Course Information

This course provides the background knowledge required to make informed decisions about how chemistry is presented to the public through various media. Topics will include environmental concerns, forensic chemistry, sources of energy, the chemistry of drugs. No chemistry background required; intended primarily for students from Faculties other than Science.

An introduction to the foundational principles of chemical structure and properties, emphasizing their relevance to modern science. Topics include: atomic structure, theories of chemical bonding, structure and stereochemistry of organic molecules, and structure of coordination complexes.

An examination of how the fundamentals of energetics influence chemical processes. Topics include: gases, thermodynamics and thermochemistry, chemical equilibria, solubility, weak acids and bases, electrochemistry, and chemical kinetics.

An overview of the properties and common reactions of selected functional groups and biomolecules, including carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. Emphasis with be placed on the importance and application of organic chemistry in the food sciences.

The environmental chemistry of air, water, and soil.

A discussion of the diverse roles of inorganic elements in the chemistry of life processes, with an emphasis on the chemistry of hydrogen, oxygen, and the cations of Groups 1 and 2. Bioenergetic processes, biomineralization and photosynthesis. The uptake, transport and storage of iron.

An introduction to the basic concepts of structure, stereochemistry and reactions in organic chemistry with an emphasis on its connections to the biological, health or medical sciences.

Basic thermodynamic concepts and relations and illustration of their relevance and applications to biological systems. In addition, some aspects of electrochemistry, and spectroscopic techniques will be introduced, again with emphasis on the role of these techniques in understanding the structure and nature of important biological molecules.

An examination of the chemistry of naturally occurring molecules, emphasizing organic compounds of importance in the Biological and Health Sciences.

An overview of the Periodic Table, stressing trends in properties of the elements and their compounds; principles of ionic and covalent bonding; molecular orbital theory of simple molecules; solution and solid state chemistry of Group 1 and 2 compounds, with examples relevant to biology and everyday life.  

This course emphasizes the quantitative aspects of chemistry. Starting with classical measurements of volumes and masses, the course will develop statistical tools of estimation, confidence, accuracy, and precision in treating experimental data. This includes an introduction to instrumental methods of analysis.

Introduction to 3D structure, spectroscopy and chemical reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, benzene, and alkyl halides. Introduction to reaction mechanisms and the interpretation of IR and NMR spectra. Laboratory: techniques of experimental organic chemistry; illustrative preparations of organic compounds.

Foundations of classical physical chemistry. Topics include chemical thermodynamics, quantitative description of phase transitions and chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, reaction dynamics, diffusion and transport processes.

Comparison of the structure and solution chemistry of the main group elements and their oxides, halides and hydrides; examples of these compounds in the world around us, with a discussion of the chemical principles involved; Molecular Orbital Theory of polyatomic molecules; metallic bonding and semiconductors.

Introduction to structure, spectroscopy and reactions of alcohols and derivatives, aromatic compounds and carbonyl compounds with an emphasis on reaction mechanisms and synthesis. Techniques of experimental organic chemistry will be introduced in the laboratory; illustrative preparations.

Foundations of the quantum theory of chemical structure and bonding. Topics include chemically relevant model problems of quantum mechanics, elements of atomic and molecular spectroscopy, relationship between classical and statistical thermodynamics.

Structure determination using common spectroscopic methods including vibrational and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry and x-ray crystallography.

An introduction to computer methods and tools used in all branches of chemistry. Topics include molecular structure visualization, calculation of molecular structure and properties, analysis of reaction mechanisms using potential energy surfaces, simulation of molecular spectra, numerical methods, data processing, and symbolic computation software.

A comprehensive treatment of the preparation and uses of polymers, and their chemical and physical properties in the solid state and in solution.

Industrial applications of chemistry including a survey of the chemical industry and its principal products; mass and energy balances as applied to chemical processes and the comparative economics of chemical processes will be discussed.

Introduction to the structure, properties, and functionalities of societally relevant materials including metals, semiconductors, soft materials, and nanostructures. Modern characterization techniques and applications of materials are also discussed.

The study of the effects of the electronic structure of transition metals on their properties, including coordination chemistry, electronic spectra, magnetic properties, and reactions. Introduction to organometallic chemistry. The laboratory experiments illustrate and amplify concepts discussed in the lectures.

This course deals with the principles and fundamentals of modern instrumentation in chemical analysis. The content involves quantitative analytical separation and spectroscopy, theoretical and practical aspects of instrumental techniques, and determination of metals and small molecules.

An intermediate level course in organic chemistry designed to complete the core requirements in organic chemistry. The major topics include: concepts of organic synthesis, radical chemistry, the chemistry of beta-dicarbonyls, amines, heterocycles, cycloadditions and pericyclic reactions.

The role of the chemical elements and their compounds in biology. The emphasis will be on the functional and mechanistic aspects of the biological chemistry of the metallic elements. The toxicology and medicinal chemistry of metal ions will also be discussed.

Ideas of enzyme action and metabolic patterns provide a framework for understanding the origins of medicinally useful natural products and the rationale for proceeding from natural lead compounds to pharmaceuticals. Chemical and biological constraints on drug structure. Drug discovery process. Classes of medicinal chemicals.

Selected topics of current interest in Chemistry.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR LISTING   Course Outline   

Extra Information:   3 lecture hours. 

This course will explore how metabolic pathways are currently being re-engineered in microorganisms to produce drugs that are otherwise difficult to manufacture. We will also investigate how drug targets are being identified using newly developed chemical genetic screening methods. The impact of both approaches on medicine will be evaluated.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR LISTING   Course Outline   

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours per week, 1 hr bi-weekly tutorial session.

Exposition of modern computational methods used in chemistry, biological modeling, and materials research. Topics include molecular quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, and elements of statistical and machine-learning techniques.

This course covers the fundamental basis of homogeneous catalysis using transition metal complex catalysts, illustrated by important industrial processes. It also treats heterogeneous and hybrid catalysts.

This course encompasses selected topics at the advanced level of analytical sciences. They include an introduction to chemometrics; advanced theory and practice of high-resolution separation techniques; recent advances in analytical electrochemistry, spectroscopy and microscopy; instrumentation and its applications in research.

The tools and insight needed to design successful synthetic routes to complex organic molecules. The student will identify and design synthetic routes for key structural elements and be introduced to synthetic methods in a setting of problem solving and discussion.

A discussion of the structures and bonding in inorganic solids as well as of their physical and chemical properties. Links to practically important inorganic materials and solid-state devices will also be discussed.

This is the signature course in chemistry. Under the supervision of a faculty member students will work on an independent research project, submit reports, write a thesis describing research findings and present and defend their findings in an oral seminar. Professional development activities include: skills for critical analysis of research, writing technical reports, ethics.

A survey of the chemistry of monosaccharides, amino acid and nucleosides with modern synthetic methods to oligosaccharides, polypeptides and polynucleotides.

An overview of the physical principles underlying the structure, function, and dynamics of biological systems, with focus on proteins and biomembranes. Topics to be covered include: Selected applications of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics; inter- and intramolecular (noncovalent) interactions; protein folding; spectroscopic properties of biopolymers.