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Chemistry Courses
All chemistry courses are one-semester courses. Third- and fourth-year lectures and laboratories are separate courses. The first number in a course label indicates the academic year in which the course will usually be taken, followed by the number of credits gained upon successful completion, followed by the vectoring of lecture hours, seminar hours and laboratory hours in parenthesis.
CHEM 1310 The World of Chemistry (3,0,0) CHEM 1310 The World of Chemistry (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This course will look at a variety of chemistry issues that have changed history or are in the news today. Everything from Napoleon's buttons to climate change will be covered. No backgrounds in Science or Mathematics is required. This is an introductory chemistry course for non-Science students. This is a credit course for all bachelor degrees except Science.
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CHEM 1500 Chemical Bonding and Organic Chemistry (4,0,3)(L) CHEM 1500 Chemical Bonding and Organic Chemistry (4,0,3)(L)Credits: 3 credits This course develops an understanding and historical context of atomic and molecular structure. Students will organize and synthesize existing knowledge of chemical structure, and engage in reflective review of their understanding. Topics include electron configurations, periodic trends, chemical bonding, Lewis structures, molecular shapes, valence bond and molecular orbital theory. The organic chemistry portion of the course focuses on the bonding and structure of organic compounds, functional groups, conformational and stereochemical features including applications to biochemistry. The laboratory stresses precision techniques in analytical chemistry. Students collect and analyze data and draw evidence-based conclusions. The laboratory provides opportunity for students to expand their existing knowledge and immerse them in challenging laboratory environment. Students receive weekly feedback and mentorship in the lab and lecture.
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CHEM 1510 Fundamentals of Chemistry (4,0,3)(L) CHEM 1510 Fundamentals of Chemistry (4,0,3)(L)Credits: 3 credits This is the second half of a fundamental first year chemistry course, designed for students who have completed CHEM 1500: Chemical Bonding and Organic Chemistry, and have a Chemistry 11 background. The topics include a brief review of stoichiometry, gas laws, thermochemistry, equilibrium and electrochemistry. Students are expected to become familiar with these topics, and demonstrate their proficiency in various laboratory techniques. The laboratory stresses fundamental precision techniques in quantitative analytical and physical chemistry.
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CHEM 1520 Principles of Chemistry (3,0,3)(L) CHEM 1520 Principles of Chemistry (3,0,3)(L)Credits: 3 credits This course is the second half of first year chemistry designed for students with a strong background in Chemistry. The Department of Chemistry defines a strong background as at least a B in Chemistry 12 or CHEM 0600; however, the course is available to any student with CHEM 1500 and Chemistry 12 or CHEM 0600. The topics include gas laws, equilibrium, redox reactions, electrochemistry, thermochemistry, entropy and free energy. Students are expected to become familiar with these topics during the course, and demonstrate their proficiency in various laboratory techniques. The laboratory stresses fundamental precision techniques in quantitative analytical and physical chemistry.
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CHEM 2000 Relativity and Quanta (3,1,0) CHEM 2000 Relativity and Quanta (3,1,0)Credits: 3 credits Students explore special relativity: Lorenz transformations; and dynamics and conservation laws. The quantum physics section of this course includes the experimental evidence for quantization, and a qualitative discussion of the concepts of quantum mechanics and their application to simple systems of atoms and nuclei. This course is identical to PHYS 2000.
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CHEM 2100 Introductory Analytical Chemistry (3,0,3)(L) CHEM 2100 Introductory Analytical Chemistry (3,0,3)(L)Credits: 3 credits Students are introduced to the principles of analytical chemistry and their practical application to solution samples. Topics include statistical method of data analysis, quantitative principles of chemical equilibrium, and fundamental concepts of gravimetric, spectrophotometric, electrochemical, and chromatographic methods of analysis. In the laboratory component, students perform experiments using the same state-of-the-art instrumentation used in many commercial and research laboratories. An analysis of samples of clinical, environmental, and biochemical interest is completed to illustrate the material discussed in lectures.
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CHEM 2120 Organic Chemistry 1 (3,0,3)(L) CHEM 2120 Organic Chemistry 1 (3,0,3)(L)Credits: 3 credits This course is a study of the compounds of carbon with an emphasis on reaction mechanisms, to illustrate the basic principles of organic chemistry. The topics include structure and bonding, preparations and reactions of the functional groups, and stereochemistry. Biological and biochemical applications are also discussed. The laboratory work illustrates basic separation, purification and identification techniques, and spectroscopic techniques are introduced.
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CHEM 2160 Structure, Bonding and Spectroscopy (3,0,0) CHEM 2160 Structure, Bonding and Spectroscopy (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students develop fundamental quantum ideas in chemistry and apply them to topics in chemical bonding and spectroscopy. Bonding concepts revolve around electrostatic models applied to ionic compounds and transition metal complexes. Covalent bonding is approached from the molecular orbital point of view, while students survey homo- and heteronuclear diatomics, and briefly consider larger molecules. Fundamental concepts in spectroscopy are introduced, and vibrational, electronic, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy is discussed. Fundamental aspects of symmetry guide several of these treatments.
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CHEM 2220 Organic Chemistry 2 (3,0,3)(L) CHEM 2220 Organic Chemistry 2 (3,0,3)(L)Credits: 3 credits This course is a continuation of CHEM 2120: Organic Chemistry 1, in which students further explore the principles of organic chemistry. Topics include structure and bonding; preparations and reactions of the functional groups; stereochemistry; biological and biochemical applications; and basic separation, purification, identification, and spectroscopic techniques in the laboratory.
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CHEM 2250 Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry (3,0,3)(L) CHEM 2250 Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry (3,0,3)(L)Credits: 3 credits This course, intended for science majors, introduces chemical kinetics and thermodynamics with applications to gas behaviour and phase and reaction equilibria. The laboratory work involves preparative and kinetic studies, as well as the experimental study of the aspects of thermodynamic measurements.
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CHEM 3010 Aqueous Environmental Chemistry (3,0,0) CHEM 3010 Aqueous Environmental Chemistry (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students are introduced to the properties and composition of natural waters. Topics include hydrologic cycle, water quality, partitioning, transport, chemical equilibria, pH, complexation, redox processes, and water treatment.
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CHEM 3020 Atmospheric Environmental Chemistry (3,0,0) CHEM 3020 Atmospheric Environmental Chemistry (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This course is an introduction to structure, composition, and chemical processes occurring in the Earth's atmosphere. These include interactions with solar radiation, stratospheric ozone layer, photochemical smog, and acid rain.
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CHEM 3060 Physical Chemistry 1 (3,0,0) CHEM 3060 Physical Chemistry 1 (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Prior knowledge of physical chemistry is required for this upper-level course. Students explore four main topics: phase equilibrium, chemical equilibrium, solutions of electrolytes, and electrochemistry.
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CHEM 3070 Physical Chemistry 2 (3,0,0) CHEM 3070 Physical Chemistry 2 (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This course is a continuation of CHEM 3060. The course topics include chemical kinetics, elements of spectroscopy and introductory statistical thermodynamics. This course assumes prior knowledge of thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium and basic chemical kinetics.
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CHEM 3080 Physical Chemistry Laboratory (0,0,4) CHEM 3080 Physical Chemistry Laboratory (0,0,4)Credits: 1 credits In this laboratory course, students perform a selection of physical chemistry experiments to illustrate various physical chemical principles.
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CHEM 3100 Instrumental Analysis (3,0,0) CHEM 3100 Instrumental Analysis (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students are introduced to the wide range of instrumental methods used in chemical analysis, as they are applied to modern analytical chemistry. The topics include statistical evaluation of chemical data, electrochemical methods, optical spectroscopic methods, mass spectrometry and chromatography.
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CHEM 3120 Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (0,0,4)(L) CHEM 3120 Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (0,0,4)(L)Credits: 1 credits This laboratory course is designed to accompany CHEM 3100: Instrumental Analysis. Students acquire practical, hands-on laboratory experience in performing chemical analysis using the chemical instrumentation encountered in CHEM 3100. Students perform statistical evaluations of experimental chemical data.
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CHEM 3140 Applied Analytical Chemistry (3,0,0) CHEM 3140 Applied Analytical Chemistry (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This course will focus on analytical method development, including sampling and sample handling, extraction, determination, and data acquisition. The analysis of organic and inorganic compounds in a variety of matrices will be discussed. Case studies from the literature will illustrate typical applications.
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CHEM 3170 Instrumental Analysis Laboratory for Chemical Biology (0,0,4)(L) CHEM 3170 Instrumental Analysis Laboratory for Chemical Biology (0,0,4)(L)Credits: 1 credits This is a laboratory course designed to give students practical hands-on experience with the instrumentation discussed in CHEM 3100: Instrumental Analysis. Students focus on the needs of chemical biologists while performing a variety of chemical analyses and gaining independent experience in analytical experimental design and method application to real samples.
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CHEM 3220 Advanced Organic Chemistry (3,0,0) CHEM 3220 Advanced Organic Chemistry (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This is a lecture course that covers the theory and practice of modern organic synthesis. The emphasis is on important carbon-carbon bond forming reactions, significant reactions of functional groups and the use of protecting group strategies in organic synthesis. In addition, the chemistry of amino acids, peptides, carbohydrates and heterocycles is studied in the context of the above topics.
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CHEM 3230 Organic Spectroscopy (3,0,0) CHEM 3230 Organic Spectroscopy (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This is a lecture course that covers the theory and practice of modern spectroscopic techniques for the structural elucidation of organic compounds. The emphasis is on both the theory and practice of spectroscopic techniques, particularly NMR spectroscopy, for determining the structures of pure organic compounds.
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CHEM 3240 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (0,0,4)(L) CHEM 3240 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (0,0,4)(L)Credits: 1 credits In this laboratory course, students perform a selection of organic chemistry experiments that are designed to develop synthetic skills and application of spectroscopic techniques to organic molecules.
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CHEM 3310 Inorganic Chemistry 1 (3,0,0) CHEM 3310 Inorganic Chemistry 1 (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students are introduced to the varied aspects of transition metal chemistry and a wide variety of techniques which have been applied to these systems. Topics include coordination numbers, stereochemistry, diastereomers, enantiomers, coordination equilibria, and the kinetics and mechanisms of substitution and electron transfer reactions. Crystal field and molecular orbital descriptions of bonding are developed and applied to electronic spectra and magnetic properties. Application to some bioinorganic systems are introduced.
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CHEM 3320 Inorganic Chemistry 2 (3,0,0) CHEM 3320 Inorganic Chemistry 2 (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students are introduced to the varied aspects of main group chemistry and a wide variety of techniques which have been applied to these systems. Topics include ionic bonding and the solid state, simple ideas of covalent bonding, and molecular orbital descriptions of main group compounds. A systematic survey of selected chemistry of main group elements may be conducted.
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CHEM 3330 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (0,0,4)(L) CHEM 3330 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (0,0,4)(L)Credits: 1 credits In this laboratory course, students perform a selection of inorganic chemistry experiments that are designed to develop synthetic skills and application of spectroscopic and magnetic techniques to inorganic systems.
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CHEM 3730 Introduction to Biochemistry (3,0,0) CHEM 3730 Introduction to Biochemistry (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students are introduced to cellular chemistry and the structure and function of biological molecules including nucleic acids, enzymes and other proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and vitamins. Students also explore metabolic pathways and bioenergetics including DNA synthesis, transcription and translation, glycolysis, fermentation and respiration, oxidation of fatty acids, and photosynthesis.
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CHEM 4070 Selected Topics in Physical/Environmental Chemistry (3,0,0) CHEM 4070 Selected Topics in Physical/Environmental Chemistry (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This lecture course will consider in depth a selection of topics drawn from the areas of Physical Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry. The particular topics chosen may vary each time the course is offered.
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CHEM 4220 Selected Topics in Organic Chemistry (3,0,0)(Options A and B) CHEM 4220 Selected Topics in Organic Chemistry (3,0,0)(Options A and B)Credits: 3 credits Students consider (Option A) the isolation, structural identification, and synthesis of secondary metabolites produced by living things, either as a defence strategy against other organisms or for some other biochemical purpose; OR (Option B) principles and factors which govern the course of organic chemical reactions and the reactivity of organic molecules.
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CHEM 4320 Selected Topics in Inorganic Chemistry (3,0,0)(Options A and B) CHEM 4320 Selected Topics in Inorganic Chemistry (3,0,0)(Options A and B)Credits: 3 credits Students consider (Option A) the chemistry of compounds containing organic groups directly bonded to metals and metalloids via a metal-carbon bond, with emphasis placed on the structure and bonding of the compounds and their use in synthetic, catalytic and industrial chemistry; OR (Option B) the chemistry of inorganic compounds in the functioning of biological systems, with emphasis on the structure and bonding of the metal in biologically active systems, and the use of inorganic compounds as drugs and diagnostic probes.
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CHEM 4400 Advanced Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (0,1*,3*)(L) CHEM 4400 Advanced Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (0,1*,3*)(L)Credits: 1 credits This is a half-semester (6-week) advanced laboratory course in analytical chemistry in which students apply instrumental methods to the chemical analysis of real sample types.
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CHEM 4410 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (0,1*,3*)(L) CHEM 4410 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (0,1*,3*)(L)Credits: 1 credits This is a half-semester (6 week) advanced laboratory course in Inorganic Chemistry which is concerned with the development of synthetic skills, especially using modern, air-sensitive reagents. The application of spectroscopic techniques to inorganic and organometallic systems will be emphasized.
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CHEM 4420 Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory (0,1*,3*)(L) CHEM 4420 Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory (0,1*,3*)(L)Credits: 1 credits This is a half-semester (6-week) advanced laboratory course in organic chemistry which illustrates advanced techniques and modern synthetic methods found in recent organic chemistry research literature.
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CHEM 4430 Advanced Physical and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (0,1*,3*)(L) CHEM 4430 Advanced Physical and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (0,1*,3*)(L)Credits: 1 credits This is a half-semester (6-week) advanced laboratory course in physical and environmental chemistry which illustrates relevant physical chemistry principles in selected areas of physical and environmental chemistry.
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CHEM 4450 Advanced Chemical Biology (2,1,3)(L) CHEM 4450 Advanced Chemical Biology (2,1,3)(L)Credits: 3 credits Lectures and seminars examine the interface of chemistry and biology, and practical laboratory experience introduces students to advanced chemical biology techniques. The emphasis is on providing the knowledge and theory behind biological systems from a chemical perspective, while exposing students to the modern laboratory techniques that are of current value in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. These industries require professionals who have a strong background in organic chemistry, molecular biology and genomics. Current journal articles are incorporated into a problem-based learning approach that has students researching background material in order to complete an assigned project experiment.
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CHEM 4480 Directed Studies in Chemistry (3,0,0) CHEM 4480 Directed Studies in Chemistry (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students investigate a specific topic involving experimental work as agreed upon by the student and her/his faculty supervisor and co-supervisor. This course provides experience with research techniques and the presentation of results.
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CHEM 4600 Selected Topics in Applied Chemistry (3,0,0) CHEM 4600 Selected Topics in Applied Chemistry (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits This lecture course is divided into modules that focus on applied aspects of several branches of chemistry. The selection of modules available in any particular year may vary due to instructor availability. Topics may include advanced extraction techniques and instrumentation, catalysis, chemometrics, combinatorial chemistry, materials science, medicinal chemistry, petroleum chemistry, polymer chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and water and waste treatment.
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