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Chemistry
Modern chemistry
is an interdisciplinary subject with roots in physics and
mathematics and with applications in biology, geology, neuroscience,
and a wide range of technology. The courses for chemistry
and biochemistry majors are designed to emphasize the fundamental
principles of the science and their application to observed
phenomena. These courses develop chemical reasoning and
experimental skills, reflect chemistry's interdisciplinary
nature, and prepare students for success in graduate or
professional programs.
Chemistry is
an experimental science. Graduate study in chemistry is
centered on the research thesis, and most chemists engage
in research themselves or make use of the results of research.
Physicians and others who use chemical material should have
some experience in research in order to evaluate the results
of research. Accordingly, opportunities are provided, and
students are strongly encouraged to gain research experience
through an in-term research project, summer research, a
Winter Term project, or a combination of these.
A major in
chemistry or biochemistry can lead to a variety of careers
besides chemical or biochemical research. Among these are
medicine, teaching, patent law, business, and interdisciplinary
sciences such as molecular biology, environmental science,
pharmacology, toxicology, materials science, geochemistry,
and chemical physics.
ACS Approved.
The
Department of Chemistry is approved by the American Chemical
Society and certifies graduates who satisfy the ACS guidelines
in chemistry or in biochemistry. For certification, chemistry
majors must take, in addition to the minimum major requirements:
Chemistry 254, and a year of research with a comprehensive
written report. For certification, biochemistry majors must
take, in addition to the minimum major requirements: a year
of research with a comprehensive written report.
Advanced
Placement.
Students with good preparation in chemistry should apply for
admission to Chemistry 103, a one-semester course that takes
the place of Chemistry 101, 102. Entering students who have
scored 3 on the Chemistry Advanced Placement examination of
the Educational Testing Service can receive 4 hours of transfer
credit (equivalent to 101) and can
begin college
chemistry with 102 or 103. Students entering with Chemistry
AP scores of 4 or 5 can receive 8 hours of transfer credit
(equivalent to 101, 102), but must take Chemistry 109
if they plan to enroll later in core chemistry courses.
First-year students with 8 hours of credit normally take
109 in the fall semester and Chemistry 205 either concurrently
or in the spring semester.
Entry-Level
Course Sequence Suggestions.
Chemistry 50, 65, 145, 151, and 163 are courses of general
interest which do not presume any prior knowledge of chemistry
and are aimed at nonscience majors. Chemistry 50, 145,
or 151 may serve as a bridge to 101 for students who have
not had high-school chemistry. Most students who major
in a science and most premedical students begin their
study of college chemistry in the first year with 101,
102 (or 103), which is open also to other students who
want a thorough introduction to the subject.
All potential
majors are strongly advised to complete 101, 102 (or 103)
and at least Mathematics 133 in the first year. Those
beginning with 205 should also take 109 in the first year.
Potential chemistry majors should take Physics 110, 111
(or 103, 104) in the sophomore year and should complete
Mathematics 231 by the end of the sophomore year. Potential
biochemistry majors should take Biology 118/119 or 120
no later than the sophomore year and should complete the
mathematics and physics requirements as early as possible.
All majors
should take careful note of prerequisites for later courses.
For example, physical chemistry depends upon prior work
over a two-year period in mathematics and physics as well
as a background in general chemistry. Majors who plan
to take advanced courses in chemistry or in other sciences,
including research courses, find their senior-year schedules
most manageable if they take physical chemistry in the
junior year.
Major.
The
Chemistry Department offers two majors, chemistry and
biochemistry.
Chemistry.
The minimum major in chemistry requires Chemistry 101,
102 (103 may replace 101, 102), 205, 211, 213, and 339.
Nine hours of advanced courses from the following list
also are required, including at least two hours from each
of the two categories and one advanced laboratory course
(327 or 347); Category I: 254, 325, 326, 327, 396, 405;
Category II: 341, 343, 347, 349, 409. The major also requires
Mathematics 231 and Physics 110, 111 (or 103, 104).
Biochemistry.
The minimum major in biochemistry requires Chemistry 101,
102 (103 may replace 101, 102), 205, 211, 213, 254, 339
(or 349), and 374; Biology 213/214; Mathematics 231; Physics
110, 111 (or 103, 104).
The minimum
major in chemistry or biochemistry will prepare students
for graduate study. However, the best preparation for
competitive graduate programs involves additional advanced
courses and laboratory work, related courses in other
departments, and research experience. The latter may be
accomplished through a summer research experience, a semester
or two of research (Chemistry 525, 526), or an on-campus
or off-campus Winter Term project. Some graduate departments
of chemistry require for the Ph.D. degree a reading knowledge
of a foreign language. Most departments allow a choice
of German, French, or Russian, but a few departments require
German. German and French are the most important foreign
languages in biochemistry.
Chemistry
and biochemistry majors are encouraged to take additional
mathematics courses such as linear algebra, differential
equations, and statistics. Majors planning to pursue graduate
studies in biochemistry or molecular biology should consider
upper-level biology courses such as molecular genetics,
immunology, and microbiology. The specific courses chosen
will depend in part on the intended area of specialization.
Each semester
the Chemistry Department sponsors a program of Wednesday
afternoon research talks by visiting chemists and biochemists.
Majors are expected to attend.
Minor.
Majors in other departments or programs (but not chemistry
or biochemistry majors) may earn a minor in chemistry
by completing general chemistry (101 and 102, or 103)
and three courses from the following list: 205, 211, 213,
254 (or 325), 339, 349, 374. Two of the elective courses
must be taken at Oberlin. A formal chemistry minor may
be helpful to non-chemistry majors seeking entry-level
jobs in chemical industry, secondary-school teaching,
or science journalism, as well as those students who plan
further education in technological aspects of law, art,
or other disciplines.
Honors.
Students
with outstanding records are invited to participate in the
Honors Program. Seniors in the program elect a minimum of
five hours of Chemistry 525, 526, or the equivalent (with
at least two hours in the first semester) and work year-long
(including Winter Term) on a research project. Honors students
write a thesis based on their research and take oral and
written examinations. Honors students are required to take
Chemical Information, Chemistry 396, prior to enrolling
in Chemistry 526.
Pre-Medical.
Pre-medical students planning to major in chemistry or biochemistry
should arrange a conference with a pre-medical advisor in
chemistry (Mr. Fuchsman or Mr. Matlin) no later than their
fourth semester. See the pre-medical statement earlier in
this catalog.
3-2 Engineering.
Students who are interested in a career in chemical engineering
should consider the Combined Liberal Arts and Engineering
Program. This five-year program is described in this catalog
under the heading Engineering. Mr. Ackermann can provide
advice on courses that lead to both the Combined Program
and a chemistry major.
Transfer
of Credit.
Prior approval is required for major course work taken away
from Oberlin. Without explicit approval from the Chemistry
Department, no major may earn more than half of the hours
required for the major while away from Oberlin. Normally,
transfer credit for chemistry courses numbered 300 and above
will not count toward the requirements of chemistry or biochemistry
majors.
Winter Term.
Each of the chemistry faculty are willing to sponsor Winter
Term projects as indicated. Mr. Elrod: Laboratory projects
in atmospheric chemistry. Mr. Fuchsman: Laboratory projects
in biochemistry. Off-campus projects involving experience
in health-care delivery, medical research or biochemical
research. Intermediate/advanced weaving at the Loom Shed
in Oberlin under the direction of Charles Lermond. Mr. Matlin:
Participation in on-going research projects in the fields
of organic photochemistry and bioorganic chemistry. Readings
in the history and philosophy of science. Mr. Mehta: Laboratory
and computer projects in biophysics, biomolecular structure,
NMR spectroscopy, and nonlinear dynamics. Kayak building
and history of the kayak. Beer brewing and the chemistry
of beer. Stringed instrument construction, other fine woodworking.
Mr. Nee: Laboratory projects in introductory and advanced
organic chemistry. Consumer, food, and polymer chemistry.
Mr. Thompson: Laboratory and reading projects dealing with
chemical analysis and forensic science. Beginning chess.
Veterinary internships.
Breakage
Charge.
Students are held responsible for apparatus issued to them
in laboratories. Each student has a breakage allowance that
covers normal breakage of common glassware and the like.
Breakage costs exceeding that allowance are charged at the
end of the semester.
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Courses
of General Interest
050. Basic
Chemistry 3 hours
3NS,
QPh
Second
Semester. The course is intended for students without
a high-school chemistry background who want an introduction
to chemistry. The course is appropriate for students who
plan to take CHEM 101 and for students who intend no further
study of chemistry. It consists of lectures and demonstrations
surveying the fundamental ideas of chemistry. Note:
Not open to students who have credit for CHEM 101 or equivalent.
Enrollment Limit:
40.
145. Chemistry
and Crime 3 hours
3NS
151. Chemistry
and the Environment 3 hours
3NS
Next
offered 2003-2004.
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Introductory
Courses
101. Structure
and Reactivity 4 hours
4NS,
QPh
First
Semester. Reactions, chemical periodicity, bonding, molecular
structure. Mr. Thompson's section is taught in workshop
mode, emphasizing problem solving and peer discussion
with less time devoted to lecture than the other sections.
Prerequisites:
High-school chemistry or CHEM 50 or consent of instructors;
high-school mathematics up to, but not including, precalculus.
Students must register for both lecture and laboratory.
Mr. Elrod,
Mr. Matlin, Mr. Thompson. Enrollment Limit:
Lecture:
40 per section.
Mr. Hill,
Mr. Mehta. Enrollment Limit:
Lab: 42
per section.
102. Chemical
Principles 4 hours
4NS,
QPf
Second
Semester. Equilibrium, thermodynamics, reaction rates
and mechanisms, atomic and molecular orbitals. Prerequisite:
CHEM 101. Students must register for both lecture and
laboratory.
Mr. Mehta,
Mr. Thompson. Enrollment Limit:
Lecture:
70 per section.
Mr. Hill,
Mr. Mehta. Enrollment Limit:
Lab:
40 per section.
103. Topics
in General Chemistry 4 hours
4NS,
QPf
First
Semester. For students with good pre-college preparation.
Reactions, equilibrium, thermodynamics, reaction rates
and mechanisms, and bonding. Takes the place of CHEM 101,
CHEM 102. Admission by examination during the orientation
period. Students who have had chemistry in high school
and who plan to take both chemistry and calculus should
take the examination. Students who earned a score of 3
or higher on the Chemistry Advanced Placement test automatically
qualify for the course. Interested students should write
to the departmental secretary early in the summer. Prerequisite:
Concurrent enrollment in or credit for MATH 133 or its
equivalent. Consent of instructor required.
109. Introductory
Thermodynamics 1 hour
1NS,
QPh
First
and Second Semester. The portion of CHEM 103 (Fall) or
CHEM 102 (Spring) covering the principles of thermodynamics
and intended only for students who do not take CHEM 102
or CHEM 103, but plan to take core courses other than
CHEM 205. Students must attend the lectures and pass an
examination given at the end of the unit, which is a four
week, mid-semester session. Note:
CR/NE
grading. Consent of instructor required.
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Core Courses
205. Principles
of Organic Chemistry 4 hours
4NS
First
and Second Semester. A one-semester introduction to
the basic principles, theories, and applications of
the chemistry of carbon compounds. Representative reactions,
preparation, and properties of carbon compounds will
be covered. The laboratory will provide experience with
purification, physical and spectroscopic characterization,
and synthesis of organic substances. Prerequisite:
CHEM 102 or 103. Students must register for both lecture
and laboratory.
Mr.
Nee. Enrollment Limit:
Lecture:
60. Enrollment Limit: Lab: 30 per section.
Mr.
Matlin. Enrollment Limit:
Lecture: 40.
Enrollment Limit: Lab: 26 per section.
211. Analytical
Chemistry 4 hours
4NS,
QPf
First
Semester. Principles of chemical measurements with a focus
on instrumental analysis, including spectrophotometry,
electrochemistry, and separations. Laboratory develops
quantitative skills and provides experience with chemical
instrumentation. Spreadsheets are used to treat experimental
data. Prerequisite: MATH 133; CHEM 102 or CHEM
103. Students who have not taken CHEM 102 or CHEM 103
at Oberlin must have credit for CHEM 109. Students must
register for both lecture and laboratory. Enrollment
Limit:
Lecture: 28. Enrollment Limit: Lab: 14 per
section.
213. Inorganic
Chemistry 4 hours
4NS
Second
Semester. Development of the principles and theories of
inorganic chemistry. Topics include atomic structure,
structure and bonding in covalent and ionic compounds,
periodic properties, acid-base concepts, coordination
compounds, and selected descriptive chemistry of the main
group elements. Laboratory involves synthesis and characterization
of inorganic substances and activities illustrating principles
covered in the lecture. Prerequisite: CHEM 102
or 103. Students who have not taken CHEM 102 or CHEM 103
at Oberlin must have credit for CHEM 109. Students must
register for both lecture and laboratory. Enrollment
Limit:
Lecture:
32. Enrollment Limit: Lab: 16 per section.
339. Quantum
Chemistry and Kinetics 4 hours
4NS,
QPf
Second
Semester. Kinetics of chemical reactions, quantum theory
of atomic and molecular structure, and molecular spectroscopy.
Prerequisites:
CHEM 102 or CHEM 103; PHYS 111 or PHYS 104 (may be taken
concurrently); MATH 231. Students who have not taken CHEM
102 or CHEM 103 at Oberlin must have credit for CHEM 109.
Students must register for both lecture and laboratory.
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Advanced
Courses I
254. Bioorganic
Chemistry 4 hours
4NS
Second
Semester. Organic chemistry of the major classes of biological
substances. Emphases on structures and reaction mechanisms
as they apply to biological transformations. Includes
the chemistry of macromolecules, and coordination chemistry.
Prerequisites:
CHEM 205. Students must register for both lecture and
laboratory. Enrollment Limit: Lecture: 60. Enrollment
Limit: Lab: 30 per section.
325. Organic
Mechanism and Synthesis 3 hours
3NS
Second
Semester. This second course in organic chemistry will
systematically explore reactions of carbon-containing
compounds and the mechanistic pathways involved in these
processes. Reactions and topics that will be discussed
include functional group transformations, oxidations,
reductions, cycloadditions, stereospecific reactions and
carbon-carbon bond formation. Strategies will be presented
for the design of multi-step organic syntheses. Prerequisites:
CHEM 205. Students who have not taken CHEM 102 or CHEM
103 at Oberlin must have credit for
CHEM 109.
Mr. Nee
326. Organic
Mechanism and Synthesis Laboratory 1 hour
1NS
Second
Semester. The laboratory is intended to complement the
Organic Mechanism and Synthesis lecture course. Laboratory
involves experiments illustrating principles presented
in the lecture course. Pre- or Co-requisite: CHEM
325 or permission of instructor. Note: CR/NE grading.
Enrollment Limit: 12.
327. Synthesis
Laboratory 2 hours
2NS
396. Chemical
Information 1 hour
1NS
First
Semester. Finding chemical information with printed and
electronic indexes and reference materials. On-line searching
of Chemical Abstracts. Assessing the information obtained.
Presenting chemical information using equation-editing
and chemical-structure software. Junior majors are encouraged
to enroll. Prerequisites: CHEM 205; one other core
chemistry course. Note: CR/NE grading. Enrollment
Limit: 20.
405. Topics
in Organic Chemistry 2 hours
2NS
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Advanced
Courses II
341. Trace
Analysis 2 hours
2NS
343. Advanced
Inorganic Chemistry 2 hours
2NS
347. Advanced
Analytical and Physical Chemistry Laboratory 2 hours
2NS,
QPf
Second
Semester. Experiments using spectroscopic, electrochemical,
and chromatographic instrumentation. New techniques and
experimental results will be discussed during the lecture.
Prerequisites: CHEM 211; CHEM 339 (may be taken
concurrently) or 349. Enrollment Limit: 12.
349. Chemical
and Statistical Thermodynamics 3 hours
3NS,
QPf
First
Semester. Thermodynamics, introduction to statistical
thermodynamics, and kinetic theory. Application of mathematical
methods and physical principles to chemistry. Prerequisites:.
CHEM 102 or CHEM 103. Students who have not taken CHEM
102 or CHEM 103 at Oberlin must have credit for CHEM 109.
PHYS 111 or PHYS 104; MATH 231.
409. Topics
in Physical Chemistry 2 hours
2NS,
QPf
Second
Semester. Topics covered include molecular orbital theory
and computational chemistry methods (use of computational
engines and visualization techniques). Prerequisite:
CHEM 339 or consent of instructor.
Other Advanced Courses
374. Biochemistry 4
hours
4NS
First Semester.
Rigorous examination of the chemical basis of enzyme catalysis,
metabolism and metabolic control, and aspects of molecular
biology. General principles, specific detailed examples,
and phylogenetic comparisons. Prerequisites: CHEM
254; BIOL 213, BIOL 214. Students must register for both
lecture and laboratory. Enrollment Limit: 36.
525,
526. Research 2-5 hours
2-5NS
First and
Second Semester. Projects for original investigation are
assigned. Interested students are encouraged to speak
with faculty members about possible projects. Students
in the Honors program are required to enroll. Consent
of chair required.
995. Private
Reading 1-3 hours
1-3NS
Private readings
can be undertaken on a wide range of chemistry topics.
Advanced courses not offered in the current academic year
may be taken as a private reading and count towards the
advanced course requirement of a chemistry major. Please
consult with the chair about taking advanced courses as
a private reading. Private Readings sponsored by Mr. Ackermann,
Mr. Elrod, Mr. Fuchsman, Mr. Matlin, Mr. Mehta, Mr. Nee,
and Mr. Thompson. Consent of instructor required.
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