Chemistry

Course Offerings

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Introductory Level Courses

Chemistry 100 - Chemistry Appreciation

Chemical concepts presented as lecture-demonstrations for students who wish to gain an appreciation of the chemical world. Meets University Studies requirements; not intended as preparation for other chemistry courses. Does not preclude taking any other chemistry courses for credit. No laboratory. Not open to students with credit in higher numbered chemistry courses. Offered each semester. 3 S.H.
Faculty Contact: Prof. Reuter; Dr. Chan

Chemistry 106-107 - Chemistry in Our World

Intended to introduce students to chemistry and give them an appreciation and understanding of the role chemistry plays in their everyday lives. Topics covered include atomic structure, bonding, water, acid rain, and energy. This course is intended both for University Studies students and as a first course for students who have not had high school chemistry and wish to prepare to take other chemistry classes. Students may elect to take the course with lab (107) or without lab (106). Offered each semester. 107 (4 S.H.), 106 (3 S.H.)
Faculty Contact: Prof. Reuter; Dr. Chan

Chemistry 108 - Introduction to General Chemistry

Intended to introduce the students to chemistry. Two lectures and one two-hour laboratory/discussion period per week. For both University Studies and as a first course in chemistry for students who have not had high school chemistry and wish to prepare for entrance into other chemistry courses. Students completing this course may later elect CHEM 212 for credit or with the department’s permission, they may go directly in to CHEM 213. Offered yearly. 4 S.H.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Chan

Chemistry 190 - Forensic Chemistry

This interdisciplinary course in forensic science meets the needs of criminal justice majors as well as students who desire a course that offers a broad scientific experience. This course will offer non-science majors opportunities to see the relevance of chemistry, biology, geology, and physics to their chosen professional life. It will provide an informative overview of techniques used by modern criminalistics labs and offer students a hands-on opportunity to explore the intricacies of how criminal investigation relies on forensic science. Through this course, students will gain an appreciation of how local law enforcement. 4 S.H.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Franz

Chemistry 204 - Unified Science

Physical and chemical aspects of nature. Designed for elementary education majors and others interested in a basic laboratory course. Not open to majors and minors in any of the sciences. Two hours lecture, four hours laboratory. Offered irregularly. 1-3 S.H.
Prerequisites: Chemistry 100.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Hein

Chemistry 210 - General, Organic, and Biochemistry

A study of the principles of general, organic, and biological chemistry with emphasis on the numerous connections between chemistry and human health. Four lectures and one laboratory period per week.
Prerequisites: high school chemistry or CHEM 108 and MATH 100 or qualifying score on mathematics placement exam. 5 S.H.
Faculty Contact: Prof. Reuter

Chemistry 212-213 - Principles of Chemistry I and II

An in-depth study of the principles of chemistry including atomic structure, the chemical bond, solutions, thermodynamics, kinetics, acid-base theory, oxidation-reduction, complex ion equilibrium and electrochemistry. Organic and inorganic examples are used when appropriate throughout the courses, and a short unit on organic chemistry is included. Laboratory and lecture are coordinated. Offered yearly. Each 4 S.H.
Prerequisites: high school intermediate algebra or concurrent enrollment in MATH 120 or a higher-numbered mathematics course.
Faculty Contacts: Dr. Kopitzke; Dr. Engen; Dr. Thorgaard; Dr. Ng

Intermediate Level Courses

Chemistry 320 - Evironmental Chemistry

An introductory study of current environmental issues, emphasizing the chemistry and chemical interactions underlying these topics. The topics may include, but are not limited to global warming, depletion of stratospheric ozone, ground level air chemistry and air pollution, organic chemicals in the environment, toxic heavy metals, chemistry of natural waters, and energy production and its environmental consequences. Lecture and Laboratory. Offered yearly. 4 S.H.
Prerequisites: one year of general chemistry or consent of instructor.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Engen

Chemistry 340 - Organic Chemistry Survey

A survey of the chemistry of organic compounds with emphasis on structure, properties, synthesis, and reactions of the major functional group families. Mechanisms of major reaction types are explored. Laboratory emphasizes separation techniques and synthesis. Offered yearly. 4 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 212 and CHEM 213. Not open to students who expect to take CHEM 350.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Kopitzke

Chemistry 350-351- Principles of Organic Chemistry I and II

A thorough study of the chemistry of organic compounds, with emphasis on structure, properties, synthesis, purification, principles and mechanisms of reactions, instrumental methods, compound identification, and important biological and economic applications. Offered yearly. 350 - 4 S.H., 351 - 5 S.H.
Prerequisites: for 350, Chemistry 212 and 213; for 351, Chemistry 350 or 340 or Chemistry 341 with instructor's permission.
Faculty Contacts: Dr. Hein; Dr. Nalli

Chemistry 341 - Organic and Polymer Chemistry

An introduction to the organic chemistry of synthetic polymers. The introduction to nomenclature, properties, synthesis, and characterization of organic compounds is followed by the application of these concepts to commercially important polymeric materials. Laboratories focus on the synthesis and characterization of addition and condensation polymers. Three lecture periods and one laboratory per week. Offered yearly. 4 S.H.
Prerequisite: CHEM 213. Not open to students expecting to take CHEM 350, CHEM 351, and CHEM 410. Dr. Kopitzke

Chemistry 360 - Chemical Information

Finding chemical information by on- and off-line searching of data bases by computer and by hand-searching print-form reference works such as Chemical Abstracts, dictionaries, encyclopedias, index serials, formularies, treatises and review serials. Lecture topics will also include units on patents, institutional publications and the primary periodical literature. Includes chemical information retrieval from the Internet, the preparation of a bibliography on a chemical topic using exhaustive manual and computer searching of the world’s literature. Offered yearly. 2 S.H.
Prerequisites: Credit or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 340 or CHEM 350.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Zemke

Chemistry 399 - Chemistry Internship

Supervised industrial, business or government experience designed by the WSU chemistry faculty advisor, the work supervisor and the student. Open only to the chemistry major or minor whose GPA in science and mathematics is 2.5 or better and who receives departmental approval. P/NC option available but only up to 4 S.H. may be taken for letter grade. Offered yearly. 1-6 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 425.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Hein

Advanced and Graduate Level Courses

Chemistry 400-401- Biochemistry I and II

400, 401 - Biochemistry I and II - Introduction to the chemistry of living organisms; emphasis on the structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids; enzymatic catalysis, thermodynamics, control and integration of metabolic processes; nucleotide metabolism and expression and transmission of genetic information. Offered yearly. 400 (4 S.H.), 401 (3 S.H.).
Prerequisites: for 400, CHEM 340 or CHEM 350 and CHEM 412 (or instructor’s permission); for 401, CHEM 400.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Lee; Dr. Mann

Chemistry 402 - Biochemistry Laboratory II

402 - Biochemistry Laboratory II— Experiments accompanying CHEM 401. Laboratory work should be taken concurrently with CHEM 401 but can be taken following successful completion of CHEM 401. Offered yearly. 1 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 400.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Lee; Dr. Mann

Chemistry 410/510 - Polymer Chemistry

An overview of polymer chemistry is presented. Major topics include polymerization reactions and kinetics, polymer morphology, polymer properties and polymer characterization. Offered yearly. 2 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 340 or CHEM 351 and CHEM 412 or ENG 345.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Kopitzke

Chemistry 411 - Synthesis and Charactization of Polymers

Synthesis of polymers using traditional addition and condensation polymerization techniques and using more recently developed methods including ROMP and ATRP. Characterization of polymers will include viscometry, thermal analysis and spectroscopic methods. Offered every other year. 2 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 410.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Kopitzke

Chemistry 412 - Physical Chemistry I

States of Matter and Equation of States. Thermodynamics of one component and multi-component systems. Equilibria. Computer applications. An introduction to quantum mechanics and spectroscopy. Offered yearly. 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: one year each of college chemistry and physics, and credit or concurrent enrollment in Calculus.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Ng

Chemistry 413 - Physical Chemistry Laboratory I

Experiments accompanying CHEM 412. Laboratory work should be taken concurrently with CHEM 412 but can be taken following successful completion of the course. Computer applications. Offered yearly. 1 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 412.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Ng

Chemistry 414 - Physical Chemistry II

Quantum Chemistry. Chemical Kinetics: rate laws, mechanisms, temperature-dependence, catalysis. Boltzmann’s distribution. Theories of reaction rates: collision model, transition state theory, diffusion & activation-controlled reactions, quantum mechanical tunneling, isotope effects. Properties of multi-component solutions. Electrochemistry. Statistical Mechanics. Offered yearly. 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 412.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Ng

Chemistry 415 - Physical Chemistry Laboratory II

Experiments accompanying CHEM 414. Laboratory work should be taken concurrently with CHEM 414 but can be taken following successful completion of the course. Offered yearly. 2 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 412.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Ng

Chemistry 417 - Intermediate Polymer Chemistry

This course focuses on methods for the controlled synthesis of polymeric materials. Strategies for controlling polymer molecular weight, polymer architecture, polymer microstructure and polymer composition will be studied and related to the ultimate goal of controlling polymer properties. These topics will be studied through readings and discussions of the current polymer literature. Offered every other year. 2 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 410. Grade only.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Kopitzke

Chemistry 420/520 - Topics in Industrial Chemistry

Applications of chemistry in industry. The chemistry and technology of selected industrial processes. Offered every two or three years. 2 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 340 or CHEM 350.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Hein

Chemistry 425-426/526 - Analytical Chemistry I and II

A sequence of courses stressing modern analytical chemistry. A study of the theory and practice of the quantitative examination of chemical systems. CHEM 425 covers volumetric and fundamental visible spectrophotometric methods. CHEM 426 covers the instrumental methods of: UV-vis, emission, and AA spectroscopy, electrical methods and gas and liquid chromatography. Offered yearly. Each 4 S.H.
Prerequisites: for 425, one year of chemistry; for 426, CHEM 425 and CHEM 412.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Engen

Chemistry 427/527 - Topics in Instrumental Chemistry

Selected topics from the principles and application of the instrumental methods of: IR, UV-vis and AA spectroscopy; NMR and mass spectrometry; gas and liquid chromatography. Offered every two or three years. 1-2 S.H.
Prerequisites: organic and analytical chemistry and instructor’s permission.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Nalli

Chemistry 428 - Chemical Separations

A lecture and laboratory course addressing problems encountered in separating chemical species on both the analytical and production scale. Both theory and practice will be considered. Offered irregularly. 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 425.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Franz

Chemistry 430 - Individual Projects in Chemistry

An opportunity for the qualified advanced undergraduate to work independently on chemical research under the direction of a chemistry faculty member. A careful write-up of results is required. Time arranged. Offered each semester. 1-3 S.H.
Prerequisites: 13 semester hours in chemistry and instructor’s permission. May not be taken for more than 3 credits per semester; may be repeated to a total of 11 credits.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Hein

Chemistry 431 - Guided Study in Teaching Chemistry

An opportunity for the qualified teaching candidate to obtain practical knowledge and experience in techniques of planning and safely presenting chemical lecture demonstrations and in planning and safely carrying out student laboratory exercises. One credit offered each semester by arrangement. 1-2 S.H.
Prerequisites: one year of university chemistry; junior or senior standing. May be repeated to a total of 2 credits. Credits may not be applied toward "electives" category of other programs in chemistry.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Zemke

Chemistry 436 - Topics in Environmental Chemistry

This course covers advanced topics in environmental chemistry. Topics studied will depend upon the interest of the class and may include topics such as acid rain, endocrine disruption, risk assessment, global warming, and bioaccumulation. Offered every other year. 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: Chemistry 320 or instructor’s permission.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Engen

Chemistry 438/538 - Medicinal Chemistry

This course covers advanced topics in environmental chemistry. Topics studied will depend upon the interest of the class and may include topics such as acid rain, endocrine disruption, risk assessment, global warming, and bioaccumulation. Offered every other year. 3 S.H.
Prerequisites: Chemistry 320 or instructor’s permission.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Hein

Chemistry 439 - Biochemistry of Drug Metabolism

An advanced elective that emphasizes the qualitative and quantitative chemistry of drug metabolism. Topics covered include pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, drug absorption, distribution and excretion, phase I and phase II biotransformation, principles of therapeutics, and toxicology. Offered every three years. 2 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 401 or CHEM 210 and instructor’s permission.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Mann

Chemistry 447/547 - Advanced Organic Chemistry

Chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, stereochemical concepts and the use of isotopes are applied to organic reaction mechanisms. The study of molecular orbital theory forms the basis for predicting reaction mechanisms. Lecture course. Offered every two or three years. 2 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 351 and CHEM 412.
Faculty Contacts: Dr. Hein

Chemistry 450 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I

Descriptive and theoretical approaches to inorganic reactions and structures with emphasis on structural concepts including symmetry and group theory and molecular orbital theory. Laboratory work includes the preparation of various main group and transition metal compounds and use of modern instruments in characterizing these compounds. Offered yearly. 4 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 412.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Zemke

Chemistry 451 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II

A continuation of the treatment of theoretical and descriptive inorganic chemistry introduced in CHEM 450. Offered yearly. 2 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 414 and CHEM 450.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Zemke

Chemistry 460 - Chemistry Research Proposal

In this course, students learn how to develop an effective research proposal. Elements of a good proposal and clear, concise writing are emphasized. Students are required to write and present a research proposal. Offered each spring. 1 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 360 and instructor’s permission.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Nalli

Chemistry 461 - Chemistry Research

Students conduct chemistry research on the topics of their research proposals completed in CHEM 460. A formal research report is required at the completion of CHEM 461. Time is arranged with research advisor. Offered each semester. 1-3 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 460 and instructor’s permission. May be repeated up to 10 credits.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Hein

Chemistry 465/565 - History of Chemistry

A chemistry course emphasizing the fascinating interplay of ideas during the development of the chemical body of knowledge. Offered irregularly. 1 S.H.
Prerequisites: one semester of organic chemistry.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Hein

Chemistry 470 - Isotope, Nuclear, and Radiochemistry

Introduction and basic treatment of the nucleus with emphasis on concepts in chemistry. Interactions of radiation with matter. Nuclear structure, stabilities and associated radioactive decay processes. Applications in nuclear reactors, particle accelerators, and medical therapies. Offered every two or three years. 2 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 412.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Hein

Chemistry 472 - Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy

Description of quantum mechanics and application to spectroscopy of atoms and molecules. Discussion of spectroscopic techniques includes detailed derivations of microwave, infra-red, Raman, electronic, NMR, and ESR spectra. Perturbation Theory and Group Theory are introduced to determine structure of polyatomic molecules. Offered every two or three years. 2 S.H.
Prerequisites: CHEM 412.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Ng

Chemistry 475/575 - Seminar in Chemistry

Students are expected to make oral and poster presentations on literature or laboratory research. Exploration of presentations by persons outside the department is included. Additional outreach opportunities will be scheduled as permitted. 1 S.H.
Prerequisites: 20 semester hours of chemistry.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Hein