Birmingham-Southern College
Catalog
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Chemistry (CH)
Division of Science and Mathematics
Scott Dorman, David J. A. Schedler, Clyde T. Stanton, Laura
K. Stultz
Career opportunities in chemistry include health care, teaching,
and government and industrial research. Students who expect to be
certified as professional chemists or attend graduate school in
chemistry should take the courses listed under the professional
chemistry major. It is fully approved by the American Chemical Society.
An alternative major is available for students pursuing health care
careers such as medicine or dentistry or graduate school in biochemistry.
Students wishing to prepare for teaching chemistry in secondary
schools should complete a chemistry major and confer with the Division
of Education concerning additional requirements in education.
Major Requirements
Professional Chemistry Major (15-17 units):
CH 121 and 122 (or CH 149)
CH 211 and 212
CH 304
CH 311 and 312
CH 401 and 402
CH 404
CH 406
CH 410
CH 499
*MA 232
PH 121 and 122
one unit in computer programming
A reading knowledge of scientific German is strongly recommended.
Biological Chemistry Major (16-20 units):
CH 121 and 122 (or CH 149)
CH 211 and 212
CH 304
CH 311 and 312
CH 401 and 402
CH 408
one unit from CH 404, 406, or 410
CH 499
BI 115 and 125
*one unit from BI 304, 402, 405, or 412
*MA 232
PH 121 and 122
*Note: certain courses have their own prerequisites that add units
to those required for the major: BI 304 requires BI 105; BI 405 and
BI 412 require BI 105 and BI 301; depending on placement, MA 232 may
require MA 231.
Courses required for a chemistry major may be used to meet minor
requirements in mathematics and physics.
Minor Requirements
The following courses are required (4-5 units):
CH 121 and 122 (or CH 149)
CH 211 and 212
CH 304 or 311
CS 105 is strongly recommended (or 170 for students
who have taken an introductory computer course).
Courses in Chemistry
- CH 101 Introductory Chemistry (1)
- An introduction to the fundamental principles of chemistry and
the importance of chemistry in modern life. This course may be
counted toward the science requirement but cannot be used as a
prerequisite for CH 122. Three lecture periods and one three-hour
laboratory per week.
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- CH 121 General Chemistry I (1)
- A study of the laws and theories of chemistry, stoichiometry
atomic and molecular structure of matter, chemical bonding, properties
of solutions, and periodicity of the elements. Three lecture periods
and one three-hour laboratory per week. Two tutorial sessions
are offered each week. Prerequisite: Satisfactory score on math
ACT or SAT and on chemistry placement exam. Fall, Summer.
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- CH 122 General Chemistry II (1)
- A continuation of CH 121, covering equilibria, thermodynamics,
kinetics, and oxidation reduction. Laboratory work includes semi-micro
qualitative analysis. Three lecture periods and one three-hour
laboratory per week. Prerequisite: CH 121. Spring, Summer.
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- CH 149 Chemical Principles (1)
- A one-semester course covering advanced topics in atomic theory,
equilibria, thermodynamics, and kinetics, as well as an introduction
to organic and biochemistry. This course is designed for students
with excellent high school preparation in chemistry and replaces
the CH 121/122 sequence. Three lecture periods and one three hour
laboratory per week. Prerequisite: AP score of four or consent
of instructor. Fall.
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- CH 150 Introduction to Research (1)
- An introduction to the method of scientific research. Lecture
work focuses on literature search techniques, data analysis, and
theory of scientific instrumentation. Laboratory work focuses
on the methodology of chemical research, uses and limitations
of chemical analysis, and application of different measurement
techniques to the same chemical problem. Students are required
to work on an independent research project. One lecture period,
one three-hour laboratory and one DHAR laboratory period. Prerequisite:
CH122 or CH149. Spring.
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- CH 211 Organic Chemistry I (1)
- An introduction to structure and modern theory of organic compounds.
Laboratory work includes preparation, purification, and structure
determination of these compounds. Three lecture periods and one
three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: CH 122, CH 149,
or a year of college-level chemistry, inorganic chemistry, or
equivalent. Fall, Summer.
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- CH 212 Organic Chemistry II (1)
- A continuation of CH 211 with emphasis on aromatic organic compounds,
spectroscopy, and carbonyl chemistry. Three lecture periods and
one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: CH 211. Spring,
Summer.
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- CH 304 Quantitative Analysis (1)
- Theory and practice of volumetric, gravimetric, and certain
instrumental chemical analyses. Two 80-minute lecture periods
and two three-hour laboratories per week. Prerequisite: CH 122.
Spring.
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- CH 311 Physical Chemistry I (1)
- Basic principles of physical chemistry, stressing thermodynamics.
Three lecture periods, one three-hour laboratory, and one DHAR
laboratory period per week. Prerequisites: CH 212, PH 122, and
MA 232. Students are strongly encouraged to take MA 310 or equivalent
prior to taking CH 311. Fall.
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- CH 312 Physical Chemistry II (1)
- Continuation of CH 311, stressing chemical kinetics, elementary
quantum theory, and spectroscopy. Three lecture periods, one three-hour
laboratory, and one DHAR laboratory period per week. Prerequisite:
CH 311 or consent. Spring.
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- CH 401 Senior Seminar in Chemistry (½)
- A weekly, hour-long seminar on current topics in chemistry and
related areas, involving faculty, students, and guest speakers.
Each student presents one seminar on a topic approved by the faculty.
Fall.
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- CH 402 Senior Seminar in Chemistry (½)
- A weekly, hour-long seminar on current topics in chemistry and
related areas, involving faculty, students, and guest speakers.
Each student presents one seminar on a topic approved by the faculty.
Spring.
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- CH 404 Advanced Analytical Chemistry (1)
- Theory and practice of such physico-chemical methods of analysis
as infrared, visible, and ultraviolet spectrophotometry; gas chromatography;
atomic absorption; polarography; and mass spectroscopy. Three
lecture periods and two three-hour laboratories per week. Prerequisites:
CH 304 and 312. Fall.
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- CH 406 Inorganic Chemistry (1)
- A course containing both theoretical and descriptive inorganic
chemistry. Topics include group theory and symmetry, crystal field
theory, coordination chemistry, reaction mechanisms, organometallic
chemistry, and bioinorganic chemistry. Three lecture periods and
one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: CH 312. Spring.
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- CH 408 Biochemistry (1)
- An introduction to the structure, chemistry, and metabolism
of carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Topics
in application of biochemistry to medicine, dentistry, and nutrition
are also considered. Three lecture periods and one three-hour
laboratory per week. (Also listed as BI 408, this course may be
counted for credit in either biology or chemistry.) Prerequisites:
CH 212, BI 115, BI 125, or consent. Spring.
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- CH 410 Senior Research in Chemistry (1)
- A research experience in chemistry during the senior year. Requirements
include a paper written in the style of a scientific journal article
and an oral presentation to students and faculty. Prerequisite:
CH 212 and consent. Fall, Spring.
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- CH 293, 393, 493 Independent Study (1)
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- CH 298, 398, 498 Teaching Experience in Chemistry (1)
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- CH 499 Senior Project in Chemistry (1)
- A research project, pursued independently or corporately, that
brings to bear the student's accumulated knowledge and skills
in chemistry. A paper and oral presentation are required. Students
may be required to lead discussion or direct the activities of
other members of the project. Prerequisite: Senior standing or
consent. Interim.
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