Chemistry is concerned with the preparation, composition, and structure of matter and with the equilibrium and kinetic laws that govern its transformations. The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees with concentration in chemistry are designed to provide a broad foundation in the three principal branches of that science: inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. Analytical chemistry, often regarded as an independent branch, is incorporated into the program. Both curricula discuss experimental and theoretical work and emphasize their interdependence. Both degree programs prepare the student for a career in chemistry. However, the B.S. degree offers a more intensive program of study. The B.A. degree also offers thorough study in the field of chemistry, but it provides a wide opportunity for elective freedom and for the pursuit of interdisciplinary interests in areas such as biochemistry, biophysics, chemical physics, geochemistry, premedicine, and teaching.

Program Requirements: B.A. The principal distinction between the B.A. and B.S. programs is the number of chemistry courses required. A minimum of eight courses in chemistry beyond the general education requirement (which should be taken in the first year) is required for the B.A. degree.

Program Requirements: B.S. A minimum of twelve courses in chemistry beyond the general education requirement (which should be taken in the first year) is required for the B.S. degree.

† Credit may be granted by examination.

NOTE: Students may not substitute Analysis in Rn (Mathematics 203-204-205) or other 200-level courses in mathematics for Mathematical Methods for Physical Sciences (Mathematics 200-201) without also passing an equivalency exam on the material in Mathematics 200-201 that is not covered in these courses. Students should meet with the departmental counselor to obtain prior approval for such substitutions. Mathematics 202 and/or Statistics 240 are strongly recommended for chemistry concentrators.

Advanced Placement and Accreditation. Students who have taken the Advanced Placement (AP) test in chemistry and received a score of 5 are given credit for Chemistry 111-112-113. Many such students still elect to take the honors sequence, Chemistry 121-122-123. The Department of Chemistry also administers accreditation examinations in basic chemistry (Chemistry 111-112-113), and organic chemistry (Chemistry 220-221-222), for entering college students. Students may receive credit for chemistry on the basis of their performance on these examinations. The examinations in basic chemistry and organic chemistry are offered only at the beginning of autumn quarter.

Grading. Students concentrating in chemistry must receive letter grades (not P/N or P/F grades) in all courses required in the degree program. In order to qualify for the B.A. or B.S. degree, a grade point average of 2.0 or better and no grade lower than C- is needed in required chemistry courses, that is, 200-level chemistry courses in the preceding list.

Undergraduate Research and the Honors Program. All chemistry concentrators are strongly encouraged to participate in research with a faculty member by their junior year. For more information on research opportunities, consult the Web site for Chemistry and Biological Chemistry concentrators (http://rainbow.uchicago.edu/chemistry/undergrad/).

Excellent students who pursue a substantive research project with a faculty member of the Department of Chemistry should plan to submit an honors thesis. Students usually begin this research program during their junior year and continue it through the following summer and their senior year. Students in the honors program are expected to complete their arrangements with the departmental counselor before the end of their junior year and to register for one quarter of Chemistry 299 (Advanced Research in Chemistry) during their junior or senior years. The B.A. or B.S. degree with special honors in chemistry is awarded to students with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better who have submitted a creditable honors paper describing their research. The honors paper should be submitted about one month before graduation and must be approved by the Department of Chemistry.

Sample Program. Below is a suggested schedule for completing a B.A. or B.S. degree in chemistry.

Joint Degree Programs. Students who achieve advanced standing through their performance on placement examinations or accreditation examinations may consider the formulation of a four-year degree program that leads to the concurrent award of the B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry. Special programs of this kind are developed for qualified students. In addition, students who are interested in biochemistry may consider programs leading to a B.A. in chemistry and an M.S. in biochemistry. Consult the departmental counselor for more information.

In the following course descriptions, L refers to courses with laboratory. In chemistry laboratories, safety goggles must be worn at all times. Students who require prescriptive lenses may wear prescription glasses under goggles; contact lenses may not be worn. Medical exceptions must be obtained from the laboratory director.

111-112-113. General Chemistry I, II, III (=Chem 111-112-113, EnvStd 111-112-113). PQ: Good performance on the mathematics and physical sciences placement tests. The first two courses in this sequence meet the general education requirement in the physical sciences. A discussion of atomic and molecular theories, chemical periodicity, and types of chemical reaction is followed in the first quarter by the chemical importance of pressure and temperature, phase diagrams, and acid-base and heterogeneous equilibria. During the second quarter the principles of chemical thermodynamics are covered, with applications to chemical and biological systems and to phase equilibria and electrochemistry. In the third quarter, ideas of atomic structure and chemical bonding are studied, along with the special features of liquids and solids and the chemistry of the representative elements. Lab work in Chem 111-112-113 includes some quantitative measurements, the properties of the important elements and their compounds, and experiments associated with the common ions and their separation and identification by semi-micro methods. Section A emphasizes the role of chemical and physical processes in the environment, especially in water and in the atmosphere. Section B has a more traditional organization. 111A T. Oka, 111B P. Guyot-Sionnest, Autumn; 112A D. Oxtoby, 112B K. Y. Lee, Winter; 113A K. Freed, 113B S. Sibener, Spring. L: Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

121-122-123. Honors General Chemistry I, II, III. PQ: Superior performance on the mathematics and physical sciences placement tests. The first two courses in this sequence meet the general education requirement in the physical sciences. The subject matter and general program of Chem 121-122-123 is the same as that of Chem 111-112-113. However, this course is designed for the student deemed well prepared for a systematic study of chemistry. S. Rice, Autumn; J. Light, Winter; D. Levy, Spring. L: Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

201-202. Inorganic Chemistry I, II. PQ for Chem 201: Chem 111-112-113 or 121-122-123 and some knowledge of organic chemistry. PQ for Chem 202: Chem 201 and 222. The extraordinarily diverse chemistry of the elements is organized in terms of molecular structure, electronic properties, and chemical reactivity. Chem 201 concentrates on structure and bonding, solid state chemistry, and selected topics in the chemistry of the main group elements and coordination chemistry. Chem 202 focuses on organometallic chemistry, reactions, synthesis, and catalysis, as well as bioinorganic chemistry. G. Hillhouse, Winter; R. Jordan, Spring.

210. Environmental Chemistry (=Chem 210, EnvStd 239, GeoSci 239). PQ: Chem 111 and 112, and prior calculus course. The focus of this course is on the fundamental science underlying issues of local and regional scale pollution. In particular, lifetimes of important pollutants in the air, water, and soils are examined by considering the roles played by photochemistry, surface chemistry, biological processes, and dispersal into surrounding environment. Specific topics include urban air quality, water quality, long-lived organic toxins, heavy metals, and indoor air pollution. Control measures are also considered. J. Abbatt. Spring.

220-221-222. Organic Chemistry I, II, III. PQ: An average grade of C or better in Chem 111-112-113 or 121-122-123, or consent of the department. NOTE: Most medical schools require a full academic year of organic chemistry. The fundamental structures of organic molecules and the spectroscopic methods used to define them are studied. A comprehensive understanding of the reactions and properties of organic molecules, from kinetic, thermodynamic, and mechanistic viewpoints, is developed and applied to the synthesis of organic compounds and to an appreciation of nature's important molecules. A lab is one afternoon a week in addition to scheduled class time each quarter. V. Rawal, D. Lynn, Autumn; W. Wulff, Winter; P. Eaton, Spring. L: Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

223. Intermediate Organic Chemistry. PQ: A grade of C or better in Chem 219 or 222, or consent of instructor. This course provides further in-depth study of structure and reactivity in organic and bioorganic chemistry. It deals with aspects of multistep synthesis, molecular orbital theory, polymers, carbohydrates, peptides, and nucleic acids. N. C. Yang. Autumn.

227. Advanced Organic/Inorganic Laboratory. PQ: Chem 201 and 223, or consent of instructor. Concurrent registration in Chem 202 recommended. A project approach is combined with exposure to the more advanced techniques of organic and inorganic chemistry. Multistep synthesis, the synthesis of air-sensitive compounds, advanced chromatographic and spectroscopic characterization of products, and the handling of reactive intermediates are a part of the lab. W. Wulff. Spring.

261-262-263. Physical Chemistry I, II, III. PQ: Chem 113 or 123, Math 201, and Phys 133. This three-quarter sequence contains a study of the application of physical and mathematical methods to the investigation of chemical systems.

267. Experimental Physical Chemistry. PQ: Chem 261 and concurrent registration in 262. An introduction to the principles and practice of physical chemical measurements. Techniques used in the design and construction of apparatus are discussed in lectures and practice is provided through lab exercises and experiments. Subjects include vacuum techniques, electronics, optics, use of computers in lab instrumentation, materials of construction, and data analysis. P. Guyot-Sionnest. Winter.

268. Computational Chemistry. PQ: Chem 261-262, or Phys 197 and 234. The theme for this course is the identification of scientific goals that computation can assist in achieving. The course is organized around the examination of exemplary problems, such as understanding the electronic structure and bonding in molecules and interpreting the structure and thermodynamic properties of liquids. The lectures deal with some aspects of numerical analysis and with the theoretical background relevant to calculations of the geometric and electronic structure of molecules, molecular mechanics, and molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations. The lab consists of computational problems drawn from a broad range of chemical interests. J. Light. Spring.

299. Advanced Research in Chemistry. PQ: Consent of a faculty sponsor and the undergraduate counselor. Open only to students eligible for honors who have submitted the College Reading and Research Course Form. May be taken either for a letter grade or for P/N or P/F. Advanced, individually guided research for College students concentrating in chemistry. Students may submit a written report covering their research activities for consideration for departmental honors. Staff. Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring.

301. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. PQ: Chem 201 and 263, or consent of instructor. Group theory and its applications in inorganic chemistry are developed. These concepts are used in surveying the chemistry of inorganic compounds from the standpoint of quantum chemistry, chemical bonding principles, and the relationship between structure and reactivity. Staff. Autumn.

302. Chemical Applications of NMR Spectroscopy. PQ: Chem 220-221-222 or equivalents; and 227. This course is designed to provide an in-depth working knowledge of modern fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance (FT-NMR) spectroscopy and its chemical applications. Topics include fundamental theoretical and experimental considerations, determination of acquisition parameters, one-pulse NMR experiments, the nuclear overhauser effect (NOE), NMR of insensitive nuclei, heteronuclear NMR, evaluation and simulation of complex spin systems, acquisition of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters using dynamic NMR, and two-dimensional NMR, including the COSY, NOESY, and HETCOR experiments. Not offered 1999-2000; will be offered 2000-2001.

304. Organometallic Chemistry. PQ: Chem 301 and 321, or 322. The preparation and properties of organometallic compounds, notably those of the transition elements, their reactions, and the concepts of homogeneous catalysis are discussed. B. Bosnich. Winter.

306. Chemistry of the Elements. PQ: Chem 201. The descriptive chemistries of the main-group elements and the transition metals are surveyed from a synthetic perspective, and reaction chemistry of inorganic molecules is systematically developed. G. Hillhouse. Spring.

321. Physical Organic Chemistry. PQ: Chem 222 and 262, or consent of instructor. This course focuses on the quantitative aspects of structure and reactivity, molecular orbital theory and the insight it provides into structures and properties of molecules, stereochemistry, thermochemistry, kinetics, substituent and isotope effects, and pericyclic reactions. M. Mrksich. Autumn.

322-323. Synthetic Organic Chemistry. PQ: Chem 222 or consent of instructor. Chem 322 presents a close consideration of the mechanisms, applicability, and limitations of the major reactions in organic chemistry, and of stereochemical control in synthesis. Chem 323 presents a dissection of the most important syntheses of complex natural and unnatural products and covers such topics as synthesis planning and methodology, the logic of synthesis. V. Rawal, Autumn; P. Eaton, Winter.

324. Physical Organic Chemistry II. PQ: Chem 321. Topics include the mechanisms and fundamental theories of free radicals and the related free radical reactions, biradical and carbene chemistry, and pericyclic and photochemical reactions. L. Yu. Winter.

325. Bioorganic Chemistry. A goal of this course is to relate chemical phenomena with biological activities. The course covers two main areas: (1) chemical modifications of biological macromolecules and their potential effects; and (2) the application of spectroscopic methods to elucidate the structure and dynamics of biologically relevant molecules. M. Mrksich, J. Piccirilli. Spring.

326. Structure and Function of Molecules. PQ: Chem 222 and 263. This course juxtaposes the use of solution and solid state NMR and X-ray crystallography with the design of molecular function. Through a combination of lectures, problem sets, discussions of current literature, computational lab exercises, and an original research proposal, an understanding of the modern methods of molecular structure determination is developed. These include the mechanisms and use of relaxation to investigate molecular motions, 2D, 3D, and 4D-NMR solution experiments, rotational resonance solid state NMR methods, Fourier transforms and interpretation of electron density maps, and time-resolved crystallography. These methods are used in our discussion of the current state of our ability to design molecular structures with defined function. D. Lynn. Winter.

328. Surface Chemistry. PQ: Chem 219 or 222, and 263. This course introduces the organic chemistry of surfaces and interfaces with an emphasis on Langmuir-Blodgett films and self-assembled monolayers. Methods for the synthesis and characterization of these interfaces is presented. Recent literature is surveyed to establish the relationships between interfacial structure and properties, and to understand the design of functional interfaces. Not offered 1999-2000; will be offered 2000-2001.

329. Polymer Chemistry. PQ: Chem 222 and 263. This course introduces a broad range of polymerization reactions and discusses their mechanisms and kinetics. New concepts of polymerization and new materials of current interest are introduced and discussed. The physical properties of polymers, ranging from thermal properties to electrical and optical properties in both a solution state and a solid state are discussed, with the emphasis on structure/property relationship. L. Yu. Spring.

361. Wave Mechanics and Spectroscopy. PQ: Chem 263. The introductory concepts, general principles, and applications of wave mechanics to spectroscopy are presented. L. Butler. Autumn.

362. Quantum Mechanics. PQ: Chem 361. A formal development of quantum mechanics is presented, including operators, matrix mechanics, and perturbation methods. The theory is applied to the description of the electronic structure of atoms and molecules. K. Freed. Winter.

363. Statistical Mechanics. PQ: Chem 262. The general theory of statistical mechanics is applied to thermodynamics. Various perfect systems, some special distributions, and special topics are examined. N. Scherer. Winter.

364. Chemical Thermodynamics. PQ: Chem 262. The thermodynamics of equilibrium systems is discussed. R. S. Berry. Autumn.

365. Chemical Dynamics. PQ: Chem 361 required; 363 recommended. This course develops a molecular-level description of chemical kinetics, reaction dynamics, and energy transfer in both gases and liquids. Topics include potential energy surfaces, collision dynamics and scattering theory, reaction rate theory, collisional and radiationless energy transfer, molecule-surface interactions, Brownian motion, time correlation functions, and computer simulations. T. Oka. Spring.

387. Biophysical Chemistry. This course develops a physicochemical description of biological systems. Topics include macromolecules, fluid-phase lipid-bilayer structures in aqueous solution, biomembrane mechanics, control of biomolecular assembly, and computer simulations of biomolecular systems. K. Y. Lee. Spring.