Chemistry - CHEM

The information below lists courses approved in this subject area effective Fall 2015. Not all courses will necessarily be offered these terms. Please consult the Schedule of Classes for a listing of courses offered for a specific term.

500-level courses require graduate standing.

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100 Chemistry and Life
5 hours. Principles of structural and environmental chemistry underlying the phenomenon of life on Earth, discussed in a historical, cultural and philosophical framework. Includes weekly two-hour laboratory. Natural World - With Lab course.

101 Preparatory Chemistry
4 hours. Emphasis on problem solving. Metric units, dimensional analysis, chemical nomenclature, the mole concept, chemical stoichiometry. For students without entrance credit in high school chemistry or inadequately prepared. Prerequisite(s): Adequate performance on the UIC chemistry placement examination.

105 Chemistry and the Molecular Human: An Inquiry Perspective
4 hours. A general education chemistry course that uses the empirical inquiry methods of science applied to the interaction of molecules--in foods, in the environment, and in medicines--with humans. 4 hours. Credit is not given for CHEM 105 if the student has credit in CHEM 112 or CHEM 114. Natural World - With Lab course.

112 General College Chemistry I
5 hours. Topics in general chemistry, including stoichiometry, periodicity, reaction types, the gaseous state, solution stoichiometry, chemical equilibria, acid-base equilibria, dissolution-precipitation equilibria. Includes a weekly 3-hour lab. Credit is not given for CHEM 112 if the student has credit for CHEM 116. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 101 or adequate performance on the UIC chemistry placement examination. Students with credit in a course equivalent to CHEM 101 from another institution must take the UIC chemistry placement examination. Natural World - With Lab course.

114 General College Chemistry II
5 hours. Topics in general chemistry including phase transitions, thermochemistry, spontaneity/equilibrium, electrochemistry, kinetics, bonding, order/symmetry in condensed phases, coordination compounds, descriptive chemistry. Includes a weekly 3-hour lab. Credit is not given for CHEM 114 if the student has credit for CHEM 118. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 112 or the equivalent. Students with an equivalent course from another institution must take the chemistry placement examination. Natural World - With Lab course.

116 Honors General Chemistry I
5 hours. Primarily for students in chemistry, chemical engineering, and physics curricula. First of a two-semester sequence covering the same topics as Chemistry 112 in greater depth. Includes a weekly three-hour laboratory. Includes a weekly three-hour laboratory. Credit is not given for CHEM 116 if the student has credit for CHEM 112. Prerequisite(s): Superior performance on the UIC chemistry placement examination. Natural World - With Lab course.

118 Honors General Chemistry II
5 hours. Primarily for students in chemistry, chemical engineering, and physics curricula. Second of a two-semester sequence covering the same topics as Chemistry 114 in greater depth. Includes a weekly three-hour laboratory. Credit is not given for CHEM 118 if the student has credit for CHEM 114. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 116. Natural World - With Lab course.

130 Survey of Organic and Biochemistry
5 hours. Chemistry of classes of carbon compounds relevant to life sciences, and an introduction to the structure and metabolism of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 112 or the equivalent. Natural World - With Lab course.

201 Elements of Glass Blowing
1 hours. Demonstrations and practice in glass blowing and the construction of simple laboratory equipment. Prerequisite(s): Senior standing in chemistry and consent of the instructor.

222 Analytical Chemistry
4 hours. Theory and application of chemical equilibria and instrumentation in quantitative analysis. Includes two weekly three-hour laboratories. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 114 or grade of C or better in CHEM 118 or the equivalent.

232 Organic Chemistry I
4 hours. First semester of a one-year sequence. Structure, reactivity, and synthesis of organic molecules. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 114 or grade of C or better in CHEM 118. Recommended background: Concurrent registration in CHEM 233.

233 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
1 hours. Introductory organic chemistry laboratory. Basic organic techniques (distillation, crystallization), reactions (esterification, oxidation, addition, substitution, elimination), instruments (gas and liquid chromatography). Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent registration in CHEM 232.

234 Organic Chemistry II
4 hours. Continuation of CHEM 232. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 232 or the equivalent.

305 Environmental Chemistry
3 hours. The chemistry of the environment and the consequences of pollution brought about by natural and synthetic materials and modern energy usage. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 234.

314 Inorganic Chemistry
4 hours. Chemistry of the main-group elements, coordination chemistry and the transition elements, bioinorganic chemistry. Includes a weekly laboratory. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 232 and grade of C or better in CHEM 233.

333 Advanced Synthetic Laboratory
3 hours. Advanced organic chemistry laboratory. Synthesis, stereochemistry, spectrometry (IR, NMR), organic analytical chemistry (TLC, HPLC), microscale techniques. Design of multi-step synthesis and alchemistic studies. Previously listed as CHEM 235. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 233 and credit or concurrent registration in CHEM 234.

340 Physical Chemistry for Biochemists I
3 hours. Thermodynamics of gases, solutions, reaction equilibria, and phase transitions. Credit is not given for CHEM 340 if the student has credit for CHEM 342. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in MATH 181 and Grade of C or better in CHEM 114; and Grade of C or better in PHYS 107 or Grade of C or better in PHYS 142.

342 Physical Chemistry I
3 hours. Thermodynamics of gases, solutions, reaction equilibria, and phase transitions. Credit is not given for CHEM 342 if the student has credit for CHEM 340. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in MATH 181; and Grade of C or better in PHYS 142; C or better in or concurrent registration in MATH 210.

343 Physical Chemistry Laboratory
3 hours. Experiments demonstrating principles of thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, spectroscopy and quantum mechanics in chemical systems using modern instrumentation and methods of data analysis. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 340 or Grade of C or better in CHEM 342.

344 Physical Chemistry for Biochemists II
3 hours. Introduction to quantum mechanics and spectroscopy with applications of principles of physical chemistry to biochemical systems and macromolecules. Intended as a substitute for Chemistry 346. Credit is not given for CHEM 344 if the student has credit for CHEM 346. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 340 or Grade of C or better in CHEM 342.

346 Physical Chemistry II
3 hours. Kinetic and molecular theory of gases; introduction to the principles of quantum mechanics with application to model systems, multi-electron atoms, diatomic molecules, and bonding. Credit is not given for CHEM 346 if the student has credit for CHEM 344. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 342 and Grade of C or better in MATH 210.

352 Introductory Biochemistry
3 hours. Structure and function of cellular constituents; enzymology; metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, nucleotides; molecular biology of biosynthesis of proteins and nucleic acids. Same as BIOS 352. No credit toward the biological sciences major for students completing BIOS 452 and/or BIOS 454. No credit toward the degree in biochemistry. Prerequisite(s): BIOS 100 and CHEM 232.

402 Chemical Information Systems
2 hours. Introduction to chemical information, including the use of databases for searching chemical information and the use of molecular modeling and related computational systems to determine calculated properties of chemical substances. Previously listed as CHEM 302. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 234 or consent of the instructor.

414 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
2 OR 3 hours. Introduction to the principles of inorganic chemistry. Structural and descriptive chemistry of the main-group elements. 2 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 314; and Grade of C or better in CHEM 340 or Grade of C or better in CHEM 342; or consent of the instructor.

415 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
0 TO 4 hours. Advanced inorganic chemistry laboratory. Preparative methods, Schlenk techniques, dry box, Fourier-transform infra-red and UV-visible spectroscopy, crystal growth. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 314.

416 Inorganic Chemistry II
3 OR 4 hours. Structural and descriptive chemistry of the transition elements. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 414.

421 Instrumental Analysis
4 hours. A survey of contemporary instrumentation for chemical analysis. Emphasis on fundamentals of instrumental methods with actual experience on typical equipment. Includes two weekly three-hour laboratories. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 222; and Grade of C or better in CHEM 340 or Grade of C or better in CHEM 342.

432 Advanced Organic Chemistry
2 OR 3 hours. Rigorous treatment of the principles upon which modern organic chemistry is developed. 2 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 333; and Grade of C or better in CHEM 340 or Grade of C or better in CHEM 342.

444 Advanced Physical Chemistry
2 OR 3 hours. Application of quantum mechanics to molecular spectroscopy, statistical mechanics and activated complex theory. 2 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 346.

448 Statistical Thermodynamics
3 OR 4 hours. Introduction to statistical mechanics, partition functions, chemical equilibrium, ensembles, fluctuations, real gases, Einstein and Debye models of solids, magnetic materials, electrolytes, introduction to liquids. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 346.

452 Biochemistry I
4 hours. Chemistry of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids. Same as BIOS 452. Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent registration in CHEM 234.

454 Biochemistry II
4 hours. Continues Chemistry 452. Carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, electron transport. Metabolism of amino acids, nucleic acids, proteins. Biosynthesis of macromolecules and regulation of macromolecular synthesis. Same as BIOS 454. Prerequisite(s): BIOS 452 or CHEM 452.

455 Biochemistry Laboratory
3 hours. Introduction to modern biochemistry & molecular biology research. Includes recombinant DNA techniques, protein purification, site-directed mutagenesis, polymerase chain reaction, enzyme kinetics, protein structure data analysis & molecular graphics. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 222 and CHEM 452.

456 Natural Products
3 OR 4 hours. Biogenetic approach to secondary metabolites. General principles and selected studies of phenolic compounds, terpenes, alkaloids, and other interesting natural products. Same as BIOS 416. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): One year of organic chemistry.

458 Biotechnology and Drug Discovery
3 OR 4 hours. Molecular and gene therapy, using small molecules including antisense, aptamers, and proteins. Structure-based drug design. Structural bioinformatics and drug discovery program. High-throughput screening. Combinatorial chemistry technology. Same as BIOS 458. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): BIOS 352 or CHEM 352; or Credit or concurrent registration in BIOS 452 or Credit or concurrent registration in CHEM 452; or consent of the instructor.

470 Educational Practice with Seminar I
6 hours. The first half of a two-segment sequence of practice teaching, including seminar, to meet certification requirements for teaching in grades six through twelve. Graduate credit only with approval of the department. Prerequisite(s): Good academic standing in a teacher education program, completion of 100 clock hours of pre-student-teaching field experiences, and approval of the department.

471 Educational Practice with Seminar II
6 hours. The second half of a two-segment sequence of practice teaching, including seminar, to meet certification requirements for teaching in grades six through twelve. Graduate credit only with approval of the department. Prerequisite(s): Good academic standing in a teacher education program, completion of 100 clock hours of pre-student-teaching field experiences, credit or concurrent registration in CHEM 470, and approval of the department.

472 Teaching Methods in Chemistry
2 OR 3 hours. A course in the methods of teaching high school chemistry, including the integration of technology. 2 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): 24 semester hours of undergraduate chemistry, including two semesters of laboratory chemistry. Recommended background: ED 210.

474 Teaching Chemistry in High Schools
1 hours. Modern ways to help beginning learners construct in their own minds an understanding of scientific concepts and scientific method. Emphasis on the concepts of chemistry. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department.

488 Cooperative Chemistry Practice
1 hours. Off-campus participation in a governmental or industrial training program. Credit is contingent on the submission of a final report. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. A maximum of 6 hours of CHEM 488, CHEM 492 and CHEM 499 combined may be credited toward departmental undergraduate degree course requirements. Prerequisite(s): Concurrent registration in LAS 289 or consent of the instructor.

492 Independent Study
1 TO 2 hours. Individual study under supervision of a faculty member in areas not covered in standard courses. Credit is contingent on the submission of a final report. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. A maximum of 6 hours of CHEM 488, CHEM 492 and CHEM 499 combined may be credited toward departmental undergraduate degree course requirements. Prerequisite(s): 2.50 grade point average in science courses and consent of the instructor.

494 Special Topics in Chemistry
1 TO 4 hours. Course content is announced prior to each term in which the course is given. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department.

499 Supervised Research
3 hours. Individual research performed under supervision of a faculty member. Credit is contingent on the submission of a final report. Research experience is strongly encouraged for career students. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. A maximum of 6 hours of CHEM 488, CHEM 492 and CHEM 499 combined may be credited toward departmental undergraduate degree course requirements. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above, approval of the department, consent of the instructor and a grade point average of 2.50 in science courses; or graduate standing. Recommended background: Credit in CHEM 333 or CHEM 314.

500 Faculty Research
1 hours. Mandatory for first-year students. Faculty present their research interests to new graduate students. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only.

510 Literature Seminar in Inorganic Chemistry
1 hours. Discussion of inorganic research from the current literature. Emphasis on student presentations. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.

514 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I
4 hours. The synthesis, structure, and bonding of selected main group and transition metal species. Describes materials science applications of these compounds. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 416 or the equivalent.

516 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II
4 hours. Structural and descriptive chemistry of the transition elements; spectroscopy and magnetism Prerequisite(s): CHEM 416 or the equivalent.

517 Organometallic Chemistry
4 hours. The fundamental and basic principles of the structure and reactivity of transition metal complexes towards organic molecules. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 432 or the equivalent, and credit or concurrent registration in CHEM 532.

518 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry III
4 hours. Synthesis, structure, bonding, and properties of solid state materials. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 416 or the equivalent or consent of the instructor.

519 Special Topics in Inorganic Chemistry
3 TO 4 hours. Lectures on topics not represented in regularly scheduled courses. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of instructor.

520 Literature Seminar in Analytical Chemistry
1 hours. Discussion of analytical chemical research from the current literature. Emphasis upon student presentations. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only.

522 Techniques in Mass Spectrometry and Surface Analysis
4 hours. Various methods in mass spectrometry. Non-optical applied surface analysis including x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger spectroscopy, and scanning probe microscopy. Instrumentation, applications and data analysis. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 421 or the equivalent.

524 Optical Spectroscopies in Analytical Chemistry
4 hours. Theory and experimental methods in infrared, ultraviolet and visible spectroscopies, both absorption and emission. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 346 and CHEM 421; or consent of the instructor.

526 NMR Spectroscopy in Analytical Chemistry
4 hours. Principles governing one- and multi-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy; applications of NMR to chemical analysis. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 346 and CHEM 421; or the equivalent or consent of the instructor.

528 Chemical Separations
4 hours. Fundamentals and recent advances in techniques and technologies for the separation of chemical substances, including both chromotographic and electrophoretic methods. Special emphasis on trace and microscale methods. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 421; or approval of the department.

529 Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry
3 TO 4 hours. Lectures and readings in areas not normally treated in standard courses. Discussion of topics of current interest in analytical chemistry. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

530 Literature Seminar in Organic Chemistry
1 hours. Discussion of organic chemical research from the current literature. Emphasis upon student presentations. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

531 Spectroscopic Organic Structure Determination
4 hours. Discussion of principles and modern practice in the elucidation of the structures of organic molecules using NMR, IR, UV, and mass spectrometry. With practical examples. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 234 or the equivalent.

532 Advanced Organic Chemistry I
4 hours. Introduction to advanced organic chemistry, drawing molecules and mechanisms, FMO theory, stereochemistry, conformational analysis, stereoelectronic effects, selected functional group interconversions. Some computer use will be required. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 432 or the equivalent.

533 Advanced Organic Chemistry II
4 hours. Continues CHEM 532. Chemical literature, chemical bonding, pericyclic reactions, physical organic chemistry, reactive intermediates, organic reaction mechanisms with an emphasis on physical principles. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 532 or the equivalent.

534 Advanced Organic Chemistry III
4 hours. Continues CHEM 533. The major reactions in organic chemistry and their uses in organic synthesis. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 533 or the equivalent.

535 Advanced Synthetic Chemistry
4 hours. Topics include: control of stereochemistry (cyclic + acyclic), synthesis of complex natural and unnatural products (such as alkaloids, terpenes) and new methodologies. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 533.

536 Physical Organic Chemistry
4 hours. Theoretical and experimental methods of studying reaction mechanisms, with an emphasis on kinetic methods and linear free energy correlations. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 533 or consent of the instructor.

539 Special Topics in Organic Chemistry
3 TO 4 hours. Discussion of topics of currrent interest. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 533.

540 Current Problems in Physical Chemistry
1 hours. Student seminars presented on varied topics in physical chemistry. Special emphasis on the application of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics to the solving of problems in molecular structure, dynamics and spectroscopy. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only.

541 Introduction to Surface Chemistry and Catalysis
4 hours. The physical chemistry of reactions on solid surfaces as they relate to current problems in heterogeneous catalysis. Experimental techniques and methods of data analysis used in modern surface chemistry research. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in CHEM 342 and Grade of C or better in CHEM 346; or Grade of C or better in CHEM 340 and Grade of C or better in CHEM 344; and consent of the instructor. Recommended Background: CHEM 542.

542 Quantum Mechanics
4 hours. Exact solutions of the Schroedinger equation for simple systems; variational principle and perturbation theory; many-electron atoms and diatomic molecules and their electronic structures; angular momentum. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 346 or the equivalent.

543 Molecular Spectroscopy and Group Theory
4 hours. Group theory and molecular symmetry. Rotations and vibrations of diatomics and polyatomics. Time-dependent quantum mechanics and UV, IR, and NMR spectroscopy. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 542.

544 Angular Momentum in Quantum Mechanics
4 hours. Quantum-mechanical theory of angular momentum. Application to spectroscopy, reaction dynamics, coupling of angular momenta, rotational transformations, graphical methods, Wigner-Eckart theorem, spherical tensors, rotational spectroscopy. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 542 or consent of the instructor.

548 Equilibrium and Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics
4 hours. Statistical mechanics of molecular systems focused on fundamental principles, theorems, and applications (ensembles, partition functions, distributions, and thermodynamic functions), extended by broad discussions of elementary transport methods. Prerequisite(s): One year of undergraduate physical chemistry (342/346 level: thermodynamics, introductory quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics). Recommended background: credit in CHEM 542.

549 Special Topics in Physical Chemistry
3 TO 4 hours. Lectures and readings in areas not normally treated in standard courses. Discussion of topics of current interest in physical chemistry. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

550 Literature Seminar in Biochemistry
1 hours. Presentation of student papers on current research topics in biochemistry. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only.

551 Advanced Biochemistry I
4 hours. Basic and current topics on proteins, including protein structure, protein stability, and protein folding and misfolding, and proteomics. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 454; and CHEM 346 or CHEM 344.

552 Chemical Biology
4 hours. Major trends and recent developments in research at the interface of chemistry and biology. Same as BIOS 552.

554 Bioinorganic Chemistry
4 hours. Structure, function and properties of metal ion coordination centers in metalloproteins, as well as the function of metal ions in enzyme activation and membrane transport. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 415 or CHEM 452.

555 Advanced Biochemistry II
4 hours. The structure of nucleic acids and the role and processing of nucleic acids in various aspects of genetic regulation. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 454.

557 Current Biophysical Techniques
4 hours. Basic principles and practical applications of a wide-range of state-of-art biophysical methods, including structural analysis and imaging, which are essential in current biological research and biotechnology. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 340 or CHEM 342.

558 Biophysical Chemistry
4 hours. The role of molecular interactions in determining the structure and function of complex biological systems, and the use of modern experimental techniques to study these interactions and systems. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 452 or consent of the instructor

559 Special Topics in Biochemistry
3 TO 4 hours. Selected topics of current interest in biochemistry. Same as BIOS 559. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 454 or BIOS 454 or consent of the instructor.

572 Teaching Methods in Chemistry
3 hours. Special problems and techniques, including audio-visual methods, lecture demonstrations, the use of computers and the design of experiments. May be repeated. A maximum of 3 hours may be credited toward departmental course requirements for the M.S. or Ph.D. in Chemistry. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department.

590 Current Problems in Chemical Research
2 hours. In-depth discussion and analysis of selective aspects of contemporary research with particular emphasis on research carried out in the department. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

592 Introduction to Chemical Research Methods
3 TO 6 hours. Guided research on selected topics in analytical, inorganic, organic, or physical chemistry or biochemistry. Satistactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Recommended Background: BA or BS in Chemistry or Biochemistry.

598 Master's Thesis Research
0 TO 16 hours. Master's thesis work under the superision of a faculty member. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department.

599 Ph.D. Thesis Research
0 TO 16 hours. Ph.D. thesis work under the superision of a faculty member. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department.

Information provided by the Office of Programs and Academic Assessment.

This listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract. Every attempt is made to provide the most current and correct information. Courses listed here are subject to change without advance notice. Courses are not necessarily offered every term or year. Individual departments or units should be consulted for information regarding frequency of course offerings.