Chemistry Courses
Designed for students intending to take CHEM 111-113, with intensive study of problem solving. Offered every spring.
This multidisciplinary introductory course for non-science majors fulfills Area B2 of the CORE. It explores several key topics including the solar system, energy and its forms, and the composition and behavior of atoms. Science is presented as a human endeavor through which we come to understand the natural world of which we are a part. Three lectures per week plus one two-hour lab session. Offered intermittently.
How can we understand ourselves? In this interdisciplinary course we will examine the evidence that all life forms on earth, including human beings, have evolved from a common ancestor by means of natural selection. We will draw on ideas from biology, geology, paleontology, philosophy and history in order to gain an evolutionary perspective on what it means to be human. This lecture/lab course fulfills the CORE B2 Science requirement for non-science majors. Field trips during class time will include SF Zoo, SF Botanical Garden and Cal Academy of Science. Corequisite: CHEM 105L Laboratory.
The lecture/lab course Molecular Gastronomy fulfills the Core B2 Science requirement for non-science majors. This course will focus on the science of food and drink, including pasta, coffee and ice cream. What happens on the molecular level when eggs are whipped? And why does popcorn pop? Such questions will form the basis for the science you will learn in lecture and underlie our approach to the laboratory component of the course where we will cook, scientifically examine (and eat) food. This course is for SII students only.
The first in a two-semester course sequence, this course introduces the fundamental principles of modern chemistry, including atomic and molecular structure, periodicity of the elements, stoichiometry, properties of gases and of solutions. Three lectures weekly. Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in CHEM 112 Lab. Offered every Fall.
A laboratory course designed to accompany General Chemistry I. Emphasis is placed on experiments that illustrate the fundamental principles and laws of chemical behavior and engage students in cooperative data acquisition and analysis. Topics include accuracy/precision, qualitative analysis, titrations, atomic spectroscopy, properties of gases and of solutions. Assessment based on laboratory technique, pre-lab assignments, written laboratory reports, accuracy of analysis, and a final exam. One four-hour lab per week. Prerequisite of co-requisite: Concurrent registration in CHEM 111, or prior completion of that course with a grade of C or higher. Offered every Fall.
The second in a two-semester course sequence, this course covers the principles of modern chemistry with an emphasis on quantitative problem solving. Topics include energy, equilibrium, kinetics, acids, bases and buffers, thermochemistry, redox chemistry and coordination compounds. Three lectures weekly. Offered every Spring. Prerequisite: CHEM 111 with a grade of C or higher; concurrent registration in CHEM 114 Lab.
A laboratory course designed to accompany General Chemistry II. Topics include techniques of data analysis, thermochemistry, chemical kinetics, equilibrium, acids, bases and buffers, electrochemistry and coordination chemistry. Wherever appropriate, computer skills are introduced and applied to data collection and analysis. Assessment based on laboratory technique, pre-lab assignments, written laboratory reports, accuracy of analyses, and a laboratory practical exam. One four-hour lab per week. Prerequisite or co-requisite: CHEM 111 and CHEM 112 with a grade of C or higher; concurrent registration in CHEM 113, or prior completion of that course with a grade of C or higher. Offered every Spring.
An interesting introduction to a topic in the field of Chemistry.
First semester of a two-semester course. This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts necessary for understanding organic molecules. These include nomenclature, conformational analysis, stereochemistry, radical and nucleophilic reactions, and spectroscopy. Strongly recommended for pre-medical students. Offered every Fall. Prerequisite: CHEM 113 with grade of C (2.0) or higher.
Second semester of a two-semester course. Surveys the chemistry of functionalized organic compounds emphasizing mechanisms and multi-step syntheses. Offered every Spring. Prerequisite: CHEM 230 with grade of C (2.0) or higher.
Experimental course that highlights the concepts learned in lecture. Students will learn and employ techniques for the preparation, isolation, purification and characterization of organic molecules. Offered every Fall. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHEM 230 or CHEM 236.
Experimental course emphasizing advanced laboratory techniques and concepts in organic chemistry. These include the handling of air-sensitive reagents, spectroscopic analysis of compounds, and the use of computational methods to complement experimental results. In addition, students will learn literature searching techniques and ACS-style writing. Offered every Spring. Prerequisites: CHEM 230 with minimum grade of C and CHEM 232 with minimum grade of C. Restricted to Chemistry Majors.
A continuation of the first semester lab course. Students will gain more experience in multistep synthesis and analysis of products. Offered every Spring. For non-Chemistry Majors. Prerequisites: CHEM 230 with minimum grade of C and CHEM 232 with minimum grade of C.
A survey of the fundamentals of organic chemistry. May be taken prior to, or along with, CHEM 232. This course may not be substituted for CHEM 230. Offered every Spring. Prerequisite: CHEM 113 with minimum grade of C-.
Modern and classical methods of quantitative analysis. Detailed chemical equilibria. Two lectures and two laboratory periods weekly. Offered every Spring. Prerequisite: CHEM 113 with grade of C (2.0) or higher.
This course provides in-depth coverage of major topics in the chemistry of the environment, including tropospheric air pollution, stratospheric ozone depletion, aquatic chemistry, water pollution and water treatment, soil chemistry, and toxic organic compounds. Offered intermittently. Prerequisites: CHEM 113 with a minimum grade of C-, and one of the following: ENVS 212, CHEM 230, or CHEM 236. Cross-listed with: ENVS 311.
An overview of the principles underlying the discovery, design, and development of modern medicines. Topics include: target identification; pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics; lead identification and optimization; and considerations for application to the clinic. Fulfills the elective option for the Major in Chemistry and the elective requirement for the Minor in Chemistry. Prerequisite: CHEM 231 (Organic Chemistry II), minimum grade of C.
First semester of a two-semester sequence.The main topics are thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and kinetics. Offered every Fall. Prerequisites: CHEM 113, PHYS 210 and MATH 110 with a minimum grade of C.
Second semester of a two-semester sequence. The main topics are: quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, and statistical thermodynamics. Offered every Spring. Prerequisite: CHEM 340 with minimum grade of C.
First semester of a two-semester course. Surveys the physical and chemical properties of biomolecules and how these properties lead to observed biological functions. Offered every Fall. Prerequisites: CHEM 231 with minimum grade of C, or CHEM 236 with minimum grade of C, BIOL 105 with minimum grade of C- and BIOL 106 with minimum grade of C-.
Second semester of a two-semester course. Surveys the major metabolic pathways and the control of metabolism at the nucleic acid and protein levels. Offered every Spring. Prerequisite: CHEM 350 with minimum grade of C.
Techniques commonly used in biochemical research, with emphasis upon protein and enzyme isolation and characterization.Instructor approval required. Priority given to Chemistry Majors with a concentration in Biochemistry. Offered every other year. Prerequisite: CHEM - 350 with minimum grade of C. Corequisite: CHEM - 351.
A survey of biochemical concepts emphasizing the nature of cell components, their interaction in metabolism and the regulation of metabolism. Offered every Fall. Prerequisites: CHEM 231 with minimum grade of C, or CHEM 236 with minimum grade of C.
Topics not covered by other Chemistry curriculum offerings. Three hours lecture or two hours lecture and two hours lab. Offered intermittently. Pre-requisites: CHEM 111, CHEM 113, CHEM 230 and CHEM 231.
The primary purpose of the course will be a hands-on research experience as part of a faculty-led research or scholarly project. Students must be accepted into a research group before adding the course, with priority given to majors who have completed CHEM 231/260. In fall, all undergraduate researchers will meet periodically to evaluate the chemical literature, review safety and give an informal presentation. In addition, the faculty will assist students in writing a required research progress report from work completed in fall or the preceding summer. In spring, the course instructor will assist students in preparing a professional oral or graphical presentation of research for a campus, local and/or national meeting. A full written report is required for students in their final semester who are completing the optional ACS-certified degree. Offered every semester for 1 credit and can be repeated for a maximum of 4 credits.
Study of selected topic, under the guidance of a member of the faculty. The consent of the instructor is required.
In this laboratory course students will perform experiments designed to deepen instrumentation skills and build upon the conceptual material being delivered in the second semester P-Chem lecture course (CHEM 341). The introduction of quantum mechanics will allow a deeper discussion of spectroscopy and reaction kinetics. The conceptual basis of NMR will be elaborated upon and NMR spectroscopy will form a major element of the course. Offered every Spring. Prerequisite: CHEM 340 with minimum grade of C.
Bonding, structure, and reactivity of the elements, inorganic, and organometallic compounds. In the laboratory students will perform experiments designed to: a) build upon foundational measurement taking and documenting skills learned in Analytical Chemistry (CHEM 260) as well as b) reinforce and extend the conceptual material being presented in the Physical Chemistry lecture course (CHEM 340), c) build upon previous lower division experience with Inorganic and Organic synthesis and characterization. Three lectures weekly and two laboratory periods. Offered every Fall. Prerequisite: CHEM 340 with minimum grade of C.
Selected biochemical research topics focusing on gene structure and molecular genetics, using research literature. Offered every intermittently. Prerequisites: CHEM 351 with minimum grade of C or CHEM 356 with minimum grade of C.
