Courses

CHEM 001: GENERAL CHEMISTRY I, 3 credit hrs.
Introduction to the important general principles of chemistry. Students look at the twin concepts of structure and bonding in the three main physical states of matter and discover how both structure and bonding determine chemical reactivity. Students learn about the basic organizing principle of chemistry - the Periodic Table - and show both its origins and uses in predicting the properties of matter. The fundamental quantitative concept in chemistry, stoichiometry, is introduced early and emphasized throughout the course. Prereq.: two years of high school mathematics, including algebra, or consent of the instructor. Coreq.: CHEM 003.

CHEM 002: GENERAL CHEMISTRY II, 3 credit hrs.
Continuation of the exploration of the principles of chemistry introduced in CHEM 001. Topics include thermo- chemistry; rates of chemical reactions; chemical equilibria with an emphasis on solution equilibria; the structures and properties of solutions including intermolecular forces and colligative properties; the oxidation-reduction and coordination chemistry of metals and their compounds; electro chemistry. Prereq.: CHEM 001 and CHEM 003. Coreq.: CHEM 004.

CHEM 003: GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB I, 1 credit hr.
The laboratory experiments complement and reinforce concepts introduced in General Chemistry I (CHEM 001). Coreq.: CHEM 001.

CHEM 004: GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB II, 1 credit hr.
The laboratory experiments complement and reinforce concepts introduced in General Chemistry II (CHEM 2). Prereq.: CHEM 001 and CHEM 003. Coreq.: CHEM 002.

CHEM 006: CHEMISTRY FOR INFORMED CITIZEN, 3 credit hrs.
A survey of some principles of chemistry, stressing concepts and qualitative understanding rather than problem solving or technical skills. Application of a core of concepts to chemical aspects of current social political or economic situations.

CHEM 007: INFORMED CITIZEN LAB, 1 credit hr.
An optional laboratory experience to accompany CHEM 006. Experiments illustrate how fundamental and practical chemical information is obtained. Properties of substances are observed and experiments are performed to foster appreciation of the impact of chemistry in a technological society. Prereq.: Concurrent enrollment of previous credit in CHEM 006.

CHEM 008: CHEMISTRY CONNECTIONS I, 1 credit hr.
This is a one-hour course for students to be introduced to the role of science in society, including readings about the role of research in the sciences, presentations by invited speakers, and an introduction to research projects at Drake.

CHEM 009: CHEMISTRY CONNECTIONS II, 1 credit hr.
This course is continuation of Chemistry Connections I, and includes reading and analysis of scientific papers, seminar presentations, and an introduction to research instrumentation.

CHEM 010: CHEMISTRY CONNECTIONS III, 1 credit hr.

Students will be introduced to the policies and practices of the research laboratories of the department, experimental planning, synthesis of commonly used chemicals, report writing and presentations. 

CHEM 011: CHEMISRY CONNECTIONS IV, 1 credit hr. 

This course is a continuation of CHEM 010. Students will continue their introduction to the use of instrumentation and will learn how to perform instrumental analyses, interpret experimental data and present the results of their explorations. 

CHEM 012: FOOD AND HEALTH, 3 credit hrs.
Food and Health is a course about personal nutrition and its relationship to health by way of food, food components, and social stratification. There is now a large body of evidence which demonstrates that our diets have a major impact on our health. In this course, we will examine all aspects of this subject. This course has no prerequisites, but an awareness of global public heath issues is desired. This course will serve as an all-level elective for the global public health concentration.

CHEM 061: INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, 3 credit hrs.
A survey of the chemistry of the elements and their compounds, using the Periodic Table as an organizing principle. Special attention will be given to structure, bonding, chemical reactivities, and practical applications in materials science, biological chemistry, medical chemistry, and environmental chemistry. Pre-requisites: CHEM 002 and CHEM 004.

CHEM 081: ANALYTICAL METHODS, 4 credit hrs.
The principles and applications of volumetric, spectrometric and electrometric measurement in the determination of quantities of organic, biological and inorganic chemicals. With laboratory. Prereq.: CHEM 002 and 004.

CHEM 097: ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I, 3 credit hrs.
A study of the chemistry of aliphatic, alicyclic, and aromatic compounds including structure and nomenclature, stereochemistry, properties and reactions, reaction mechanisms, and spectroscopy.

CHEM 098: ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB I, 1 credit hr.
The laboratory experiments complement and reinforce concepts introduced in Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 097). They include purification techniques, synthesis and characterization of organic compounds.

CHEM 108: ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II, 3 credit hrs.
Continuation of Chemistry 97 with further study of the chemistry of aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic, and heterocyclic compounds with an emphasis on the compound classes containing oxygen and nitrogen. The study includes structure and nomenclature, stereochemistry, properties and reactions, reaction mechanisms, and spectroscopy. Prereq.: Chem 097, 098.

CHEM 110: ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB II, 1 credit hr.
The laboratory experiments complement and reinforce concepts introduced in Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 108). They include purification techniques, synthesis and characterization of organic compounds. Prereq.: CHEM 097 and CHEM 098.

CHEM 130: BIOCHEMISTRY 1: FUNDAMENTALS, 3 credit hrs.
A study of the nature of the chemical constituents of living matter, the functions and transformation of these chemical entities in biological systems, and the chemical changes associated with these transformations in the course of the activity of living matter. Prereq.: CHEM 108, CHEM 110.

CHEM 131: BIOCHEMISTRY 1: FUNDAMENTALS & LAB, 1 credit hr.
Introduction to biochemical laboratory techniques. Provides practical experiences with techniques for separation and characterization of biomolecules and methods of examining biochemical reactions including kinetics. Prereq.: CHEM 108 and CHEM 110.

CHEM 132: BIOCHEMISTRY2: METABOLISM, 3 credit hrs.
Continuation of CHEM 130 with further emphasis on protein and nucleotide metabolism, biochemical genetics, enzyme mechanisms and kinetics, biochemistry of membrane transport, vision, immunology, hormone action, and virology. Prereq.: CHEM 130 and CHEM 165, or consent of instructor.

CHEM 133: BIOCHEMISTRY 2: METABOLISM & LAB, 1 credit hr.
Continuation of CHEM 131. Further applications of basic biochemical laboratory techniques with emphasis on more advanced techniques in instrumental methods, protein characterization and molecular genetics. Prereq.: CHEM 131 or consent of instructor.

CHEM 134: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, 3 credit hrs.
Introduction to the principles, practices and applications of modern molecular biology. The chemistry of informational macromolecules; mechanism, regulation and integration of informational processes in the cell; application to basic biology and medicine; implications for society. Prereq.: CHEM 130 or BIO 165 or consent of instructor.

CHEM 135: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LAB, 1 credit hr.
Introduction to the methods of molecular biology with an emphasis on the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills. Laboratory provides practical experience with cell culture, the characterization of proteins and nucleic acids, and molecular cloning techniques, including the application of the polymerase chain reaction method. Prereq.: BIO 165 or consent of instructor; concurrent enrollment in CHEM 134 is encouraged.

CHEM 136: STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY, 3 credit hrs.
Introduction to the principles, methods and applications of structural biology, a discipline that seeks to relate molecular form to biological function. An analysis of molecular structure and biological function in relation to the molecular biology of the cell, and an exploration of the applications of this understanding. Practical experience in the use of sequence analysis and molecular graphics computer programs as applied to structural problems in cellular and molecular biology. Prereq.: BIO 165, CHEM 130, or consent of instructor.

CHEM 137: ADVANCED MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES LAB, 3 credit hrs.
Advanced Molecular Life Sciences Laboratory is a capstone interdisciplinary course that involves students in a laboratory research problem. The course is structured to model the process used by practicing scientists as they conduct research. Accordingly, as students approach their research problem, they will learn to develop both effective experimentation skills (techniques, data evaluation, experimental design) and effective communication skills (writing proposals, reports and notebooks; speaking at seminars and professional meetings; listening to experts and colleagues). Prereq.: Any one of the following: CHEM 130, CHEM 137, BIO 012, BIO 165, or consent of instructor.

CHEM 148: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH, 1 to 3 credit hrs.
Participation in and contribution to research programs in collaboration with individual faculty members. The research will be the basis for a formal written report. Prereq.: Consent of the instructor.

CHEM 155: ORGANIC REACTIONS & APPLICATIONS, 4 credit hrs.
The lecture component of this course covers the important concepts of synthetic and mechanistic organic chemistry including the chemistry of enolates and enamines, functional group interconversions, oxidations and reductions, cycloadditions, unimolecular rearrangements, highly reactive intermediates, and multistep synthesis. The laboratory component focuses on microscale syntheses and special analysis using spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques including IR, NMR, GC, UV-Vis, HPLC and GC-MS. Several of the laboratory experiments are open-ended projects. With laboratory. Prereq.: CHEM 108, CHEM 110, and CHEM 165, or consent of instructor.

CHEM 161: BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, 4 credit hrs.
Intended for students majoring in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology (BCMB). pharmaceutical sciences (BSPS) and biology. The course will explore how living systems create in a disorderly world, drive equilibria in directions dictated by immediate needs of the organisms, make reactions occur so efficiently, specifically and effectively. They will explore how we observe chemical and physical properties of life's molecules and discuss all these topics in the context of some examples that include photobiology, transport, and macromolecular folding. The laboratory component will expose students to physical chemistry concepts from a biochemical and pharmaceutical perspective. Prerequisites: at least one semester of calculus, 2 semester of physics, or consent of instructor.

CHEM 165: THERMODYNAMICS & KINETICS, 4 credit hrs.
Intended for students in chemistry and the health sciences who desire a knowledge of the physical chemical concepts that apply in their fields. The course includes topics in chemical thermodynamics, chemical kinetics and related areas. With laboratory. Prereq.: CHEM 081, PHY 002 or 012, MATH 070 or consent of instructor.

CHEM 166: QUANTUM-MECHANICAL EXPLORATIONS, 4 credit hrs.
Continuation of the study of physical chemical principles. Topics include quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, chemical equilibria and statistical thermodynamics. With laboratory. Prereq.: CHEM 165. (MATH 100 is highly recommended).

CHEM 170: EXPLORATIONS IN COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, 3-4 credit hrs.
Computer modeling has risen rapidly from the esoteric realm of experts to a place of central prominence and utility in may, if not all, natural sciences. In CHEM 170, we use computer models to explore how chemical behavior arises from the electronic structure of atoms and molecules. Potential applications include molecular structure and bonding, the absorption and emission of light, reaction mechanisms, and solvent effects on chemical reactivity. This course is suitable for (among others) a wide range of natural science majors, and computer programming experience is not required.

CHEM 180: EXPLORATIONS IN INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, 4 credit hrs.
A study of modern inorganic chemistry, with emphasis on areas of active research. Topics include structure and symmetry, coordination chemistry of the transition metals, organometallic and bioinorganic chemistry. In laboratory, representative compounds are synthesized and characterized. With laboratory. Prereq.: CHEM 165 or consent of instructor.

CHEM 182: INSTRUMENTAL METHODS OF ANALYSIS, 4 credit hrs.
This course, grounded in the principles of analytical chemistry, is aimed at understanding the physical phenomena underlying modern chemical instrumentation as well as the design of instrumentation. The application of instrumentation to the solution of quantitative and qualitative chemical, biochemical, and pharmaceutical problems is also emphasized. In the laboratory, students use a wide variety of spectroscopic, chromatographic and electrochemical techniques including UV-Vic, IR, NMR, ICP, CE, GC, GC-MS, HPLC and CV. With laboratory. Prereq.: CHEM 165 or consent of instructor.

CHEM 190: INTEGRATED CHEMISTRY TOPICS, 1 to 4 credit hrs.
Specialized study of a chosen topic in chemistry. Prereq.: Consent of instructor.

CHEM 195: JUNIOR SEMINAR I, 1 credit hr.
This course is designed to prepare chemistry majors for presentation of original chemical research. This course features presentations and discussions of chemical research by visiting scientists, Drake faculty, and senior chemistry majors. Required for Chem B.S., optional for Chem B.A.

CHEM 196: JUNIOR SEMINAR II, 1 credit hr.
Continuation of CHEM 195. Required for Chem B.S., optional for Chem B.A. Pre-req: CHEM 195.

CHEM 197: SENIOR SEMINAR I, 1 credit hr.
This course continues the preparation of chemisty majors for presentation of their original chemical research. The course features presentation and discussions of chemical research by visiting scientists, Drake faculty, and junior and senior chemistry majors. Emphasis is places on clear understanding of underlying chemical principles, selection and circumscription of appropriate topics and content, development of aids to presentation, and a clear presentation style. Required for all Chem majors.

CHEM 198: SENIOR SEMINAR II, 1 credit hr.
Continuation of CHEM 197. Required for all Chem majors. Pre- req: CHEM 197.