Course Descriptions – Chemistry

 

NOTE: Northern Kentucky University has established abbreviations for its various disciplines. These abbreviations, which are printed below the name of each discipline in the following course descriptions, should be used in preparing course schedules and at other times when referring to specific courses. Following course titles are three figures in parentheses. The first of these indicates the number of lecture hours in the course; the second, the number of laboratory hours; and the third, the number of semester hours of credit.

 

CHE 100 Chemistry and Society (3,0,3)

Basic principles of chemistry and their applications in society. For students not majoring in science. Enrollment in CHE 100L is recommended but not required. Cannot be taken for credit by students who have passed CHE 105. A general studies course (natural sciences).

 

CHE 100L Chemistry and Society Laboratory (0,2,1)

Simple laboratory techniques in experiments designed to study the properties of model compounds and consumer products; synthesis and analysis of common materials. A general studies course (natural sciences). PREREQ or COREQ: CHE 100.

 

CHE 105 Discovering Chemistry with Laboratory (3,2,4)

Integrated lecture and laboratory; basic principles of chemistry and their applications in daily life; promotion of reasoning and problem solving skills by utilizing computer based technologies and hands on, discovery/inquiry, and cooperative learning approaches. For all non-science students and students majoring in education. Cannot be taken for credit by students who have passed CHE 100. A general studies course (natural sciences).

 

CHE 110 Introduction to Chemistry (3,0,3)

Selected essential topics in chemistry, including solutions, reactions, stoichiometry, and properties of gases, liquids, and solids. Prerequisite for CHE 115 and CHE 120 for those who did not study chemistry in high school or are not prepared for CHE 115 or CHE 120. Assumes knowledge of elementary algebra.

 

CHE 115 Physiological Chemistry (3,0,3)

General, organic, and biological chemistry of the body; metabolism, pharmacology, toxicology, and nutrition. Not applicable toward a major or minor in the natural sciences. A general studies course (natural sciences). PREREQ: high school chemistry or CHE 110. COREQ: CHE 115L.

 

CHE 115L Physiological Chemistry Laboratory (0,2,1)

Laboratory elucidation of chemical and biochemical principles. A general studies course (natural sciences). COREQ: CHE 115.

 

CHE 120 General Chemistry I (3,0,3)

Principles of chemistry; physical and chemical properties of elements and compounds. PREREQ: high school chemistry or CHE 110. A general studies course (natural sciences). COREQ: CHE 120L.

 

CHE 120L General Chemistry Laboratory I (0,3,1)

Experiments describing principles of chemistry as well as those describing physical and chemical properties of elements and compounds. A general studies course (natural sciences). COREQ: CHE 120.

 

CHE 121 General Chemistry II (3,0,3)

Continuation of CHE 120. A general studies course (natural sciences). PREREQ: CHE 120. COREQ: CHE 121L.

 

CHE 121L General Chemistry Laboratory II (0,3,1)

Continuation of CHE 120L. PREREQ: CHE 120L. A general studies course (natural sciences). COREQ: CHE 121.

 

CHE 310 Organic Chemistry I (3,0,3)

Introduction to the chemistry of carbon compounds; bonding, structure, and introductory analysis and synthesis. PREREQ: CHE 121.

 

CHE 310L Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (0,3,1)

Introduction to the laboratory practice of organic chemistry; techniques and separations. PREREQ or COREQ: CHE 310.

 

CHE 311 Organic Chemistry II (3,0,3)

Chemistry and properties of organic substances; reactions of functional groups, synthesis, and spectroscopic analysis. PREREQ: CHE 310.

 

CHE 311L Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (0,3,1)

Reactions of organic compounds; identification of unknowns; synthesis. PREREQ: 310L. PREREQ or COREQ: CHE 311.

 

CHE 320 Inorganic Chemistry (3,0,3)

Chemistry of the elements and their compounds; main group chemistry and coordination chemistry. PREREQ: CHE 310. COREQ: CHE 320L.

 

CHE 320L Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (0,6,2)

Advanced laboratory synthesis, purification, and characterization of inorganic compounds; application of techniques in primary literature. COREQ: CHE 320.

 

CHE 340 Analytical Chemistry (2,0,2)

Chemical and stoichiometric principles; gravimetric, volumetric, and spectrophotometric analysis. PREREQ: CHE 121L. COREQ: CHE 340L.

 

CHE 340L Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (0,6,2)

Quantitative determination of the elements; traditional chemical methods and some instrumental methods of analysis. COREQ: CHE 340.

 

CHE 350 Instrumental Analysis (2,0,2)

Analytical techniques involving modern chemical instruments. PREREQ: CHE 340-340L. COREQ: CHE 350L.

 

CHE 350L Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (0,6,2)

Experiments designed to familiarize students with modern analytical instruments. COREQ: CHE 350.

 

CHE 360 Physical Chemistry I (3,0,3)

Classical thermodynamics, reaction equilibria, phase equilibria, and electrochemical systems. PREREQ: PHY 222 or PHY 213; CHE 121 and MAT 220.

 

CHE 361 Physical Chemistry II (3,0,3)

Kinetic molecular theory of gases, chemical kinetics, transport processes, elementary quantum chemistry, and spectroscopy. PREREQ: CHE 360.

 

CHE 362L Physical Chemistry Laboratory (0,6,2)

Experiments in thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, transport properties, spectroscopy, and elementary quantum chemistry. PREREQ or COREQ: CHE 361.

 

CHE 363L Physical Chemistry Laboratory 3H (0,6,3)

Experiments in thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, transport properties, spectroscopy, and elementary quantum chemistry. Similar to CHE 362L, but more experiments are required. Not open to students who have taken CHE 362L. PREREQ or COREQ: CHE 361.

 

CHE 396 Practicum: Chemistry Lab (1,0,1)

Participation in planning, teaching, and testing in a designated undergraduate chemistry laboratory course. Designed especially for students majoring in chemistry and in science education. Up to 2 semester hours may be earned in this course. Does not count toward a minor in chemistry. PREREQ: consent of instructor and completion of the designated laboratory course with a grade of B or better.

 

CHE 399 Independent Study: Readings in Chemistry (1-3 sem. hrs.)

Independent survey of literature; written reports on selected topics. Repeatable for a maximum of 4 semester hours. PREREQ: 20 semester hours of chemistry and consent of instructor.

 

CHE 400 Chemistry Seminar (1,0,1)

Techniques needed to search and report on chemical literature; oral seminar and written report required. PREREQ: 20 semester hours of chemistry.

 

CHE 410 Spectrometric Identification of Compounds (2,0,2)

Interpretation of data obtained by mass spectrometric analysis and by infrared, ultraviolet/visible, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses as applied to the establishment of structure. PREREQ: CHE 310 and CHE 310L.

 

CHE 420 Organometallic Chemistry (1,2,1) Properties and uses of organometallic compounds; synthesis, purification, and characterization of organometallic compounds using current methods. PREREQ: CHE 311 and CHE 311L.

 

CHE 440 Environmental Chemistry (3,0,3)

Chemistry as it applies to environmental problems and their solutions; analytical methods, energy needs, and biochemical application. PREREQ: CHE 311 and CHE 340, or consent of instructor.

 

CHE 475 Comprehensive Chemistry (0,3,1)

Assessment projects based on the learning objectives established by the Department of Chemistry; laboratory work, use of literature, integration of knowledge from major areas of chemistry, and application of available technology. PREREQ: CHE 311 and CHE 340. PREREQ or COREQ: CHE 360.

 

CHE 482 Biochemistry I (3,0,3)

Introduction to the chemistry of the molecules of life: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids; protein structure and function; enzyme mechanism; membrane structure and function; introduction to metabolism. Same as BIO 482. PREREQ: CHE 311.

 

CHE 482L Biochemistry Laboratory (0,4,2)

Advanced laboratory techniques used in isolation, purification, and characterization of amino acids, peptides, and proteins; training in use of modern equipment for experimentation and computers for data analysis. Same as BIO 482L. PREREQ or COREQ: CHE 482 or BIO 482.

 

CHE 483 Biochemistry II (3,0,3) Metabolism, biosynthesis of cell components, nucleic acid replication, protein synthesis, DNA recombination, hormone action. Same as BIO 483. PREREQ: CHE 482 or BIO 482.

 

CHE 492 Research: Chemistry (1-3 sem. hrs.)

Special project or research directed by a member of the chemistry faculty. Most projects require two semesters of work. Repeatable for a combined maximum of 12 semester hours. PREREQ: 5 semester hours of 300-level chemistry courses or above and consent of instructor or consent of both instructor and chair of chemistry. Does not apply toward a minor in chemistry.

 

CHE 511 Advanced Organic Synthesis (3,0,3)

 Analysis and design of complex syntheses, including total synthesis of natural products; stereochemical aspects of synthesis; asymmetric synthesis; spectroscopy in structure elucidation. PREREQ: CHE 311.

 

CHE 512 Physical Organic Chemistry (3,0,3)

Current topics in spectroscopy, reaction mechanisms, and structure function correlations. PREREQ: CHE 311 and CHE 360.

 

CHE 540 Electrochemistry (3,0,3)

Theory and experimental applications of electro- analytical methods. PREREQ: CHE 350 and CHE 361.

 

CHE 560 Quantum Mechanics (3,0,3)

Principles of quantum mechanics, the hydrogen atom, variational methods, and simple perturbation theory. Same as PHY 460. PREREQ: CHE 361 or PHY 361.

 

CHE 594 Topics in Chemistry (1-3 sem. hrs.)

Discussion of topics in analytical, environmental, inorganic, nuclear, organic, and physical chemistry; chemistry related topics: laboratory experience with operation and application of instruments and the computer. May be repeated as topics vary. PREREQ: consent of instructor.

 

CHE 694 Selected Topics in Chemistry (1-4 sem. hrs.)

Topics illustrating principles of chemistry and applications of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry and biochemistry. Specific topics are determined in consultation with the student's adviser and the chair of chemistry. May be repeated as topics vary. PREREQ: consent of instructor.