with their biological activity to understand disease and to develop both new and improved treatments. In this course we will survey the major categories of diseases, drug targets, and drugs using a case-study approach. In addition to mid-term exams and a shorter group presentation on a disease category, the course will culminate with group-based final projects (presentation and written paper) about the design, development, and proposed future directions of treatments targeting a specific disease.

Instrumental Analysis This course introduces fundamental concepts of analytical chemistry, instrumental analysis, and scientific writing. Lecture topics include experimental design and quality control; sample collection and preparation; calibration, error, and data analysis; statistics; and the theory and operation of chemical instrumentation. Multi-week laboratory projects provide hands-on experience in qualitative and quantitative analysis using a variety of research-quality instrumentation (e.g., graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectrometry, gas chromatography mass spectrometry, circular dichroism spectroscopy, high pressure liquid chromatography). Writing workshops promote professional scientific writing skills through guided practice in writing analysis, peer review, and revision. For Fall 2020, hands-on skill development emphasized despite remote instruction using “lab kits” (all food grade, safe materials) sent to all students, with encouraged in-person options for students residing on-campus, as safety allows. (CHEM 0204 or CHEM 0242) 3 hr. lect., 6 hrs. lab.

Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Laboratory In this course students will carry out experiments in the field of inorganic and physical chemistry and write journal-style reports based on their results.  In the first half of the semester students will conduct a multi-step synthesis and characterization of a Mo-Mo complex with a quadruple bond.  Students will learn inert atmosphere synthetic techniques and how to use a glove box.  The synthesized Mo-Mo complex will be characterized by UV-Vis, IR, 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopies, and cyclic voltammetry.  In the second half of the semester students will conduct two physical chemistry experiments.  First students will carry out a kinetic study of the  isomerization of the  Mo-Mo (alpha to beta or beta to alpha) complex by UV-Vis spectroscopy.  Finally, students will obtain the high-resolution IR spectra of acetylene and deuterated acetylene and analyze the rotation-vibration spectra using statistical and quantum mechanics to obtain structural data and interpret the peak intensities.  In addition to the laboratory activities, there will be lectures on metal quadruple bonds, principles of UV-Vis , IR, 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, and statistical mechanics.

Biochemistry Laboratory Experimental biochemistry emphasizing the isolation, purification and characterization of enzymes and the cloning of genes and expression of recombinant protein. Traditional biochemical techniques such as UV-VIS spectroscopy, gel filtration, ion exchange and affinity chromatography, electrophoresis, and immunoblotting will be used in the investigation of several enzymes. Specific experiments will emphasize enzyme purification, enzyme kinetics, and enzyme characterization by biochemical and immunochemical methods. Major techniques in molecular biology will be introduced through an extended experiment that will include DNA purification, polymerase chain reaction, bacterial transformation, DNA sequencing, and the expression, purification, and characterization of the recombinant protein. Class discussions emphasize the underlying principles of the biochemical and molecular techniques employed in the course, and how these experimental tools are improved for particular applications. Laboratory reports stress experimental design, data presentation, and interpretation of results. (CHEM 0322) 2 hr. lect., 6 hrs. lab.

Students must either register for CHEM 0322 U (CRN 21589) or CHEM 0322 V (CRN 21324) with Professor Michael French for their discussion section.

Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy Quantum theory is developed and applied to atomic structure and molecular bonding. Spectroscopy is examined as an application of quantum theory.

Thermodynamics and Kinetics for Chemical and Biological Sciences In this course students will learn the central ideas that frame thermodynamics and kinetics.  The application of these ideas to chemical, biological, and the environmental processes will be covered using examples such as refrigerators, heat pumps, fuel cells, bioenergetics, lipid membranes, and catalysts (including enzymes).  (PHYS 0109 or PHYS 0110 and MATH 0122 and CHEM 0204) 3 hrs lect., 1 hr disc.

Seminar in Chemical Research This seminar provides students with experiences to support the preparation of a senior thesis. As the course involves participation in a mentored laboratory project and the intent to complete a senior thesis, students must make arrangements to work with a faculty advisor prior to gaining approval for course registration. The classroom portion of this seminar focuses on reading the scientific literature, giving effective oral presentations, and writing the thesis introduction. Particular emphasis will be given to computer and technology issues related to oral and written presentations. Participation will normally be followed by registration for CHEM 0500 or CHEM 0700 (winter term and spring).

Biochemistry of Metabolism A living organism requires thousands of coordinated individual chemical reactions for life.  In this course we will survey the major integrated metabolic pathways of living cells and whole organisms, with particular attention to enzyme mechanisms, as well as the regulation, and integration of metabolism from the molecular to the whole organism level. The synthesis and degradation of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, and nucleotides are investigated, along with the mechanisms of energy flow and cell-to-cell communication.   While common metabolic processes are emphasized, unique aspects of metabolism that permit cells to function in unusual niches will also be considered.  Mechanistic and regulatory aspects of metabolic processes will be reinforced through an investigation of inborn errors and organic defects that lead to disease.

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.

Advanced Organic Chemistry        This course covers advanced topics in organic chemistry, with the goal of bringing students to the point where they have the knowledge necessary to become lifelong learners of organic chemistry through primary literature, rather than reliance on textbooks.  With this goal in mind, the course will cover qualitative molecular orbital theory and reactive intermediates beyond the anion and cation chemistry which form the main body of the introductory organic chemistry sequence.  More advanced techniques in NMR spectroscopy, stereochemistry, and conformational analysis will also be covered, and the course will culminate in literature examples of total synthesis of natural products, and a final project involving authoring a Wikipedia page on a topic of interest relating to organic chemistry.

AnGayle Vasiliou

Benjamin Cotts

Cole Dovey

David Pratt

James Gallagher

James Larrabee

Jeffrey Byers

Jessica Burl

Kristina Shrestha

Lindsay Repka

Logan Fischer

Mary Jane Simpson

Michael French

Michele Dube

Molly Costanza-Robinson

Richard Bunt

Robert Cluss

Robert Izsak

Roger Sandwick

Biochemistry of Macromolecules is not an easy class. There is a lot of heavy reading and expectation of retaining information from the lectures and the book. However, Bob Cluss is an amazing professor who is very enthusiastic about the material he teaches. His exams are hard but not extreme. He grades the presentations pretty leniently and that counts for a big chunk of the grade in the class which helps to get a good overall grade even if exam performance was not enough. 

Byers teaches this class with incredibly outdated videos that are not effective for teaching. Class is conducted in small groups doing worksheets, so it is imperative that you watched and understood these videos. It was extremely difficult to do this if you weren't able to understand the videos, which was a frequent occurent for me based on how he chose to organize them. There are also daily quizzes based on these videos that happen at the beginning of each class, which is inherently senseless since there was no time to practice and actually learn the material before being quizzed on it (and becasue the videos alone aren't enough for some students to grasp the subject). Byers needs to put more effort into his teaching.

Professor Simpson was very approachable and you could tell she wanted the best for her students. She truly wanted us to succeed in the class and help us succeed through her constant support and accommodations. 