Chemistry
John T. S. Andrews (1974-1982, 1983), Professor of Chemistry
B.A., New College, Oxford University;
M.S., Ph.D., University of Michigan
Academic interest: physical chemistry, x-ray crystallography
Colleen A. Fried (1993), Professor of Chemistry, Chair
B.A., Carleton College;
Ph.D., Iowa State University
Academic interest: synthetic organic chemistry
Prudence Hall (1988), Emeritus Professor of Biology and Chemistry
A.B., Oberlin College;
M.S., Ph.D., Michigan State University
Academic interest: biochemistry and plant physiology
David B. Moss (1966-67, 1970), Professor of Chemistry
B.S., North Dakota State University;
M.S., John Carroll University;
Ph.D., Wayne State University
Academic interest: analytical chemistry
John Cragel, Jr. (1979), Support & Safety Coordinator, Adjunct Faculty
B.S., Youngstown State University;
M.S., Illinois Institute of Technology;
Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
Academic interest: inorganic chemistry, biodiesel
Caroline Gray (1997), Chemistry Lab Teaching Assistant
B. S., Youngstown State University;
M.S., Youngstown State University
Jody Modarelli (2007), Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
B.S. The University of Akron;
Ph.D., The University of Akron
Academic interest: lipid chemistry, metabolimics, cancer biology
Carol Shreiner (2007), Assistant Professor of Chemistry
B.S. The University of Pittsburgh;
Ph.D The University of Akron
Academic interest: macromolecular design and synthesis, microwave-enhanced synthesis, synthetic organic chemistry
Department web address:
http://home.hiram.edu/www/chemistry/
Requirements for Majors
The chemistry major assumes knowledge of basic chemistry. For most persons this will be demonstrated by successful completion of the general chemistry course sequence, 120-121. Those with inadequate high school preparation will be required to take Chemistry 115 before attempting 120-121. Students scoring “5” on the AP chemistry examination are deemed to have successfully completed the general chemistry requirement.
I. The required core courses
CHEM 220
CHEM 230
CHEM 240
CHEM 320
CHEM 350
CHEM 480
IIa. Chemistry elective
One course must be chosen from the 300 or 400 level. Students who pursue the chemistry major will be advised to take additional courses for entrance to graduate programs.
IIb. The ACS (American Chemical Society) Certified Chemistry major requires the additional courses 351 and 482 or 483, Biology 230 and a total of 6 hours additional approved chemistry courses.
III. Required correlative courses
MATH 198, 199
PHYS 213, 214
Requirements for Minors
The chemistry department requires the following courses to complete a minor in chemistry: Chemistry 120, 121, and 220. Three elective courses must be chosen from Chemistry 230, 240, 320, 350, and 366. Students must have a chemistry faculty advisor by the beginning of the junior year to pursue chemistry minor.
Special Opportunities
The department has the usual range of chemical instrumentation, many with integrated microcomputers. A FT-NMR spectrometer, a Hewlett-Packard GC-MS, an HPLC, GC chromatography apparatus, a diode array UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, Spectroflourometer, an FT-IR spectrophotometer, an AA spectrophotometer, electrochemical equipment and adiabatic calorimeters are routinely employed in the laboratory courses offered by the department. Students are encouraged to use the instrumentation for individual projects, and members of the department use these instruments for academic and applied research.
Departmental Offerings
101 Chemistry in Context: An Environmental Perspective 4 hours
A basic chemistry course, organized to develop knowledge and an understanding of the chemical factors affecting the environment and society’s interaction with the environment. This course is designed for students with no previous experience in chemistry. It satisfies the laboratory course requirement.
115 Introduction to Chemistry SM 4 hours
This course is designed for the student with little or no high school background. For the prospective science student, this course will provide a basis for further study in chemistry.
120 General I: Structure and Bonding SM 4 hours
An introduction to atoms and molecules. Topics include atomic orbitals, periodicity, intermolecular forces, bonding models, bond energies and orbital hybridization.
Note: The chemistry department strongly recommends that students retake a course with a grade of C–, or less, before proceeding to take the next course in any sequence.
eral II: Introduction to Chemical Analysis SM 4 hours
An introduction to solution chemistry. Topics include gas laws, redox reactions, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, kinetics, colligative properties, equilibrium, and pH.
160 Scientific Glassblowing 3 hours
This course covers the fundamentals of glassblowing and flame working with applications to the construction and repair of scientific glassware.
204 Physical Science SM 4 hours
A non-majors course. This is a comprehensive but not highly technical presentation of the essential concepts of physical science. While the subject matter is derived from the major branches of physical science (astronomy, chemistry, geology, meteorology, and physics), it is studied as an integrated interpretation of the physical world. The laboratory is designed to be of special application for the prospective elementary teacher through the establishment of demonstrations and experiments illustrating salient concepts.
208 Introductory Electronics 4 hours
An introduction to the principles of electronics and the uses of electronic components. The laboratory will investigate the fundamentals of linear and digital circuits while using basic laboratory instruments such as oscilloscopes, waveform generators, and digital multimeters. Topics will include basic circuit theory, passive devices, junction and field effect transistors, operational amplifiers, digital logic, integrated circuit chips, and optical solid-state devices. This course is designed for physics and chemistry majors and entails a considerable amount of problem solving. While not required, a familiarity with calculus would be helpful. Prerequisite: secondary school physics or permission. Also listed as Physics 208.
220 Introduction to Organic Chemistry 4 hours
A survey of the principles of organic chemistry with emphasis on functional groups. Nomenclature, structure, synthetic methods, and reactions are the primary focuses. An introduction to isomerism, stereochemistry, and conformational analysis is included. Reaction energetics and implications for a selected series of reaction mechanisms are also examined. The laboratory introduces basic techniques of isolation, characterization, and synthesis of organic compounds. Prerequisite: the equivalent of Chemistry 121.
230 Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry 4 hours
The concepts of inorganic chemistry in light of modern theory. Atomic structure, chemical periodicity, bonding, group theory, coordination chemistry with crystal field theory, and reaction mechanisms of complex formation are considered. Descriptive chemistry and the often neglected chemistry of the lanthanide and actinide elements are also examined. The laboratory introduces basic inorganic laboratory techniques for the synthesis and characterization of inorganic compounds. Prerequisite: Chemistry 121, 220.
240 Quantitative Analysis 4 hours
An in-depth study of theory and practice of analytical methods including gravimetric, volumetric, redox, electrochemical, compleximetric, and spectrophotometric, and an introduction to modern instrumentation. Intended for students of biological, chemical, medical, and physical sciences. Prerequisite: Chemistry 121.
281 Independent Study 1 - 4 hours
298 Internship Program and Field Experience 1 - 4 hours
320 Intermediate Organic Chemistry 4 hours
A continuation of Chemistry 220. Includes a survey of bifunctional and polyfunctional molecules and bioorganic chemistry. Prerequisite: Chemistry 220.
330 Computation Chemistry 4 hours
“… Chemical questions are problems in applied mathematics.” So begins an early text in quantum chemistry, and calculations now provide a useful addition to the chemist’s toolbox. The course builds on physics and organic chemistry to develop the molecular mechanical and semi-empirical molecular orbital approaches to energetic and conformational calculations. “Ab initio” methods are then introduced, and their power (and cost) explored. This course is particularly suitable for chemists or molecular biologist considering careers in the chemical, pharmaceutical or biogenetic industries, but will provide an equally valuable introduction to material widely needed for graduate studies. Prerequisites: 220, HS Physics.
340 X-Ray Crystallography 4 hours
X-ray diffraction is an important tool for finding the positions of atoms in molecular structures, and for measuring the resulting inter-atomic distance and angles. It is routinely applied to all classes of molecules, now including even those as complex as proteins. In this course, discussions of crystallization, X-ray production and detection, crystal symmetry and the Fourier relationship between direct and reciprocal space leads to the use of the SHELX software package (Sheldrick, 1997) for the solution of small molecule structures. We will introduce the XTALVIEW software package (McRee, 1999) as we look at the problems posed in protein crystallography. Some additional work will be required of those students wishing this to count as an Advanced Chemistry course. Prerequisite: 220 and High School Physics.
350 Physical Chemistry I 4 hours
Energetics. The physical properties of gases, liquids, solids, and solutions. Thermodynamics and thermochemistry. Phase equilibria, electrochemistry, and the kinetic theory of gases and fluids. Prerequisites: Chemistry 220, Physics 213, Mathematics 199.
351 Physical Chemistry II 4 hours
Structure and Change. An introduction to atomic and molecular structure, quantum mechanics, molecular structure determination, thermodynamics, and chemical kinetics. Prerequisite: Chemistry 350.
366 Basic Biochemistry 4 hours
Biochemistry studies the molecules and chemical reactions in living organisms. Topics include the structure and chemical properties of major macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and lipids) of living organisms, the role of enzymes and enzyme pathways by which these molecules are synthesized and degraded, and the cellular mechanisms which regulate and integrate metabolic processes. The laboratory emphasizes tools of biochemical analysis (spectrophotometry, chromatography, electrophoresis, centrifugation) in an examination of physical, chemical, and biological properties of biologically important molecules. Prerequisites: Chemistry 320, Biology 230. Also listed as Biology 366.
368 Intermediate Biochemistry 4 hours
This course will examine some topics introduced in Basic Biochemistry in greater detail, as well as selected topics in biochemistry such as biological information flow, biochemical studies in disease, and ecological biochemistry. The laboratory will extend the students’ opportunities in analysis of biomolecules and their properties. Prerequisite: Biology/Chemistry 366. Also listed as Biology 368.
381 Topics in Chemistry 3 - 4 hours
Various advanced courses. This course may be taken more than once for credit.
400 Spectroscopy and Separations 4 hours
The application of methods of analysis. Emphasis on theoretical concepts, instrument design, chromatography columns, separation theory and applications. Prerequisite: Chemistry 240 and 350 or concurrent with 350.
430 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 3 hours
A survey of the methods used for structural determinations in inorganic chemistry. Nuclear magnetic, vibrational, electronic, and optical rotational spectroscopy are the primary focuses. An introduction to isomerism, transition metal stereochemistry, and conformational analysis is included. Magnetic, thermal, electrochemical, and separation methods are also considered. Prerequisite: Chemistry 350 or permission. Offered alternate years.
440 Electrochemistry 4 hours
The application of methods of analysis. Emphasis on theoretical concepts, instrumental design, and applications. Prerequisite: Chemistry 240 and 350 or concurrent with 350.
480 Senior Seminar 1 hour
Students prepare and present to faculty and students, papers on chemical topics based on literature search or laboratory research.
481 Independent Research 1 - 4 hours
482 Research Techniques: Chemistry 4 hours
This course provides an opportunity for collaborative research among students and faculty. While the faculty member will guide the research project, all members of the team will work together to delineate the role(s) each will play in carrying out the project. Students may use this research as the background for their student seminar. This course may be taken more than once for credit.
483 Research Techniques: Biochemistry 1 - 4 hours
This course provides an opportunity for collaborative research among students and faculty. No more than six students will work with a faculty member on a defined research project. While the faculty member will guide the research project, all members of the team will work together to delineate the role(s) each will play. Students may use this research as the basis for their senior seminar (Chemistry) or APEX requirement, but only with the prior written consent of the instructor. Also listed as Biology 483.
484 Environmental Methods of Analysis 4 hours
Satisfying the requirements of the environmental laws and regulations is possible only with defendable and accurate laboratory results based on approved methodologies, current instrumentation and technologies, and well-trained and qualified personnel. The large diversity of the literature in this field and the diffuse sources of the necessary information make training difficult. The goal of this course is to provide guidelines for any individual working in the environmental arena by examining selected analytical procedures most often used by governing agencies for the evaluation of environmental pollutants. Analytical methods used for the analysis of air, water, and soil will be considered. Topics will include methods used for the analysis of drinking and wastewater, air sampling for asbestos and various gases and particulates, and soil methodologies. The laboratory experiments are designed to emphasize the appropriate laboratory technique utilized in determining the chemical constituents in environmental samples along with their chemistry, occurrence, source, fate, and their control by regulations and standards.
498 Internship 1 - 4 hours