This course provides an introduction to the scientific techniques used for the analysis of common types of physical evidence encountered at crime scenes.  Using critical thinking and laboratory experiences, students become crime scene investigators.  They are charged with the task of solving a mock crime.  The investigations include fabric analysis, ink analysis, blood analysis, DNA analysis, fingerprint analysis, ballistics, and/or blood alcohol analysis.  The lecture part of the course focuses on exploring the underlying chemical principles behind the techniques and includes discussion of historical case studies.  Note:  This course counts as a science core course but does not satisfy the requirements for the chemistry major or minor.  Three credits.

This two-semester sequential course covers atomic and molecular weights, the mole concept, Avogadro’s number, stoichiometry, energy relationships in chemical systems, the properties of gases, the electronic structure of atoms, periodic relationships among the elements, chemical bonding, geometries of molecules, molecular orbitals, liquids, solids, intermolecular forces, solutions, rates of chemical reactions, chemical equilibrium, free energy, entropy, acids and bases, aqueous equilibria, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, chemistry of some metals and non-metals, and chemistry of coordination compounds.  Three credits each term.

This lab offers the opportunity to explore and experience the rigors of an experimental physical science.  Students make and record observations on simple chemical systems while learning fundamental laboratory manipulations and measurement skills.  Experiments demonstrate and supplement concepts introduced in lecture.  This lab course integrates the techniques learned in the first semester (weighing, filtering, titrating, using volumetric glassware, observing and recording data, and synthetic techniques) in experimental procedures and explores physical properties and quantitative analysis of selected chemical systems.  One credit.

This lecture course will introduce students to the interdependence of chemical bonding, spectroscopic characteristics, and reactivity properties of coordination compounds and complexes using the fundamental concept of symmetry.  After reviewing atomic structure, the chemical bond, and molecular structure, the principles of coordination chemistry will be introduced.   A basic familiarity with symmetry will be formalized by an introduction to the elements of symmetry and group theory.  The students will use symmetry and group theory approaches to understand central atom hybridization, ligand group orbitals, and the construction of qualitative molecular orbital (MO) energy diagrams including both s- and p- bonding contributions.  The students will continue to utilize their understanding of group theory during an introduction of electronic spectroscopy and the use of correlation and Tanabe-Sugano diagrams.  MO diagrams will then used as a starting point for understanding the reactivity properties of coordination complexes.  Three credits (Corequisite, CH261)

The laboratory portion of CH341 is a synthetic inorganic chemistry lab with an emphasis placed on characterization.   In the laboratory, students will have an opportunity to synthesize, characterize, and investigate the physical and reactivity properties of coordination, organometallic, and air-sensitive complexes.  Students will utilize the following instrumental methods to characterize their compounds:   UV-Visible spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, polarimetry, infrared spectroscopy, and NMR spectroscopy.    The students write formal laboratory reports for every experiment.  Two credits.  (Corequisite, CH261)

Students undertake a research project in conjunction with a faculty member and present two seminars:  one pertaining to a literature topic, and the other focused on their research.  (Prerequisite:  by departmental permission).  One, two, or three credits.