CHEM Course Descriptions

Chemistry (2009-2010)

Essential preparation for first year chemistry courses. Formulae, nomenclature, stoichiometry, an introduction to thermochemistry, solution chemistry, chemical equilibria, acids, bases, oxidation-reduction reactions, kinetics and bonding.

Laboratory and industrial chemical transformations amongst functional groups, mechanisms of reactions, introduction to spectroscopic methods. [Offered: W, S]

The stoichiometry of compounds and chemical reactions. Properties of gases. Periodicity and chemical bonding. Energy changes in chemical systems. Electronic structure of atoms and molecules; correlation with the chemical reactivity of common elements, inorganic and organic compounds.

Selected experiments for students taking CHEM 120.

Properties of liquids and solutions. Introduction to chemical equilibria. Principles of acid-base equilibria, solubility and electrochemical processes. Chemical kinetics.

Selected experiments for students taking CHEM 123.

The electromagnetic spectrum and the production and detection of photons in various energy ranges. Elementary descriptions of atomic and molecular spectra and their use in the locations of energy levels. The use of spectra to elucidate energy states of atoms and molecules and to determine molecular structure. Aspects of ultraviolet, visible, infrared, Raman, microwave and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. [Offered: S]

An introductory laboratory for the use and applications of computer software packages, such as Excel and Mathcad, for scientific calculations. The use of such software packages for basic calculations, data analysis, regression analysis, plotting of scientific graphs, data manipulation, and equation solving will be covered, with an emphasis placed upon chemical and biochemical concepts and applications. [Offered: F,W]

The nature of electromagnetic radiation and an elementary outline of quantum mechanics in one dimension. For each of microwave, infrared, Raman, electronic, photoelectron, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the nature of the molecular energy levels involved and the type of molecular information that can be obtained using it are examined. Introduction to diffraction methods. [Offered: F]

An introduction to the principles of chemical structure and bonding, with emphasis on their application to inorganic systems. Topics include: atoms, orbitals, and periodicity; localized bonding models; symmetry and group theory; and molecular orbital theory. The subjects treated in this course are foundational components for advanced studies in all areas of chemistry. [Offered: W,S]

Atomic and molecular structure. Molecular symmetry. Localized bonding models. Molecular orbital theory. Structures of solids. [Not open to students in the following plans: Biochemistry, Chemical Physics, Chemistry, Computational Science (Biochemistry Specialization), Computational Science (Chemistry Specialization), Geochemistry, Science and Business (Biochemistry Specialization), Science and Business (Chemistry Specialization), Minor in Chemistry. Offered: F]

Quantitative and analytical chemistry including ionic equilibria, classical and more recent methods. Emphasis on planning and decision-making in the analytical process. [Offered: F]

Selected experiments for students taking CHEM 220.

Instrumental analytical chemistry, including traditional and more recent methods. Emphasis on planning and decision-making in the analytical process. [Offered W,S]

Extensive lab experience for students who have taken CHEM 223 or 220. [Offered: W,S]

Selected topics of importance to Biology students. [Offered: S]

Selected experiments for students taking CHEM 228. [Offered: S]

Chemistry of amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids, with special emphasis on representative proteins and enzymes, including hemoglobin, cytochrome c and chymotrypsin. [Offered: W,S]

An introduction to the chemistry of amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. Structure and properties of proteins and enzymes. [Offered: F,W]

Selected experiments for students taking CHEM 237. [Offered: F,W]

Mathematical techniques useful for chemistry students. Introduction to complex numbers, plus topics chosen from: calculus; differential equations; vector spaces and vector algebra; matrices and determinants; elementary probability theory; basic group theory and symmetry. Applications to problems of chemical interest. [Offered: F]

Selected experiments for students in year two. [Offered: F]

An introduction to the first, second and third laws of thermodynamics and the application of these laws to ideal systems, mixtures, and chemical reactions. Thermodynamic principles are used to study changes in state, including phase changes, and to establish the link between the equilibrium constant and the properties of the substances involved in a chemical reaction. [Offered: W,S]

Bonding, structure and nomenclature in organic chemistry. Physical properties and simple reactions associated with the important functional groups. [Offered: F,W; previously numbered CHEM 28]

Selected experiments for engineering students taking CHEM 262. [Offered: F,W; previously numbered CHEM 28L]

Structure and bonding in organic chemistry. Isomerism and stereoisomerism in organic compounds. Acidity of organic compounds and substituent effects on acidity. Reaction mechanisms and energetics. Chemistry of alkanes, haloalkanes, alcohols and ethers, alkenes and alkynes. [Offered: F]

Nucleophilic addition and substitution at CO carbon. Enolate alkylation and condensation reactions; conjugate addition reactions. Chemistry of amines and other nitrogen compounds. Applications of spectroscopic techniques in organic chemistry. [Offered: W,S]

Selected experiments for students taking CHEM 265. [Offered: W,S]

Discussions of the structure, nomenclature and reactions of important classes of organic compounds. Stereochemistry and its role in reaction mechanisms. A detailed look at carboxylic acids and their derivatives. [Offered: F]

Selected experiments for students taking (or who have taken) CHEM 266.

A continuation of the concepts of CHEM 266, including material on amines, aromatics, carbohydrates and lipids. Introduction to nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy. [Offered: W]

Selected experiments for students taking CHEM 267.

The chemistry and physics of the terrestrial atmosphere, with emphasis on the operation of major anthropogenic influences, such as ozone depletion, the greenhouse effect and tropospheric systems, such as photochemical smog. Other planetary atmospheres will be discussed in the context of their implications for the evolution of the earth's atmosphere. [Offered: W]

This course provides an introduction to modern regional air quality modelling. The models used are Models-3, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's tropospheric modelling framework and MM-5, the meteorology model developed by the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research. The course covers the major elements in regional air quality modelling: emissions databases, chemical modelling, and the role of meteorology. A team-oriented modelling project relevant to Southern Ontario air quality will be carried out. [Offered: W]

The inorganic, organic and solid state chemistry of the d-block elements. The structure and physical properties of coordination compounds and transition metal containing solids. The role of transition metal organometallics in catalysis. [Offered: F]

Synthesis of transition and non-transition metal compounds. Characterization of compounds using IR, UV-VIS and NMR spectroscopy. [Offered: F]

This course provides a detailed examination of the structure and bonding in main group and solid state compounds, including valence bond and molecular orbital theory for describing electronic structures, Hueckel and extended Hueckel approximations. Structures of simple solids, including close packing of spheres and derived ionic lattice types; aspects of chemical crystallography, Bravais lattices, point groups, space groups, crystal planes, and X-ray diffraction; Ionic interactions in gases and solution; the thermodynamics of acid-base interactions; descriptive chemistry and characterization of main group element compounds. [Offered: W]

Introduction to synthetic inorganic chemistry. [Offered: W]

Detailed study of selected instruments and instrumental methods. Introduction to chemometrics and to computer interfacing. [Offered: W]

Thermodynamics of metabolism. Metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. Chemistry of oxidative phosphorylation and photosynthesis. Emphasis is put on the role and chemical mechanisms of the enzymes in these processes [Offered: F]

Metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids. [Offered: F]

Selected experiments for students having completed or concurrently taking CHEM 331. Topics to be covered include: NMR, allostery, enzymology, electrophoresis, carbohydrates, lipids, photosynthesis, and respiration. [Offered: F,W]

Introduction to the theory and practice of computational methods used in chemistry. Use of molecular modeling software to investigate the electronic structure and geometry of molecules, to calculate potential energy surfaces for chemical reactions, and to predict and understand the behaviour of chemical systems. [Offered: F, W]

Basic Chemical kinetics; treatment of kinetic data; complex reaction mechanisms; fast reactions; the canonical ensemble and the canonical partition function; statistical mechanics applied to chemistry; statistical theory of reaction rates. [Offered: W]

Selected experiments for students in year three.

Historical background; the differential equation approach to quantum mechanics; treatments of solvable problems such as the particle-in-a-box, harmonic oscillator, rigid rotator and the hydrogen atom; introduction to approximation methods for more complicated systems.

The use of diffusion, ultracentrifugation, osmotic pressure, eletrophoresis and X-ray diffraction to study the properties of biopolymers. Hyperbolic and allosteric enzyme kinetics, inhibition and regulation. Some spectroscopies important to the life sciences. [Offered: W]

Aromaticity and simple MO theory of conjugated systems. Electrophilic and nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions. Substituent effects on the rate of organic reactions. Linear free energy relationships. Pericyclic reactions and FMO theory. [Offered: W]

Selected microscale synthetic experiments for students in Year Three Chemistry and Biochemistry programs, including spectroscopic identification of organic compounds. [Offered: W]

The emphasis of this course is the underlying chemistry of organic industrial materials and the processes by which they are produced. Discussions of specific organic functional groups, their industrially important reactions and the mechanisms of such reactions will be presented. Among the specific topics to be discussed will be thermal and catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons, halogenation processes, oxidation processes, polymerization and organic dyes. [Offered: W]

Basic definitions and polymer nomenclature, molecular weight averages and distributions, constitutional and configurational isomerism, rubber elasticity, step-growth and free radical chain growth polymerizations, emulsion polymerization. [Offered: F]

Mechanisms of selected enzymes, vitamins/cofactors. Introduction to the structures and mechanism of action of selected classes of medicinal agents. [Offered: W]

A laboratory course intended for students in the Medicinal Chemistry Specialization of the Honours Chemistry plan. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to advanced laboratory techniques used in synthetic organic chemistry. [Offered: F]

Only for exchange students.

Only for exchange students.

Organic (natural and synthetic) chemicals in the environment. Environmental fate of organic pollutants. Environmental (solar) photochemistry. Technologies for water and wastewater treatment (microorganisms in water purification, direct photolysis, advanced redox processes, municipal and industrial water treatment, groundwater treatment). [Offered: F]

Anthropogenic organic compounds in the environment; how and why they get there. Phase transport through the ecosystem. Biological and non-biological chemical transformations. Prevention and remediation. [Offered: W]

For a current list of offerings see the Undergraduate Officer.

For a current list of offerings see the Undergraduate Officer. [Formerly CHEM 425. Offered: F,W.]

For a current list of offerings see the Undergraduate Officer.

Properties and metabolism of porphyrins, purines, pyrimidines and biogenic amines. Biosynthesis and mode of action of selected cofactors. Structure-function relationships of enzymes. Regulation of enzyme activity. [Offered: F]

Nitrogen fixation. Assimilation of nitrogen. Amino acid metabolism. Metabolic regulation. Proteolytic enzymes, ubiquitin. Blood coagulation. Signal transduction and amplification. Biochemistry of nitric oxide. Biochemistry of vision. [Offered: W]

For a current list of offerings see the Undergraduate Advisor. [Offered: F,W]

For a current list of offerings see the Undergraduate Officer. [Formerly CHEM 452. Offered: F,W ]

For a current list of offerings see the Undergraduate Officer.

Elucidation and identification of organic structures by contemporary spectroscopic techniques. [Offered: F]

For a current list of offerings see the Undergraduate Advisor. [Offered: F,W]

Laboratory work on a senior year research project. Enrolment into this course requires permission of the CHEM 494 co-ordinator. See the CHEM 494 coordinator for course details. No credit or grade will be provided for this course until the two-term sequence CHEM 494A/B has been completed. CHEM 494A/B may not be taken concurrently without prior permission of the CHEM 494 co-ordinator.

A continuation of CHEM 494A. No credit or grade will be provided for this course until the two-term sequence CHEM 494A/B has been completed. CHEM 494A/B may not be taken concurrently without prior permission of the CHEM 494 co-ordinator.

This course is only for exchange students wishing to carry out an advanced research project during the fall term.

This course is only for exchange students wishing to carry out a research project during the winter term.

This course is only for exchange students wishing to carry out a research project during the spring term.