Chemistry & Physics Course Descriptions
Chemistry
CHEM1101 Principles of Chemistry I (SI-L)
This course considers basic measurement in chemistry, description of matter, the mole, stoichiometry, quantitative information from balanced chemical equations, solution chemistry, atomic structure, bonding and molecular shape. The laboratory sessions focus on development of laboratory technique. The calculations and problems associated with these topics require a basic mathematical background. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
Fall semester. 4 credits
Prerequisite: MATH1101 CHEM1102
Principles of Chemistry II (SI-L)
This course is a continuation of CHEM1101 and considers the states of matter, colligative properties, fundamental aspects of acid-base chemistry, basic principles of equilibrium, kinetics and selected aspects of thermodynamics. The laboratory sessions focus on quantitative behavior related to acids/bases, exploring equilibrium, heat content and properties of solutions. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
Spring semester. 4 credits
Prerequisite: CHEM1101 CHEM1103
Chemical Perspectives (SI-L)
This one semester advanced course is designed to further develop the fundamental topics in chemistry: stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure and theory, equilibrium, electrochemistry and kinetics. This course will replace CHEM1101 and CHEM 1102 sequence in the chemistry major or minor for qualified students. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
Fall semester. 4 credits
Prerequisite: Departmental examination CHEM1104
Chemistry of Everyday Life (SI-L)
This survey course is designed primarily for non-majors who are interested in the chemistry involved in everyday life. This course takes a tour of the home, covering a wide range of topics, including the chemistry of cooking, cosmetics, cleaners, the chemical basis of photography and radon in the basement. The amount of time spent in any one room in the home is based on class interest. Laboratories include experiments and demonstrations to elucidate topics discussed in lecture. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2008. 4 credits
CHEM1105 Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs (SI-L)
This course offers the student a basic understanding of common prescription and over-the-counter drugs, their uses, misuses, interaction, side effects and contraindications. The course presents the student with methods to evaluate current drugs as well as new products as they come on the market. Laboratory experiments stress identification and analysis of medicinal components. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2007. 4 credits
CHEM1107 Forensic Chemistry (SI)
Forensic chemistry is a unique and challenging application of science to the law. This course will introduce the students to the application of science to criminal and civil law, including an overview of forensic chemistry, forensic toxicology and drug analysis, DNA profiling and other sub-disciplines. Special emphasis will be placed on the techniques of sampling a crime scene and the use of physical evidence to help solve cases. Students will learn how to unlock the mystery of crimes through application of science techniques. No prior knowledge of chemistry is required. Three hours lecture.
Fall semester, expected fall 2008. 4 credits
CHEM1108 Chemistry and Art (SI-L)
This course is designed to introduce non-science majors to the relationship of chemistry and art. After laying a foundation based on introductory topics (atomic structure, light and color), this course will focus on the chemistry of photography, painting and pigments. The topics of art conservation and methods of detection of art forgeries will also be introduced. Guest lecturers will be invited and trips to the local art museums will be encouraged. The laboratories include experiments and demonstrations to elucidate topics discussed in lecture. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory.
Spring semester. 4 credits
CHEM1110 Introduction to Physical Sciences (SI-L)
This course surveys topics in chemistry, physics, astronomy, and geology. This course is required for those planning on teaching at the elementary school level and is recommended for individuals interested in topics such as electricity, the solar system, and how antacids work. Laboratory experiments will focus on elucidation of lecture material. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory.
Spring semester. 4 credits
CHEM1111 Chemistry: A World of Choices (SI)
This is the same course as CHEM1112, but without the laboratory component. An introduction to the chemical concepts needed to understand many of the numerous scientific problems confronting society today. It will examine the way chemistry impacts our today’s world and will cover fundamental principles of chemistry with particular emphasis on the role of chemistry in modern society, and the benefits and costs of chemical technology. This course is deigned to help to understand and appreciate the important role that chemistry plays in our personal and professional lives and to use the principles of chemistry to think more intelligently about scientific and technological real-world issues, to make informed decisions in matters as diverse as environmental issues, medical care and public policy. Three hours lecture.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2007. 4 credits
CHEM1112 Chemistry: A World of Choices (SI-L)
An introduction to the chemical concepts needed to understand many of the numerous scientific problems confronting society today. It will examine the way chemistry impacts our today’s world and will cover fundamental principles of chemistry with particular emphasis on the role of chemistry in modern society, and the benefits and costs of chemical technology. This course is deigned to help to understand and appreciate the important role that chemistry plays in our personal and professional lives and to use the principles of chemistry to think more intelligently about scientific and technological real-world issues, to make informed decisions in matters as diverse as environmental issues, medical care and public policy. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2007. 4 credits
CHEM1125 Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs (SI)
This is the same course as CHEM1105, but without the laboratory component. This course offers the student a basic understanding of common prescription and over-the-counter drugs, their uses, misuses, interaction, side effects and contraindications. The course presents the student with methods to evaluate current drugs as well as new products as they come on the market. Three hours lecture.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2007. 4 credits
CHEM2101 Organic Chemistry I
This course considers the structure, bonding and reactivity of the following classes of carbon compounds: alkanes and alkyl halides. Particular attention will be paid to stereochemistry, isomerism and the mechanisms of organic reactions. The laboratory sessions focus on common organic techniques used to analyze reaction progress and for purification of compounds. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
Fall semester. 4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM1101, CHEM1102
CHEM2102 Organic Chemistry II
This course is a continuation of CHEM2101 and considers the structure, bonding and reactivity of the following classes of carbon compounds: alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid derivatives, and aromatic compounds. Particular attention will be paid to multi-step synthesis of target molecules from readily available starting materials. The laboratory sessions focus on the synthesis, purification (utilizing techniques learned in the first semester) and identification of organic compounds using spectrometric techniques. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
Spring semester. 4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM1101, CHEM1102, CHEM2101
CHEM2104 Fundamentals of Chemical Analysis
In this course the principles and techniques of various chemical and instrumental methods of qualitative and quantitative analysis are discussed and applied. Topics include gravimetric, titrimetric, electrochemical and spectrochemical analysis, as well as basic analytical methodology including statistical analysis of data and testing for bias. Laboratories include the application of these methods and the analysis of environmental, biological, pharmaceutical and food samples. Three hours lecture, four hours laboratory.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2008. 4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM1101, CHEM1102
CHEM2108 Instrumental Methods of Analysis
This is a one-semester upper-level course in chemistry. The fundamental principles of analytical instrumentation will be described. Practical, real-world applications of these techniques will be explored in the laboratory. Topics will include electronics, optical spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, Fourier transforms, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, chromatographic methods, electroanalytical methods. The course will consist of three lecture hours per week and three laboratory hours per week. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
Spring semester, offered as needed. 4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM2101 and CHEM2104
CHEM2111 Biochemistry I
Biochemistry lays the foundation for a full understanding of the biological chemistry of the living cell. Students will study the structure of the biological molecules that make up living things and the physical and chemical properties that make them suited to their particular functions. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between the structure of a molecule and the role it plays in the overall economy of the cell. The laboratory component for this course is roughly divided into two halves, the first aimed at imparting laboratory skills, the second permitting collaborative student-designed investigations. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
Fall semester. 4 credits
Prerequisites: BIOL1105 or BIOL1106 or their equivalent, CHEM2102, or permission of the instructor (Cross-referenced with BIOL2131)
CHEM2113 Chemistry of Boston Waterways (SI)
The course will provide opportunities for students to conduct environmental research projects on the water, soil and air quality of historical Fenway, as well as fully evaluate the impact of Man on the environment. The students will be able to perform projects according to their interests. The students will collect the samples and analyze them for EPA controlled pollutants typical of an urban environment. They will then investigate the effect of the pollutants on human health and environment using modern analytical methods, chemical instrumentation, and computer modeling. The results will be reported to local environmental organizations with suggestions for the most effective means of reducing these pollutants. The students will also have the option of presenting this information on the state of the environment to local schools and communities. Students will complete about 30 hours of service work in the areas of environmental conservation, activism, or education. As a wrap up to the course, they will participate in annual Muddy River clean up event honoring Earth Day.
Spring Semester, alternate years, expected spring 2009. 4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM1101 or CHEM1102 or CHEM 1103 or permission of the instructor
CHEM3101 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
This course covers basic concepts of atomic structure, stereochemical principles and bonding models applied to main group and transition metal compounds and to the structure of solids. It considers elementary molecular orbital and ligand field theory and reaction mechanisms of d-block complexes as well as the fundamental knowledge of biological functions of metal complexes in living organisms. Basic principles of inorganic coordination chemistry will be discussed and applied to the understanding of the role of metal ions in biology.
Spring semester, offered as needed, 4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM1101, CHEM1102, CHEM3105 or CHEM3106
CHEM3105 Physical Chemistry I
This course is the first of the two-semester physical chemistry sequence. It covers the laws of thermodynamics and their application to chemical and selected biological systems. Topics considered include the kinetic-molecular theory of ideal and real gases, thermochemistry, physical transformations of pure substances and simple mixtures, phase stability and transitions, chemical equilibrium, acid-base equilibria in water, solutions of electrolytes and electrochemical cells. The laboratory involves practical experiments based on selected lecture topics as well as computer modeling projects.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2008. 4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM1101, CHEM1102, PHYS1109, PHYS1113, MATH1111, MATH1112
Recommended: MATH2103
CHEM3106 Physical Chemistry II
This course is the second of the two-semester physical chemistry sequence. It introduces students to the principles of quantum mechanics. The Schrödinger equation is used to solve a series of important chemical problems including the harmonic oscillator, the rigid rotor, and the hydrogen atom. Advanced spectroscopy, including transition probabilities, normal vibrational modes, and photoelectron spectroscopies are presented and then used to deduce molecular structure. The valence-bond and molecular orbital theories of chemical bonding are discussed, and methods for performing quantum chemical calculations, including variational and perturbation methods, are introduced. The quantum mechanics of spin and angular momentum are discussed and used to interpret magnetic resonance spectra. The laboratory involves practical experiments based on selected lecture topics as well as computer modeling projects.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2009. 4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM1101, CHEM1102, PHYS1109, PHYS1113, MATH1111, MATH1112 or CHEM3105 Recommended: MATH2103
CHEM3115 Natural Products Chemistry
This inquiry-based course will focus on the isolation, chemical structure elucidation, biosynthesis, and chemical synthesis of 3-5 natural products. After learning the process by which the natural product was isolated, students will determine the structure of the compound based on spectroscopic information. Once the structure has been determined, students will study both the chemical synthesis and the biosynthesis of the compound. Primary literature will be used extensively in this course.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2007. 4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM 2102 or permission of instructor
Recommended: CHEM2111 or BIOL2131
CHEM3116 Introduction to Research Methods
This course provides basic science research competence, focusing on the logic of scientific research, the identification and formulation of research problems, research design strategies, techniques used for gathering quantitative and qualitative data, professionalism and ethics in science, and the analysis and presentation of research results through both formal teaching sessions and discussion groups. It is intended for advanced students who major in science or math and who plan to apply to graduate or professional programs for which a research methods course is required, or in which the student will be expected to perform research. Students will participate in actual research projects with a faculty member of the chemistry department at Emmanuel College.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2009. 4 credits
Prerequisites: completion of at least four courses in science or mathematics major and departmental approval.
CHEM3121 Introduction to Molecular Modeling
As computation and modeling carve an ever-deeper niche in the field of chemistry, the scientists of tomorrow need to learn these tools and techniques today. The course is devoted to practical implementations of readily available software designed for specific aspects of molecular modeling. Lectures are intended to provide the background needed to understand the how and why of computational techniques that will be applied. This is important since practical software implementation requires making numerous strategic decisions; poor choices can seriously impact the reliability or efficiency of your investigation. Laboratory exercises represent the major portion of this course. Each student will be also asked to formulate a small research project and present the result to the class. The laboratory exercises and research project are expected to be student’s individual work: data collection and interpretation are to be completed independently. This course is intended for advanced students who major in science or math and who plan to apply to graduate or professional programs. Three hours lecture.
Fall semester, offered as needed. 4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM1101 and CHEM1102 or CHEM1103 and one of the following: CHEM2101 or CHEM2111, MATH1111 and MATH1112 or PHYS1109
Recommended: CHEM3116
CHEM3123 Advanced Chemical Synthesis
In this laboratory based course, students will learn laboratory techniques common in the industrial and academic research laboratory. Students will prepare, purify, and characterize a variety of organic compounds. The course concludes with each student using the techniques learned to synthesize an organic compound independently after performing an exhaustive literature search. Six hours laboratory.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2008. 4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM2102 or permission of the instructor
CHEM3132 Advanced Topics in Biochemistry
This is a laboratory-based course in which the student will learn modern biochemical techniques such as protein expression, protein purification and enzyme assay. Emphasis will be on developing independent laboratory skills. Three hours lecture, four hours laboratory.
Spring semester. 4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM2111 or BIOL2131 (Cross-referenced with BIOL3132)
CHEM3211 Experiential Internships in the Natural Sciences
Chemistry majors may apply to do an internship in a non-research setting. The internship sites and project must be appropriate for chemistry, and it is the student’s responsibility to apply to off-campus sites to obtain an internship. The options for sites could include venues that would allow for career exploration. Examples of experiences include museum work, science writing, science business, environmental work, a crime laboratory, and a project in a clinical or industrial setting. A proposal for the internship must be submitted by the first week of the semester for committee review. The proposal describes the project, the name and commitment from the onsite supervisor, and the expectations and significance of the internship. Students meet for a minimum of fifteen hours per week at the internship site. Students meet weekly with a faculty coordinator and are evaluated by the site supervisor and faculty coordinator. A comprehensive portfolio and formal presentation are required. This one-semester internship counts as an Emmanuel College elective.
Fall and spring semester. 4 credits
Prerequisites: INT1001, junior or senior status, and permission of department
CHEM4160 Senior Seminar in Chemistry
This seminar provides senior chemistry majors with the opportunity for in-depth study of a chemical topic of interest to them. Since extensive library research is required, the course will begin with a consideration of library resources, the use of search engines, and discussions of ethical conduct in chemical research and publication. Each student will write a scientific review article on their topic and present their work at a seminar open to the Emmanuel community.
Fall semester. 4 credits
Prerequisite: successful completion at least four upper-level chemistry courses
Recommended: CHEM3116, BIOL2133
CHEM4178 Directed Study
Students investigate topics in chemistry not covered in existing courses.
Fall and spring semester. 4 credits
Prerequisite: Open to qualified students with department approval
CHEM4194- 4195 Research Internships in the Natural Sciences I-II
Students participate in off-campus programs that involve work, observation and research in clinical, industrial or environmental chemistry. A proposal for the internship must be submitted by September 1 for committee review. The proposal describes the project, the name and commitment from the onsite supervisor, and the expectations and significance of the internship. Students meet for a minimum of fifteen hours per week at the internship site. Students meet weekly with a faculty coordinator and are evaluated by the site supervisor and faculty coordinator. An undergraduate thesis and presentations, including a defense, are required. CHEM 4194 and 4195 are required for distinction in Chemistry in addition to a 3.5 GPA in Chemistry.
Fall and spring semester as needed. 4 credits each
Prerequisite: INT1001, senior status, 3.0 GPA, and permission of department.
Recommended: CHEM3116, BIOL2133
Physics
PHYS1109 General Physics I (Calculus) (SI-L)
This course is a mathematical treatment of general physics using calculus. This course provides an introduction to classical mechanics, sound and wave motion and thermodynamics. Topics include: partial kinetics, vectors, forces, Newton’s Law of Motion, momentum, energy, conservation laws, fluid mechanics, temperature, quality of heat, heat transfer, thermal properties of matter, mechanical waves and vibrating bodies. Three hours lecture, one hour problem class, two hours laboratory.
Fall semester. 4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH1111, MATH1112, or permission of instructor
PHYS1113 General Physics II (Calculus) (SI-L)
This course is a mathematical treatment of general physics using calculus. This course provides an introduction to the laws of thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism and optics. Topics include: first and second laws of thermodynamics, magnetic forces and energy, electromagnetism, D.C. circuits, reflection and refraction of light, image formation, interference and diffraction. Three hours lecture, one hour problem class, two hours laboratory.
Spring semester. 4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH1111, MATH1112, or permission of instructor
PHYS1116 Astronomy (SI)
This course is the same as PHYS1117, but without the laboratory component. This course is an introduction to the origin and evolution of the universe, emphasizing the methods of acquiring astronomical information. Basic physical concepts such as atomic structure, thermodynamics and electromagnetic radiation are presented at an elementary level. Three hours lecture.
Spring semester. 4 credits
PHYS1117 Astronomy (SI-L)
This course is an introduction to the origin and evolution of the universe, emphasizing the methods of acquiring astronomical information. Basic physical concepts such as atomic structure, thermodynamics and electromagnetic radiation are presented at an elementary level. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory.
Spring semester. 4 credits
PHYS1121 Energy and the Environment (SI-L)
Students study their interaction with the environment through energy. Topics include: energy sources, population growth, pollution, local and global environment and problems confronting technology. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory.
Fall semester. 4 credits
PHYS1122 Energy and the Environment (SI)
This course is the same as PHYS1121, but without the laboratory component. Students study their interaction with the environment through energy. Topics include: energy sources, population growth, pollution, local and global environment and problems confronting technology. Three hours lecture.
Fall semester. 4 credits
PHYS4178-4179 Directed Study
This is an independent study of material not included in existing courses.
Fall and spring semester. 4 credits
Prerequisite: Permission of department