Return to Chemistry | Courses Index
[1] Courses in Chemistry (CHEM)
1301 FUNDAMENTAL CHEMISTRY The purpose of this course is to provide the background necessary for subsequent study in chemistry. Basic concepts of chemistry are discussed for students with limited or no previous chemistry instruction. Lecture, small-group work, and in-class demonstrations are used in the course. CHEM 1301 may not be used to satisfy credit for any degree. Not open to students who have completed CHEM 1402 or 1450.
1400 CHEMISTRY IN SOCIETY Study of chemistry for the lower-division UCA Core (general education) program, with emphasis of learning chemical principles on a need-to-know basis to address societal-technological issues such as environmental problems, energy uses, drugs, polymers, nutrition, and genetic engineering. Small-group work, laboratory instruction, and the worldwide web are all used. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are emphasized. Three hours of lecture and 2 hours of laboratory per week. CHEM 1400 does not count towards a major or minor in chemistry, a minor in physical science, a major in general science, or a minor in physical science; similarly, this course cannot be used to fulfill the BS special degree requirement. [ACTS: CHEM1004]
1402 GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR HEALTH SCIENCES A required course for BS in Nursing and other allied-health baccalaureate degrees. General chemistry topics related to physiology and other health-related sciences. Lecture, small-group work, and laboratory instruction are used. Three hours of lecture and 2 hours of laboratory per week. It is recommended that students have taken and passed high school chemistry or have completed CHEM 1301 with a C or better. Prerequisite: ACT mathematics score of at least 21 or corequisite/prerequisite of MATH 1390. [ACTS: CHEM1214]
1450 COLLEGE CHEMISTRY I A required course for chemistry and biology majors, the biological and chemical physics tracks, and pre-pharmacy, pre-medicine, pre-dental, and pre-veterinarian study. Recommended for pre-physical therapy. Principles of general chemistry with emphasis on their theoretical and quantitative aspects and applications. Lecture, small-group work, and laboratory instruction are used. Three hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week. It is recommended that students have taken and passed high school chemistry or have completed CHEM 1301 with a C or better. Prerequisite: ACT mathematics score of at least 21 or corequisite/prerequisite of MATH 1390. [ACTS: CHEM1414]
1451 COLLEGE CHEMISTRY II Continuation of College Chemistry I. Lecture, small-group work, and laboratory instruction are used. Three hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in CHEM 1450. [ACTS: CHEM1424]
2V01 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH (Variable credit: 1 or 2 credit hours.) Research collaboration with a chemistry faculty member. Open to sophomores. Prerequisite: CHEM 1451.
2401 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I Required for a chemistry major and for many health-profession areas including pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, and pre-pharmacy. Focuses on structure, physical properties, reactivity patterns, and stereochemistry of hydrocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons. Introduces students to the design of multi-step syntheses and the use of reaction mechanisms to explain chemical behavior. In the laboratory, students learn basic microscale and macroscale laboratory techniques and develop scientific reasoning skills. Laboratory experiments are chosen that clarify and demonstrate the basic chemical principles encountered in lecture. Three hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CHEM 1451.
2450 INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC AND BIOCHEMISTRY Continuation of CHEM 1402; a required course for several allied-health baccalaureate degrees. Organic and biochemistry topics related to physiology and the health-related sciences. Introduction to the structural formulas and reactions of organic molecules followed by the chemistry of biological substances, including their metabolism. Lecture, small-group work, and laboratory instruction are used. Three hours of lecture and 2 hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CHEM 1402. [ACTS: CHEM1224]
3V01 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH (Variable credit: 1 or 2 credit hours.) Research collaboration with a chemistry faculty member. Open to juniors. Prerequisite: CHEM 3411.
3150 ADVANCED INORGANIC LABORATORY Required course for the ACS-certified chemistry BS degree and an elective in the BS with major in chemistry degree. Draws from and complements topics covered in CHEM 4380. Focuses on experimental methods common to inorganic chemistry, including inert atmosphere syntheses, specific characterization techniques, and affiliated instrumentation. Some attention given to experiments in computational chemistry and in materials science. Three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CHEM 3411, 3520; Corequisite: CHEM 4380.
3211 ORGANIC SPECTROSCOPY Required for a chemistry major. Students are introduced to modern methods of molecular structure determination including mass spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and NMR spectroscopy. Students gain practice in the integration of diverse experimental information toward the correct identification of molecular structures. Two hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CHEM 2401; Prerequisite or Corequisite: CHEM 3411.
3360 INTERMEDIATE INORGANIC CHEMISTRY Extension of principles of chemical structure, periodicity, and applications of inorganic systems to industrial, environmental, and biochemical processes. Three hours of lecture per week. Counts as inorganic credit for ACS-certified BS biochemistry track and the BS in chemistry with minor of choice. It is an elective option for the ACS-certified BS standard track, the environmental science-chemistry track, and the minor in chemistry. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CHEM 1451.
3411 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II Continuation of CHEM 2401. An introduction to the chemistry of common organic functional groups including aromatics, alcohols, ethers, carbonyl compounds, and amines. Both the lecture and laboratory portions of the course emphasize fundamental concepts related to molecular reactivity, multi-step synthesis design, and structure determination using both classical methods and modern spectroscopic methods. Three hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CHEM 2401.
3520 QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS The first course in a two-course analytical chemistry sequence, emphasizing the analytical chemist’s approach to problem solving, statistical analysis of data, and calibration methods. It addresses the theory and practice of gravimetric and volumetric methods of quantitative analysis. It also provides a brief introduction to the major areas of instrumental methods in analytical chemistry. The laboratory focuses on the analytical process, including problem-solving and analytical techniques for the safe and proper analysis of a variety of analytes (with particular emphasis on the proper usage of lab notebooks). Three hours of lecture and 6 hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CHEM 1451.
4V01 SENIOR RESEARCH (Variable credit: 1 or 2 credit hours.) Original investigation of an assigned laboratory problem. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
4V09 SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN CHEMISTRY (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) Used in special cases for upper-division students.
4112 SEMINAR Formal presentation and discussions of current topics in chemistry by faculty and upper-division chemistry students. One hour of lecture per week. Prerequisite or Corequisite: CHEM 4450 or 4460. [UD UCA Core: Z]
4121 BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY A laboratory course in modern biochemical techniques investigating proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. Four hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 3411; Prerequisite or Corequisite: CHEM 4320.
4152 ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY Upper-division elective for chemistry majors and minors and a required course for those in the biology and chemistry tracks of the environmental science program. Uses a laboratory format emphasizing sampling, analysis, and data reduction techniques for multi-component environmental samples. Three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite or Corequisite: CHEM 4351.
4301 LABORATORY MANAGEMENT Provides school science teachers with skills needed to integrate laboratory experiments efficiently and safely into the science curriculum. Major topics include evaluation of facilities, selection of experiments, teaching strategies, record keeping, ordering supplies, and laboratory safety. Three hours of lecture per week. Does not count towards a major or minor in chemistry, a major in general science, or a minor in physical science.
4320 BIOCHEMISTRY I Required course for the ACS-certified chemistry BS degree: Biochemistry Track; ACS-certified chemistry BS degree: Standard Track; and the BS with major in chemistry degree. A survey of the structure and functions of important classes of biomolecules. Metabolism, processing of genetic information, and current topics in biochemistry will be addressed. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CHEM 3411 and BIOL 1440.
4335 BIOCHEMISTRY II Required course for the ACS-certified chemistry BS degree: Biochemistry Track and an elective for the ACS-certified chemistry BS degree: Standard Track. Continuation of CHEM 4320. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CHEM 4320.
4351 ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY An upper-division elective for chemistry majors and minors and a required course for the chemistry track of the Environmental Science program. The course explores the chemistry of the environment with particular emphasis on the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, and energy. Discussion/lecture. Three hours of lecture per week. Elective option for the ACS-certified chemistry BS degree: Standard Track. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in CHEM 3411 and CHEM 3520.
4380 ADVANCED INORGANIC CHEMISTRY Required course for the ACS-certified chemistry BS degree: Standard Track, and an elective for the BS with major in chemistry degree. CHEM 4380 or CHEM 3360 is required for the ACS-certified chemistry BS degree: Biochemistry Track. Emphasis on the periodic properties of the elements and how these derive from modern atomic theory. Uses modern theories of chemical bonding, including molecular orbital theory and symmetry, to outline the systematic chemistry of the transition metals as well as representative main group elements. Introduction to organometallic compounds and their catalysis of important organic transformations. Emphasizes current primary inorganic literature sources. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CHEM 4450.
4385 TOPICS IN ADVANCED CHEMISTRY An elective upper-division course for both the ACS-certified chemistry BS degree and the BS with major in chemistry degree. Advanced topics in chemistry based on the quantum mechanical and other concepts of modern physical chemistry. Three hours of lecture per week. Elective option for the ACS-certified chemistry BS degree: Standard Track. Prerequisite: CHEM 4460.
4450 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I Required upper-division course for chemistry majors. Modern theoretical chemistry with laboratory applications. Serves as a prerequisite class for advanced chemistry courses. Designed to challenge students to think of chemistry primarily from a molecular and mathematical basis. Topics covered are predominately those relating to quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, and chemical kinetics. Significant amount of computer simulation using modern mathematical software. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in CHEM 1451, PHYS 1442 (or PHYS 1420 if approved), and MATH 1497 (formerly MATH 1592).
4451 ADVANCED ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY The second course in a two-course analytical chemistry sequence expanding on the concepts presented in CHEM 3520 Quantitative Analysis but with a particular focus on instrumental methods, including the theory of relevant chemical and physical phenomena, components and applications of various instruments, and data analysis. Major topics of coverage include spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and chromatography as well as signal-to-noise ratios, data processing, and analytical figures of merit. The laboratory component of the course is designed to introduce students to the analytical process via hands-on operation of various instrumentation and the role and applicability of each instrument in chemical analysis. Additional emphasis in the lab is placed on sample and standard preparation and calibration methods. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CHEM 3520.
4460 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY II Required course for the ACS-certified chemistry BS degree: Biochemistry Track; ACS-certified chemistry BS degree: Standard Track; and the BS with major in chemistry degree. The lecture covers classical thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, chemical equilibria, thermochemistry, and solutions. The laboratory component includes experiments illustrating principles of calorimetry, thermodynamics, and multicomponent systems. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in CHEM 1451, PHYS 1442 (or PHYS 1420 if approved), and MATH 1497 (formerly MATH 1592).