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CHEM Course Descriptions
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University of Utah

General Catalog Fall 2008
Posted Feb 28, 2008

Disclaimer: The course information below is current as of Feb 28, 2008, is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute a legal contract between the University of Utah and any person or entity.

This Web document is updated twice a year, on or about the first day of registration for Fall and Spring semesters.


1010  Chemistry, Humanity, and the Environment (3) Cross listed as ENVST 1010. Fulfills Physical/Life Science Exploration.
   Three lectures, one discussion per week. An introduction to the concepts of chemistry and the importance of these concepts in understanding environmental and health issues.

1040  Sex, Drugs and Organic Chemistry (4) Cross listed as UGS 1040.
   An elementary knowledge of structure and bonding in organic chemistry will lead to an understanding of important biomolecules and some fundamental processes in the body. This knowledge will be used to study the mode of action of important classes of drugs such as birth control drugs, antibiotics and some illegal drugs. The course will finally focus on critical evaluation of scientific claims in the popular media (e.g. newspaper, world wide web). Related to this, students will learn to make a rational evaluation of the safety and efficacy of prescription drugs, herbal remedies, and dietary supplements. Case studies (e.g. phen-fen, olestra and St. John's Wort) will illustrate the important issues. Ultimately students will become better informed consumers of scientific and psuedo-scientific information.

1050  Explosives, Propellants and Pyrotechnics (3)
   An introduction to the history of energetic materials. This course will cover famous accidents, investigations, basic chemical properties of explosives and propellants, their detection, and strategies for countering terrorism.

1060  Chemistry for High-Ability High School Students (8)
   Summer chemistry program for high ability high-school students who have completed one year of chemistry. Six-week program involves eight hours of lecture and discussion, 15 hrs. of laboratory, and two seminar hours weekly. Enrollment limited and by invitation only.

1070  Advanced Placement (High School) General Chemistry Laboratory I (1)

1080  Advanced Placement (High School) General Chemistry Laboratory II (1) Prerequisite: CHEM 1070 or equivalent.
   Continuation of CHEM 1070.

1110  Elementary Chemistry (4) Recommended Prerequisite: Intermediate Algebra. Fulfills Physical/Life Science Exploration.
   Three lectures, one discussion section and 3 hour lab per week. The first of a two semester sequence (CHEM 1110 and 1120) intended as a broad introduction to chemistry primarily for students in nursing and allied health fields. CHEM 1110 consists of an introducion to general chemistry with an emphasis on the language of chemistry and quantitative problem-solving. The semester concludes with topics in introductory organic chemistry.

1120  Elementary Bioorganic Chemistry (4) Prerequisite: CHEM 1110. Fulfills Physical/Life Science Exploration.
   Three lectures, one discussion section and 3 hour lab per week. CHEM 1120 completes the discussion of elementary organic chemistry and introduces the student to biochemistry.

1200  Preparation for General Chemistry I (3) Recommended Co-requisite: MATH 1050.
   Preparatory course for students who intend to take CHEM 1210 but feel their background or high school preparation is inadequate. Introduction to basic chemistry concepts with emphasis on problem solving.

1210  General Chemistry I (4) Recommended Prerequisite: MATH 1050. Co-requisite: CHEM 1230. Fulfills Physical/Life Science Exploration.
   Three lectures, two discussions per week. Fundamentals of chemistry emphasizing descriptive and modern applied chemistry for science and engineering majors. Topics include atomic theory, molecular bonding, and reaction chemistry.

1215  General Chemistry Laboratory I (1) Co-requisite: CHEM 1210.
   One lecture and one 3 hour lab per week. Must be taken concurrently with CHEM 1210.

1220  General Chemistry II (4) Prerequisite: CHEM 1210. Co-requisite: CHEM 1240. Fulfills Physical/Life Science Exploration.
   A continuation of CHEM 1210.

1221  Honors General Chemistry II (4) Prerequisite: CHEM 1210 and a grade of B or better and a GPA of 3.5 and instructor's consent and a member of the Honors Program. Co-requisite: HONOR 1241 or CHEM 1241. Fulfills Physical/Life Science Exploration.
   Three lectures, two discussions weekly. Honors section of CHEM 1220. Content and level of treatment may differ somewhat from CHEM 1220. By invitation only; apply to instructor.

1225  General Chemistry Laboratory II (1) Co-requisite: CHEM 1220.
   One lecture per week, one three-hour laboratory/discussion per week. (Must be taken concurrently with Chem. 1220.)

1241  Honors General Chemistry Laboratory II (1) Prerequisite: Member of Honors Program. Co-requisite: HONOR 1221 or CHEM 1221.
   Honors section of CHEM 1240. Content and level of treatment may differ somewhat from CHEM 1240.

2300  Preparation for Organic Chemistry (2) Prerequisite:  Any introduction chemistry class.
    This half semester course provides a basic understanding of organic chemistry. Course stresses nomenclature of organic chemistry and the basic principles guiding the reactivity of organic molecules. Application of the principles of organic chemistry to biological systems is also provided. The course is designed for people who want a foundation in the discipline for either general information or as preparation for the two semester organic chemistry sequence (2310 and 2320).

2310  Organic Chemistry I (4) Prerequisite: CHEM 1210. Co-requisite: CHEM 2330.
   Topics include reactions of organic molecules, shapes of molecules, and spectroscopic methods of identifying organic molecules.

2311  Honors Organic Chemistry I (4) Prerequisite: CHEM 1210 and a grade of B or better and a GPA of 3.5 and instructor's consent and a member of the Honors Program. Co-requisite: CHEM 2330.
   Honors section of Organic Chemistry I. Content and level of treatment may differ somewhat from CHEM 2310. By invitation only; apply to instructor.

2315  Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1) Co-requisite: CHEM 2310 or (CHEM 2311or HONOR 2311).

2320  Organic Chemistry II (4) Prerequisite: CHEM 2310. Co-requisite: CHEM 2340.
   A continuation of Organic Chemistry I emphasizing reaction chemistry and mechanisms of reactions.

2321  Honors Organic Chemistry II (4) Prerequisite: CHEM 2311 or HONOR 2311 and a member of the Honors Program. Co-requisite: CHEM 2340.
   Honors section of CHEM 2320. Content and level of treatment may differ somewhat from CHEM 2320.

2325  Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1) Co-requisite: CHEM 2320 or (CHEM 2321 or HONOR 2321).

2700  Introduction to Mathcad (1)
   A distance-learning course offered entirely via the World Wide Web, this offering teaches skills in MathCad, a commercial mathematics and graphing program. Most of the examples and assignments are framed in the context of chemistry problems.

3000  Quantitative Analysis (4) Prerequisite: CHEM 1220 or (CHEM 1221 or HONOR 1221). Recommended Prerequisite MATH 1220 or equivalent. Fulfills Quantitative Intensive & Communication/Writing.
   Two lectures and two 4 hour labs per week. Principles of quantitative analysis, stoichiometry, equilibrium theory, and volumetric and gravimetric analysis. Introduction to instrumental analysis.

3010  Quantitative Analytical Chemistry (2) Recommended Prerequisite: CHEM 1220.
   Lecture portion of CHEM 3000. Chemistry majors must take CHEM 3000.

3060  Physical Chemistry I (4) Prerequisite: MATH 2210 and PHYS 2220 and one of CHEM 1220 or 1221 or HONOR 1221. Recommended Prerequisite: MATH 2250. Fulfills Quantitative Intensive BS.
   Topics include quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, statistical thermodynamics, and microscopic kinetics.

3070  Physical Chemistry II (4) Prerequisite: MATH 2210 and PHYS 2220 and one of CHEM 1220 or 1221 or HONOR 1221. Recommended Prerequisite: MATH 2250. Fulfills Quantitative Intensive BS.
   Topics include kinetics, thermodynamics, state changes, electrochemistry, and crystal and diffraction techniques.

3090  Biophysical Chemistry (3) Cross listed as BIOEN 5090. Prerequisite: MATH 2210 and PHYS 2220 and one of CHEM 1220 or 1221 or HONOR 1221. Recommended Prerequisite: MATH 2250. Fulfills Quantitative Intensive BS.
   Emphasizes biological and biochemical aspects of physical chemistry.

3100  Inorganic Chemistry (5) Prerequisite: CHEM 1220 or (CHEM 1221 or HONOR 1221). Recommended Co-requisite: CHEM 3060
   Current theoretical models for correlation of inorganic systems; review of major chemical trends across periodic table; oxidation states of elements, oxidation-reduction equilibria, and introduction to acid-base equilibria. Introduction to inorganic stereochemistry including coordination compounds, organometallic compounds, and electron-deficient molecules.

3130  Solid-State Chemistry (2) Prerequisite: CHEM 1210, 1220, 2310, 2320.
   Meets with CHEM 6130. Course requirements will be tailored differently for graduate and undergraduate students. The course will be an introduction to topics in solid-state chemistry.

3510  Biological Chemistry I (3) Cross listed as BIOL 3510. Prerequisite: BIOL 2020, 2030, CHEM 2320.
   Structure and function of biomolecules, metabolism, and regulation.

3515  Biological Chemistry Laboratory (2) Cross listed as BIOL 3515. Recommended Prerequisite: CHEM 3510 or BIOL 3510.
   Laboratory designed to follow or be taken concurrently with CHEM/BIOL 3520. One hour lecture and one 4-hour lab per week.

3520  Biological Chemistry II (3) Cross listed as BIOL 3520. Recommended Prerequisite: BIOL 3510 or CHEM 3510.
   A continuation of Biological Chemistry I. Nucleic acid structure, protein and nucleic acid biosynthesis and signal transduction.

3525  Molecular Biology of DNA Lab (3) Cross listed as BIOL 3525. Recommended Prerequisite: CHEM 3510 or BIOL 3510.
   From the simplest bacterium to multicellular mammals, each living organism shares vital mechanisms to repair its DNA. In this lab course, we will explore the structure of DNA, mechanisms of DNA damage, consequences of un-repaired DNA damage, and how cells repair DNA.

3525  Nucleic Acids Biochemistry Lab (2) Recommended Prerequisite: CHEM 3510 or BIOL 3510.
   Experimental study of nucleic acids biochemistry with emphasis on mechanisms of DNA damage and repair. One hour lecture and one 4-hour laboratory per week.

4800  Undergraduate Research (1 to 4)
   Participation in the ongoing research of any one of our faculty members.

4801  Departmental Honors Undergraduate Research (1 to 4) Prerequisite: Must be working on a departmental honors degree.
   Participate in the ongoing research of any of Chemistry's faculty members.

4810  Seminar for Departmental Honors Undergraduates (1) Prerequisite: Must be working on a departmental honors degree.
   Required for students who intend to graduate with honors in Chemistry. Content may vary, but will include both formal and informal oral and written presentations of research by dept. honors students as well as attendance at other dept. presentations.

4900  Directed Study (1 to 4)

4999  Honors Thesis/Project (3) Prerequisite: Restricted to Honors Program.
   Restricted to students in the Honors Program working on their Honors degree.

5380  Special Topics in Modern Chemical Education (1 to 4)
   For elementary and secondary school teachers specializing in science. Content varies.

5600  Specialized Laboratory Techniques (1 to 4)

5700  Advanced Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (2) Prerequisite: CHEM 3000. Fulfills Upper Division Communication/Writing.
   Two lectures, two laboratories a week for 7.5 weeks. Introduction to advanced laboratory work in chemistry. Modern instrumental techniques including electrochemical, spectroscopic, and chromatographic analysis.

5710  Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2) Prerequisite: CHEM 2320 or 2321.
   Two lectures, two laboratories a week for 7.5 weeks. Laboratory emphasizing the use of modern instrumental techniques for the identification and characterization of organic compounds.

5720  Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory (2) Prerequisite: CHEM 3060. Recommended Co-requisite CHEM 3070 or 3090
   Two lectures, two laboratories per week for 7.5 weeks, Experimental study of selected aspects of physical chemistry, with emphasis on quantitative techniques.

5730  Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (2) Recommended Co-requisite: CHEM 3100.
   Two lectures and two laboratories per week for 7.5 weeks. Laboratory in modern inorganic chemistry. Emphasis on synthetic techniques.

5810  Nanoscience: Where Biology, Chemistry and Physics Intersect (3) Cross listed as BIOL 5810, PHYS 5810.
   An introduction to the emerging fields o nanoscience and nanotechnology. Concepts from biology, chemistry and physics will be used to explore the special features of phenomena at the nanometer scale, and current developments in the design and construction of nanoscale devices will be discussed. Course requirements include a research paper.

6510  Advanced Biological Chemistry (3)
   Structure and Function of biomolecules, metabolism, regulation, enzyme kinetics, and recent topics important to biotechnology.

6740  Bioanalytical Chemistry (2)
   This course is intended to provide an overview of the methods of chemical analysis used to characterize biological samples. Topics will include a discussion of separations techniques, the spectroscopy of biological molecules, immunological and enzymatic assays, and surface analytical methods.

6810 Nanoscience: Where Biology, Chemistry and Physics Intersect (3) 
   Meets with CHEM 5810, BIOL 5810, PHYS 5810. An introduction to the emerging fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Concepts from biology, chemistry and physics will be used to explore the special features of phenomena at the nanometer scale, and current developments in the design and construction of nanoscale devices will be discussed.

6900  Directed Study (1 to 12)

6970  Thesis Research: Master's (3 to 12)

6980  Faculty Consultation (3 to 12)

7000  Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7010  Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7000.

7020  Introduction to Spectroscopy I (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7030  Introduction to Spectroscopy II (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7020.

7040  Statistical Thermodynamics (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7050  Classical Thermodynamics (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7040.

7060  Statistical Mechanics (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7040, CHEM 7050.

7070  Chemical Kinetics (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7080  Chemical Dynamics (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7070.

7100  Principles of Inorganic Chemistry (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7110  Inorganic Mechanisms (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7120  Physical Inorganic Chemistry (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7130  Solid-State Chemistry (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7150  Bioinorganic Chemistry (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7160  Organometallic Chemistry I (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7170  Homogeneous Catalysis (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7160.

7200  Contemporary Organic Synthesis I (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7210  Contemporary Organic Synthesis II (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7200.

7220  Contemporary Organic Synthesis III (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7200, CHEM 7210.

7230  Organometallic Chemistry II (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7160, CHEM 7170.

7240  Physical Organic Chemistry I (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7250  Physical Organic Chemistry II (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7240.

7260  Physical Organic Chemistry III (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7240, CHEM 7250.

7270  Organic Spectroscopy I (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7280  Organic Spectroscopy II (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7270.

7410  Protein and Nucleic Acid Biochemistry (3)
   Coverage of basics of nucleic acid and protein biochemistry.

7450  Biophysical Chemistry (2) Cross listed as BLCHM 6450.
   Topics covered include: Basics of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, with applications in biochemistry; transport phenomena; enzyme kinetics and inhibition; kinetic isotope effects; principles and applications of absorbance, fluorescence, and CD spectroscopies.

7460  Protein Chemistry (2) Cross listed as BLCHM 6460.
   This is a one half semester course which focuses on the mechanisms of chemical reactions involving peptides and proteins and methods for their study. Subject matter includes enzyme mechanisms, chemical modification of proteins and cofactor chemistry. Prerequisite: organic chemistry.

7470  Nucleic Acid Chemistry (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Topics include chemical synthesis of DNA and RNA, nucleoside and oligomer analogs, chemistry of DNA damage and repair, nucleic acid-targeted drugs and binding agents. Prerequisite: 2 semesters undergraduate organic chemistry.

7480  Physical Principles of Biomolecular Systems (2)
   This course will provide an overview to the modern physical principles behind biomolecular systems, including solvation and the hydrophobic effect, membrane biophysics/seft-assembly/transport/binding, and protein folding. It will focus primarily on descriptive concepts and less on detailed theoretical descriptions. An introduction to computer modeling of biomolecular systems will also be given.

7490  Metabolism (2) Prerequisite: CHEM 2310 and 2320, 3510 and 3520.
   This course is designed for first-year students, although undergraduates with the prerequisites may register. A metabolic pathway will be selected to illustrate chemical, biochemical, and genetic concepts related to how metabolites, enzymes, and genes are identified; how pathways are regulated; and how specific pathways are integrated into a larger metabolic grid. The class will rely on current literature for source materials

7500  Angular Momentum Theory and Applications in Chemistry and Physics (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. The course provides an introduction to angular momentum operators, coupling of angular momenta, rotation operators, irreducible spherical tensors and their applications to selected topics in quantum mechanics, including point group theory, diatomic molecule spectroscopy, etc.

7510  Condensed Phase Spectroscopy (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7520  Computational Chemistry Laboratory (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7530  Molecular Simulations (2)
   Foundations and practice of molecular dynamics and monte carlo simulants. Topics include: force fields, molecular dynamics and monte carlo simulations in different ensembles, calculation of macroscopic observables from microscopic data, methods to simulate systems with long range interactions, methods to compute free energies.

7550  Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry (1 to 3)

7560  Advanced Topics in Inorganic Chemistry (1 to 3)

7570  Advanced Topics in Organic Chemistry (1 to 3)

7580  Advanced Topics in Biological Chemistry (1 to 3)

7590  Advanced Topics in Physical-Analytical Chemistry (1 to 3)

7600  Faculty Research Presentations (2)

7700  Analytical and Chemical Measurements I (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7710  Analytical and Chemical Measurements II (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks. Continuation of CHEM 7700.

7720  Separations (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7730  Electrochemistry (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7750  Information Processing (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7760  Instrumentation Electronics (2)
   This course provides an introduction to electronics theory and measurement. Beginning graduate students gain knowledge of instrumentation electronics so they can better understand measurements made in chemical science and participate in the design and repair of laboratory instrumentation. Specific lecture and laboratory topics include electronic components, resistance and Ohm's law, power sources, Kirchhoff equations, equivalent circuits, a.c. circuits, transformers, noise reduction, ground loops, transducers, measurement (multimeters, oscilloscopes, loading and coupling, high voltage), diodes and transistor, operational amplifiers, and virtual instrumentation (LabView) for data acquisition.

7770  Optical Spectroscopy (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7780  Surface Chemistry (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7800  Physical Seminar (1 to 2)

7810  Inorganic Seminar (1 to 2)

7820  Organic Seminar (1 to 2)

7840  Biological Seminar (1 to 2)

7850  NMR Spectroscopy Laboratory (2)
   Three lectures, one discussion per week for 7.5 weeks.

7860  Research Group Seminar (2)

7870  Analytical Seminar (1 to 2)

7970  Thesis Research: Ph.D. (1 to 12)

7980  Faculty Consultation (1 to 12)

7990  Continuing Registration: Ph.D. (0)


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