DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

Course Catalog

Courses primarily for:

• First-year and Sophomore Students
• Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Students
• Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students
• Graduate Students

Courses Primarily for First-Year and Sophomore Students

CHEM 105-6 – First-Year Seminar

**First-Year Seminar Courses are Not Open to General Enrollment**

Science Writing for a Non-Technical Audience (Fall 2019; Larry Trzupek)

In this course we will read and discuss works on technical subjects written for a general audience with no special scientific training; the authors we'll be reading include Sam Kean, John McPhee, Don Norman, Richard Rhodes, and Lewis Thomas.

Although the course is not targeted exclusively to science majors, students enrolling in it should have enough of a background in the fundamental sciences to feel comfortable writing about technical topics.

The Chemistry of Food (Fall 2019; Owen Priest)

In The Chemistry of Food we will explore the chemistry and science of nutrition, cooking, food preservation, flavoring, coloring, and aroma. We will explore the science of salt, sugar & high fructose corn syrup, leavening agents, microwaves, proteins, and fats. What is the science behind genetically modified foods and why is it so controversial? What is celiac disease and gluten sensitivity? Is gluten sensitivity real? What does the science say?

The Chemistry of Clean Water (Winter 2020, Will Dichtel)

Access to clean water for drinking, farming, and many other uses is a basic human need that is anticipated to become more expensive and difficult because of climate change, expanding populations, and resource depletion. We will learn this problem from both a chemical and practical perspective. What are common water sources and their common contaminants? How is drinking water and waste water treated today, and what are the limitations of these methods? What technologies are emerging or need to emerge to address these limitations? How does water relate to food production and energy consumption in regard to sustainability? We will answer these questions through literature research, studying current and recent problems in water systems, and by visiting local drinking water and/or waste water treatment facilities.

Sustainability Meets Environmental Justice (Spring 2020, Shelby Hatch)

In this course, we will explore how issues of race and class shape our views of these concepts. Northwestern University is currently about halfway through its first five-year strategic sustainability plan. This plan will serve as a starting point for discussing various issues of sustainability such as the built environment, transportation, and resource conservation. We will delve into the chemistry behind sustainable design with a particular eye toward how the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry and Green Engineering are applied.

CHEM 110-0 – Quantitative Problem Solving in Chemistry

Solution strategies for traditional word problems and their application to basic chemistry quantitative problems: dimensional analysis, chemical equations, stoichiometry, limiting reagents, gas laws, and thermochemistry. 

Students with an AP Chem score of 5 or an IB (HL) Chem score of 7 are not eligible to take this course.

Prerequisite: permission of department by Initial Chemistry Assessment. 

Please contact Dr. Fred Northrup at f-northrup@northwestern.edu regarding permission and/or access to the Initial Chemistry Assessment. 

CHEM 131-0 – General Chemistry 1

Quantum mechanics, electronic structure, periodic properties of the elements, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, intermolecular forces, properties of solids and liquids, special topics in modern chemistry. Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 141-0 laboratory course. 

Prerequisite: Chem 110-0 (C- or better). Students may not start the sequence in this course. All Chemistry course sequences start in Fall Quarter.

CHEM 132-0 – General Chemistry 2

Solutions and colligative properties, chemical equilibrium, aqueous solution equilibria, chemical kinetics, metals in chemistry and biology, oxidation-reduction reactions and electrochemistry, special topics in modern chemistry. Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 142-0 laboratory course. 

Prerequisite: Chem 131-0 and Chem 141-0 (C- or better in both courses). 

Students may not start the sequence in this course. All Chemistry course sequences start in Fall Quarter.

CHEM 141-0 – General Chemistry Laboratory 1

Chemical analysis of real samples using basic laboratory techniques including titration, colorimetric analysis, density measurements, and atomic spectroscopy. Planning, data collection, interpretation, and reporting on experiments. Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 131-0 lecture course.

Prerequisite: Chem 110-0 (C- or better). Students may not start the sequence in this course. All Chemistry course sequences start in Fall Quarter.

CHEM 142-0 – General Chemistry Laboratory 2

Chemistry laboratory techniques applied to materials science and nanotechnology, acid-base chemistry, and chemical kinetics. Planning, data collection, interpretation, and reporting on experiments.  

Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 132-0 lecture course.

Prerequisite: Chem 131-0 and Chem 141-0 (C- or better in both courses). 

CHEM 151-0 – Accelerated General Chemistry 1

Quantum mechanics, electronic structure, periodic properties of the elements, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, gas laws, intermolecular forces, properties of solids and liquids, and special topics in modern chemistry. Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 161-0 laboratory course. 

Students with an AP Chem score of 5 or an IB (HL) Chem score of 7 are not eligible to take this course. 

Prerequisite: permission of department by Initial Chemistry Assessment. 

Please contact Dr. Fred Northrup at f-northrup@northwestern.edu regarding permission and/or access to the Initial Chemistry Assessment

CHEM 152-0 – Accelerated General Chemistry 2

Solutions and colligative properties, chemical equilibrium, aqueous solution equilibria, chemical kinetics, metals in chemistry and biology, oxidation-reduction reactions and electrochemistry, special topics in modern chemistry. Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 162-0 laboratory course. 

Prerequisites: Chem 151-0 and Chem 161-0 (C- or better in both courses). Students may not start the sequence in this course. All Chemistry course sequences start in Fall Quarter.

CHEM 161-0 – Accelerated General Chemistry Laboratory 1

Chemical analysis of real samples using basic laboratory techniques including titration, colorimetric analysis, density measurements, and atomic spectroscopy. Planning, data collection, interpretation, and reporting on these experiments. Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 151-0 lecture course.

CHEM 162-0 – General Inorganic Chemistry Lab

Chemistry laboratory techniques applied to materials science and nanotechnology, acid-base chemistry, and chemical kinetics. Planning, data collection, interpretation, and reporting on experiments.  Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 152-0 lecture course.

Prerequisites: Chem 151-0 and Chem 161-0 (C- or better in both courses). Students may not start the sequence in this course. All Chemistry course sequences start in Fall Quarter.

CHEM 171-0 – Advanced General Chemistry 1

Review of mole problems and stoichiometry; descriptive chemistry, elements, compounds, and inorganic reactions; gas laws; phase equilibria and colligative properties; chemical equilibrium; aqueous equilibria; topics in chemical bonding and molecular structure. Must be taken concurrently with Chem 181-0 laboratory course. 

Prerequisite: AP Chem 3+ or IB (HL) Chem 5+ or permission of department by placement exam.

CHEM 172-0 – Advanced General Chemistry

Thermodynamics and equilibrium; chemical kinetics and mechanism; electrochemistry; electronic structure of the atom and quantum theory; advanced topics in chemical bonding; coordination compounds; solid-state chemistry; nuclear chemistry. Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 182-0 laboratory course. 

Prerequisites: Chem 171-0 and Chem 181-0 (C– or better in both courses). Students may not start the sequence in this course. All Chemistry course sequences start in Fall Quarter.

CHEM 181-0 – Advanced General Chemistry Laboratory 1

Laboratory techniques for studying chemical analysis and chemical reactions relevant to environmental or materials research. Planning, data collection, interpretation, and reporting on experiments. Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 171-0 lecture course.

CHEM 182-0 – Advanced General Chemistry Laboratory 2

Study of the physical chemistry (acid-base chemistry, kinetics, etc.) behind the operating principles of biosensors. Planning, data collection, interpretation, and reporting on these experiments. Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 172-0 lecture course.

Prerequisites: Chem 171-0 and Chem 181-0 (C- or better in both courses). Students may not start the sequence in this course. All Chemistry course sequences start in Fall Quarter.

CHEM 201-0 – Chemistry of Nature and Culture

This class is a chemistry class designed for non-scientists. Students will look at atoms, molecules, and compounds, but not with the rigorous treatment that is found in a typical chemistry course. We will avoid the physics and math that are employed in a typical chemistry class. By reading about and researching various chemistry topics, students will come to appreciate the presence and importance of chemistry in every aspect of day-to-day life.

Students in this course may not have taken General Chemistry or Organic Chemistry at Northwestern unless by department permission (please contact chemhelp@northwestern.edu to request permission).

CHEM 210-1 – Organic Chemistry

Basic concepts of structure, stereochemistry, and reactivity of organic compounds. The chemistry of hydrocarbons and alcohols. 

Prerequisite: Chem 103-0 and Chem 123-0 *or* Chem 172-0 and Chem 182-0 *or* Chem 152-0 and Chem 162-0 *or* Chem 132-0 and Chem 142-0 (C– or better in all listed courses) *or*  AP Chem 5 *or* IB (HL) Chem 7, *or* permission of department by placement exam.

CHEM 210-2 – Organic Chemistry

The chemistry of aromatic, carbonyl, and nitrogen compounds; characterization of organic substances by chemical and spectral methods; reaction mechanisms. Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 230-2 laboratory course. 

Prerequisite: Chem 210-1 (C– or better).

CHEM 210-3 – Organic Chemistry

The chemistry of polyfunctional compounds of biological and medicinal interest. Modern organic synthesis, bioorganic chemistry, and recent developments in organic chemistry. Must be taken concurrently with Chem 230-3 lab course. 

Prerequisite: Chem 210-2 and Chem 230-2 (C– or better in both courses).

CHEM 212-1 – Organic Chemistry

Orbitals, structure of molecules, acid-base Chemistry, introduction to spectroscopic techniques for structure elucidation, the chemistry of the carbonyl group, stereochemistry, and conformational analysis. Designed to be taken by chemistry majors, prospective chemistry majors, and ISP students. Must be taken concurrently with Chem 232-1.

Prerequisites: Chem 103-0 and Chem 123-0 *or* Chem 172-0 and Chem 182-0 *or* Chem 152-0 and Chem 162-0 *or* Chem 132-0 and Chem 142-0 (C– or better in all listed courses) *or*  AP Chem 5 *or* IB (HL) 7 enrollment in ISP *or* permission of department by placement exam.

CHEM 212-2 – Organic Chemistry

A continuation of themes and topics explored in Chem 212-1 and builds upon the foundation provided by that course. Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 232-2 laboratory course. 

Prerequisites: Chem 212-1 and Chem 232-1 (C- or better in both courses).

CHEM 212-3 – Organic Chemistry

Pericyclic reactions, functional group participation, rearrangements, fragmentations, radical reactions, synthesis and reactions of carbenes and nitrenes, the synthesis and chemistry of synthetic polymers, and the bioorganic chemistry of carbohydrates, nucleosides, nucleotides, nucleic acids, amino acids, peptides, and lipids.

Prerequisite: Chem 212-2 and Chem 232-2 (C- or better in both courses)

CHEM 220-0 – Introductory Instrumental Analysis

An introduction to basic techniques of instrumental analysis such as gas and high performance liquid chromatography, uv/visible, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, elemental analysis by ICP atomic emission spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and differential scanning calorimetry. You will learn the theories behind these techniques in class lectures and you will learn to operate these instruments and analyze data from them in the lab.

Prerequisite: Chem 103-0 and Chem 123-0 *or* Chem 172-0 and Chem 182-0 *or* Chem 152-0 and Chem 162-0 *or* Chem 132-0 and Chem 142-0 *or* equivalent (C- or better in all listed courses).

CHEM 230-2 – Organic Chemistry Lab

Instruction in experimental techniques of modern organic chemistry emphasizing chemical separations, spectroscopic characterization, and reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkyl halides, alcohols, carbonyls, esters, and aromatic compounds. Must be taken concurrently with Chem 210-2 lecture course.

Prerequisite: Chem 210-1 (C- or better)

CHEM 230-3 – Organic Chemistry Lab

Experimental techniques of modern organic chemistry emphasizing chemical separations, spectroscopic characterization, and reactions such as amide synthesis, Grignard reaction, aldol condensation, Robinson annulation, and Diels-Alder reaction.

Must be taken concurrently with the Chem 210-3 lecture course.

CHEM 232-1 – Organic Chemistry Lab

CHEM 232-2 – Organic Chemistry Lab

For ISP students and (prospective or declared) chemistry majors. Techniques of modern organic chemistry including NMR spectroscopy and reactions such as electrophilic aromatic substitution, esterification, Grignard reaction, aldol condensation, Robinson annulation, and Diels-Alder reaction. Must be taken concurrently with Chem 212-2 lecture course.

Prerequisite: Chem 212-1 and Chem 232-1 (C- or better in both courses)

Title – Course Title

CHEM 105-6 – First-Year Seminar

***First-Year Seminar Courses are Not Open to General Enrollment***

Science Writing for a Non-Technical Audience (Fall 2018; Larry Trzupek)

In this course we will read and discuss works on technical subjects written for a general audience with no special scientific training; the authors we'll be reading include Sam Kean, John McPhee, Don Norman, Richard Rhodes, and Lewis Thomas.

Although the course is not targeted exclusively to science majors, students enrolling in it should have enough of a background in the fundamental sciences to feel comfortable writing about technical topics.

The Chemistry of Food (Fall 2018; Owen Priest)

In The Chemistry of Food we will explore the chemistry and science of nutrition, cooking, food preservation, flavoring, coloring, and aroma. We will explore the science of salt, sugar & high fructose corn syrup, leavening agents, microwaves, proteins, and fats. What is the science behind genetically modified foods and why is it so controversial? What is celiac disease and gluten sensitivity? Is gluten sensitivity real? What does the science say?

Courses Primarily for Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Students

CHEM 301-0 – Principles of Organic Chemistry

An introduction to the field of physical organic chemistry. Topics include bonding and structure, conformational analysis, stereochemistry, acids and bases, reactivity and reaction. Prerequisite: one quarter of physical chemistry; or consent of instructor.

CHEM 302-0 – Principles of Inorganic Chemistry

 This course covers basic concepts in Inorganic Chemistry. It is designed to introduce students in key subjects which are used over and over again in chemistry and uses inorganic chemistry systems to illustrate the concepts. The course covers the donor-acceptor concept, hard-soft acids-bases, advanced concepts of basicity and acidity and acid-base view of salvation phenomena. The course also delves into introductory solid state chemistry including unit cells and the structure of simple solids, structure types and electronic structure and Band Theory (with the aim of understanding properties). 

A certain fraction of the time is also devoted to descriptive chemistry which utilizes the concepts learned in the first part of the course and the focus is generally on main group chemistry. This includes the chemistry of hydrogen and the chemistry of the elements of Group 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.

Taught with Chem 402. Registration by Chemistry Department placement or by permission of the instructor only.

CHEM 303-0 – Principles of Physical Chemistry

An overview of advanced topics in physical chemistry. Taught with 403. Prerequisite: 342-1,2,3; with consent of instructor

CHEM 305-0 – Chemistry of Life Processes

This topics class will cover the physical, inorganic and organic chemistry approaches to understanding biology of the cell. Topics in this overview of chemical biology intracellular signaling and signaling pathways, ligand-receptor interactions, inorganic physiology, post-translational modifications, molecular probe design for biological targets, glycobiology, molecular imaging techniques and translation science. In the second half of the class, students will learn how to prepare, present and evaluate NIH R01 style research proposals.

Prerequisite: Chem 210-3 and 230-3 *or* 212-2 and 232-2 and 1 biochemistry course; or consent of instructor.

Taught with Chem 405. Undergraduates should enroll in Chem 305, unless they are officially completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM 306-0 – Environmental Chemistry

In this course, students will gain a solid understanding of the science, economics, and more importantly the environmental impact associated with various technologies, including, but not limited to natural gas, nuclear, wind, etc. Climate change and the potential impact and mitigation will be considered throughout the course.

Taught with Chem 406. Undergraduates should enroll in Chem 306, unless they are officially completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM 307-0 – Materials and Nanochemistry

Introduction to frontier research at the interface of chemistry and materials science. Taught with 407. Prerequisite: 212-3 or 210-3 and 230-3.

CHEM 308-0 – Design, Synthesis, and Applications of Nanomaterials

Synthesis, characterization, assembly, and physical properties of controlled dimensionality nanomaterials focusing on metals, semiconductors, oxides, and polymers. Topics will include interfacial phenomena and particle stability, nano-forms of carbon, and applications-driven material design.

Prerequisite: Chem 342-1 (Thermodynamics) or consent of instructor.

Taught with Chem 408. Undergraduates should enroll in Chem 308, unless they are officially completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM-309 – Polymer Chemistry

This course will cover the design and synthesis of polymers, including reaction mechanisms, characterization, and structure-property relationships.

Prerequisite: For undergraduates, three quarters of CHEM 210 or 212 are required. At least one of the following courses is highly recommended: CHEM 307/407, CHEM 313/413, CHEM 319/419, CHEM 410, CHEM 412, or CHEM 415.

Taught with Chem 409. Undergraduates should enroll in Chem 309, unless they are officially completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM 313-0 – Advanced Organic Chemistry

Strategies and tactics involved in complex target synthesis. Modern reaction classes as applied to chemical synthesis, coupled to in-depth discussion of the underlying key principles of synthesis design and execution, are covered in the class. Students will gain experience in problem solving, creative thinking, structural analysis and presentation skills.

Taught with Chem 413. Undergraduate students should enroll in Chem 313, unless officially completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM 314-0 – Bioorganic Chemistry

Biosynthetic chemistry as basis for survey of major classes of biomolecules, carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, nucleotides, nucleic acids, and proteins. Current topics in bioorganic chemistry. Prerequisite: 210-3 and 230-3 or, 212-3, or consent of instructor.

CHEM 316-0 – Medicinal Chemistry: The Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Action

This is a survey course designed to show how organic chemistry plays a major role in the design, development, and action of drugs. Although concepts of biology, biochemistry, pharmacy, physiology, and pharmacology will be discussed, it is principally an organic chemistry course with the emphasis on physical interactions and chemical reactions and their mechanisms as applied to biological systems. We will see how drugs are discovered and developed; how they get to their site of action; what happens when they reach the site of action in their interaction with receptors, enzymes, and DNA; how resistance occurs; how the body gets rid of drugs, and what a medicinal chemist can do to avoid having the body eliminate them before they have produced their desired effect. The approaches discussed are those used in the pharmaceutical industry and elsewhere for the discovery of new drugs.

Prerequisite: Chem 210-3 and Chem 230-3 *or* Chem 212-3 *or* consent of instructor.

Taught with Chem 415. Undergraduates should enroll in Chem 316, unless they are officially completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM 319-0 – Advanced Organic Synthesis - Concepts and Applications

The design of synthetic routes to natural products and other medicinally relevant organic compounds will be covered in detail. Retrosynthetic analysis, substructure keying, and pattern recognition, along with other methods for synthetic planning will be discussed within the context of specific case studies. Classic and modern organic reactions, including asymmetric synthesis and catalysis, will be introduced and their application in synthetic planning examined. Case studies will include the synthesis of terpenes, alkaloids, polyketides, steroids, proteins and pharmaceuticals. The end result should be that students are familiar with the important issues associated with synthesis and gain intimate knowledge of a wide variety of chemical reactions. Ultimately, when presented with a given molecule, students should be able to develop a reasonable synthesis plan based on firm ideas and reliable transformations.

Taught with Chem 419. Undergraduates should enroll in Chem 319, unless they are completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM 329-0 – Analytical Chemistry

Principles and applications of analytical methods, with emphasis on advanced separation science, dynamic electrochemistry, and advanced mass spectrometry. No P/N registration. Prerequisites: 342-1 or -2.

CHEM 333-0 – Inorganic Chemistry

A contemporary course covering the diverse field of inorganic chemistry including all the elements of the periodic table. Topics include current concepts and models of chemical bonding, reactivity, structure, and properties of inorganic compounds.

Prerequisites: 2 units of 200- or 300-level chemistry.

CHEM 342-1 – Thermodynamics

Laws of thermodynamics, thermochemistry, chemical potentials, and solution thermodynamics.

Prerequisites: Chem 103 and Chem 123 *or* Chem 132 and Chem 142 *or* Chem 152 and Chem 162 *or* Chem 172 and Chem 182 (C- or better in all listed classes); Math 230; Physics 135-1,2 (students may take Physics 135-2 concurrently).

CHEM 342-2 – Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy

This course is an introduction to quantum mechanics and includes applications in spectroscopy. Topics to be covered include: The wave equation (the transition from classical to quantum mechanics), the Schrodinger equation, particle-in-a-box models, QM operators, the postulates of QM, the harmonic oscillator and rigid rotor, the hydrogen atom, multi-electron atoms, and approximate methods for solving the Schroedinger equation.

Prerequisites: Math 230 (234 recommended also); Physics 135-1,2.

CHEM 342-3 – Kinetics and Statistical Thermodynamics

This course connects macroscopic properties (342-1) to molecular properties (342-2). The topics include the Boltzmann distribution, partition functions, distribution functions, macroscopic properties, theories for kinetics, and experimental methods.

Prerequisites: Chem 342-1 and Chem 342-2.

CHEM 348-0 – Physical Chemistry for ISP

Gas laws and properties; kinetic theory; first, second, and third laws; phase equilibria; mixtures, phase diagrams, statistical thermodynamics, kinetics.

Prerequisites: ISP enrollment; Chem 172 and Chem 182; Math 281-1,2,3; or consent of department.

CHEM 350-1 – Advanced Laboratory 1

Chemistry 350-1,2,3 is a full-year, 3-quarter laboratory course intended to be taken by all students in the junior year of the chemistry major program.

Roughly half of the Chem 350-1 course deals with the advanced analytical techniques mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. The rest of this course deals with advanced techniques of synthetic organic chemistry, but you will be expected to use mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy, as well as the techniques of IR and UV/visible spectroscopy that you have learned previously, to characterize the compounds that you synthesize.

Prerequisites: Chem 220 and Chem 212-3 or equivalent.

CHEM 350-2 – Advanced Laboratory 2

Advanced techniques of synthetic inorganic chemistry including synthesis of zeolites, MOFs, and bioinorganic compounds and use of a Schlenk line. In addition, you will learn instrumental analysis techniques relevant to analysis of samples in materials chemistry. These techniques will include X-ray crystallography, solid state NMR spectroscopy, electrochemistry, atomic spectroscopy, and a variety of polymer characterization techniques (MALDI-TOF MS, NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, DSC). Some of these analytical techniques may be used to analyze the inorganic samples you prepare in the course.

Prerequisites: Chem 333 and Chem 350-1 or equivalent; Chem 342-2 co-requisite.

CHEM 350-3 – Advanced Laboratory 3

 The third course in the 350 sequence covers the very important topic of spectroscopy from a physical chemistry point of view. It deals with the use of various spectroscopic techniques (FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, uv/visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy) for structure determination of gas and liquid phase molecules and for kinetics measurements. In addition, you will be asked to design and carry out a 4-week research project at the end of the quarter based on some aspect of course material in the entire Chem 350 sequence.

Prerequisites: Chem 342-2 or equivalent and Chem 350-2; Chem 342-3 or Chem 348 co-requisite.

CHEM 360-0 – Nanoscale Patterning: Top-down Meets Bottom-up

Introduction to current problems in nanoscale science and technology; hands-on experience with nanoscale characterization tools and bench-top nanoscale experiments. With laboratory. Prerequisite: Chem 103-0 and Chem 123-0 *or* Chem 172-0 and Chem 182-0 *or* Chem 152-0 and Chem 162-0 *or* Chem 132-0 and Chem 142-0 *or* equivalent.

CHEM 380-0 – Cooperative Chemistry Education

Participation in approved industrial work experience away from the campus. No credit; no tuition. Prerequisite: consent of department.

CHEM 393-0 – Green Chemistry

Green chemistry is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. This also encompasses the reduction of energy consumption during the aforementioned processes. Green chemistry can be thought to span the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, use, and ultimate disposal. 

This class will seek to develop a broad view on green chemistry, with focus on exploring the economic, health and regulatory considerations which make it a multi-billion dollar enterprise. An emphasis on practical real-world scenarios (case studies) that provide us guidance in making better socially conscience decisions will be made. The course can be viewed primarily as being concerned with the philosophy of chemistry as dictated by our modern world in the 21st Century.

Prerequisite: Chem 210-3 and Chem 230-3 *or* Chem 212-3 (C- or better in all listed courses).

CHEM 398-0 – Undergraduate Seminar

Advanced work for superior students through supervised reading, research, and discussion. Prerequisite: consent of department.

CHEM 399-0 – Independent Study

Faculty-directed research. Must be taken P/N for first 2 quarters. Prerequisite: consent of department.

CHEM 402-0 – Principles of Inorganic Chemistry

 This course covers basic concepts in Inorganic Chemistry. It is designed to introduce students in key subjects which are used over and over again in chemistry and uses inorganic chemistry systems to illustrate the concepts. The course covers the donor-acceptor concept, hard-soft acids-bases, advanced concepts of basicity and acidity and acid-base view of salvation phenomena. The course also delves into introductory solid state chemistry including unit cells and the structure of simple solids, structure types and electronic structure and Band Theory (with the aim of understanding properties). 

A certain fraction of the time is also devoted to descriptive chemistry which utilizes the concepts learned in the first part of the course and the focus is generally on main group chemistry. This includes the chemistry of hydrogen and the chemistry of the elements of Group 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.

Taught with Chem 302. Registration by Chemistry Department placement or by permission of the instructor only.

CHEM 403-0 – Principles of Physical Chemistry

This course is a brief survey of the main topics in physical chemistry, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, statistical thermodynamics, and kinetics. The course is intended for first-year graduate students in Chemistry. Consent of the instructor is required for undergraduate students and graduate students in other departments. Registration by Chemistry Department placement or by permission of the instructor only.

CHEM 405-0 – Chemistry of Life Processes

This topics class will cover the physical, inorganic and organic chemistry approaches to understanding biology of the cell. Topics in this overview of chemical biology intracellular signaling and signaling pathways, ligand-receptor interactions, inorganic physiology, post-translational modifications, molecular probe design for biological targets, glycobiology, molecular imaging techniques and translation science. In the second half of the class, students will learn how to prepare, present and evaluate NIH R01 style research proposals.

Taught with Chem 305. Undergraduates should enroll in Chem 305, unless they are officially completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM 406-0 – Environmental Chemistry

In this course, students will gain a solid understanding of the science, economics, and more importantly the environmental impact associated with various technologies, including, but not limited to natural gas, nuclear, wind, etc. Climate change and the potential impact and mitigation will be considered throughout the course.

Taught with Chem 306. Undergraduates should enroll in Chem 306, unless they are officially completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM 408-0 – Design, Synthesis, and Applications of Nanomaterials

Synthesis, characterization, assembly, and physical properties of controlled dimensionality nanomaterials focusing on metals, semiconductors, oxides, and polymers. Topics will include interfacial phenomena and particle stability, nano-forms of carbon, and applications-driven material design.

Taught with Chem 308. Undergraduates should enroll in Chem 308, unless they are officially completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM-409 – Polymer Chemistry

This course will cover the design and synthesis of polymers, including reaction mechanisms, characterization, and structure-property relationships.

Prerequisite: For undergraduates, three quarters of CHEM 210 or 212 are required. At least one of the following courses is highly recommended: CHEM 307/407, CHEM 313/413, CHEM 319/419, CHEM 410, CHEM 412, or CHEM 415.

Taught with Chem 309. Undergraduates should enroll in Chem 309, unless they are officially completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM 410-0 – Physical Organic Chemistry

Modern topics in physical organic chemistry, while emphasizing the relationship between structure and reactivity. Topics to be covered are molecular orbital theory, orbital symmetry and reactivity, stereoelectronic effects, transition state theory, electron transfer, free energy relationships, nucleophilic and electrophilic reactivity, kinetic isotope effects, and basic photochemistry.

CHEM 411-0 – Organic Spectroscopy

Introduction to principles and practice of organic and inorganic synthetic compound characterization by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). Topics include NMR instrument operation, spectra interpretation, 2-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, MS ionization and detection schemes, gas chromatography MS, liquid chromatography MS and ionization. The lab component of this class focuses on operations of instrumentation, software tools available in the Integrated Molecular Structure Education and Research Center (IMSERC) and tailoring analytical schemes based on individual research projects.

CHEM 412-0 – Organometallic Reaction Mechanisms

Elucidation of organic and organometallic reaction mechanisms: experiment, theory, and selected case studies.

CHEM 413-0 – Organic Reactions

Strategies and tactics involved in complex target synthesis. Modern reaction classes as applied to chemical synthesis, coupled to in-depth discussion of the underlying key principles of synthesis design and execution, are covered in the class. Students will gain experience in problem solving, creative thinking, structural analysis and writing techniques.

Taught with Chem 313. Undergraduate students should enroll in Chem 313, unless officially completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM 415-0 – Advanced Organic Chemistry

The emergence of the mechanical bond during the past 25 years is giving chemistry a fillip in more ways than one. While its arrival on the scene is already impacting materials science and molecular nanotechnology, it is also providing a new lease of life to chemical synthesis where mechanical bond formation occurs as a consequence of the all-important templation orchestrated by molecular recognition and self-assembly processes. The way in which covalent bond formation activates noncovalent bonding interactions, switching on molecular recognition that leads to self-assembly and the template-directed synthesis of mechanically interlocked moleculesof which the so-called catenanes and rotaxanes may be regarded as the prototypeshas introduced a level of integration into chemical synthesis that has not previously been attained. The challenge now is to carry this level of integration beyond relatively small molecules into the realms of precisely functionalized extended molecular structures and aggregated superstructures that perform functions in a collective manner as the key sources of instruction, activation and performance in multi-component integrated devices. In this course I will propose the adoption of the term mechanostereochemistry to describe the rapidly emerging area of chemical science where components of molecules and extended structures are mechanically interlocked or sterically encumbered in such a manner that the components interact dynamically with one another as a result of a panoply of weak noncovalent bonds and/or as a consequence of dynamic coordinative or covalent bonds. Mechanostereochemistry is the stereochemistry of molecules with mechanical bonds. The practice of mechanostereochemistry can be seen to have both a creative aspect (molecular recognition, self-assembly, templation, etc.) and a functional role (relative movements of components, switching, self-energizing, etc.) associated with its territory. Both the creative aspect and the functional role are dynamic in nature and ultimately molecular in context. The conundrum facing the wider chemical community at present is to unravel how to get from relatively small, yet highly programmable molecules to contraptions and gadgets that do something useful in the real world. Suggested Reading : "Big and Little Meccano" Tetrahedron 2008, 64, 8231-8263.

CHEM 415-0 – Medicinal Chemistry: the Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Action

This is a survey course designed to show how organic chemistry plays a major role in the design, development, and action of drugs. Although concepts of biology, biochemistry, pharmacy, physiology, and pharmacology will be discussed, it is principally an organic chemistry course with the emphasis on physical interactions and chemical reactions and their mechanisms as applied to biological systems. We will see how drugs are discovered and developed; how they get to their site of action; what happens when they reach the site of action in their interaction with receptors, enzymes, and DNA; how resistance occurs; how the body gets rid of drugs, and what a medicinal chemist can do to avoid having the body eliminate them before they have produced their desired effect. The approaches discussed are those used in the pharmaceutical industry and elsewhere for the discovery of new drugs.

Prerequisite: Chem 210-3 and Chem 230-3 *or* Chem 212-3 *or* consent of instructor.

Taught with Chem 316. Undergraduates should enroll in Chem 316, unless they are officially completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM 415-0 – Organic Nanomaterials

The materials science and chemistry of soft nanomaterials for myriad applications including nanomedicine. Preparative and synthetic approaches to organized, assembled, discrete nanomaterials will be described. Course will include an in depth discussion of advanced characterization techniques and strategies for this class of material. 

The class covers techniques for preparing and characterizing complex nanomaterials mostly generated from polymers. The course will include a brief summary of synthetic approaches to designed, engineered polymers and how to access precision materials at the nanoscale from these polymers. A large portion of the class will include exciting new developments in the characterization of these materials including scattering methods and advanced electron microscopy including liquid phase and cryogenic TEM. 

Prerequisites: Chem 210-1 or Mat Sci 331

Co-listed with Mat Sci 395 and BMD ENG 395

CHEM 416-0 – Practical Training in Chemical Biology Methods and Experimental Design

By the end of this course you will expected to have obtained a general understanding of many commonly used measurement techniques available to augment research at Northwestern. It features two weeks of classroom-based instruction on experimental design and analysis; supplemented by NIH Rigor And Reproducibility Training Modules. This overview will be followed by a combination of lectures and labs addressing a broad range of analytical techniques and imaging methods. These lessons will then be applied to inquiry-based learning in Northwestern's advanced instrumentation cores. In addition to lecture, students are expected to devise two Mini-Research Projects and will work on one of these with senior staff to apply specific services and protocols utilizing instrumentation available within Research Cores and University Centers. Students will design specific experiments in selected areas of their interest, and learn new sample preparation methods and instrumentation within one of the following areas: mass spectrometry; proteomics, in vivo and molecular imaging, small molecule synthesis and purification; high-throughput screening, x-ray crystallography, and analysis of bioelements. Material generated in the class counts for course credit will be usable in research group settings.

ChEM 419-0 – Advanced Organic Synthesis - Concepts and Applications

The design of synthetic routes to natural products and other medicinally relevant organic compounds will be covered in detail. Retrosynthetic analysis, substructure keying, and pattern recognition, along with other methods for synthetic planning will be discussed within the context of specific case studies. Classic and modern organic reactions, including asymmetric synthesis and catalysis, will be introduced and their application in synthetic planning examined. Case studies will include the synthesis of terpenes, alkaloids, polyketides, steroids, proteins and pharmaceuticals. The end result should be that students are familiar with the important issues associated with synthesis and gain intimate knowledge of a wide variety of chemical reactions. Ultimately, when presented with a given molecule, students should be able to develop a reasonable synthesis plan based on firm ideas and reliable transformations.

Taught with Chem 319. Undergraduates should enroll in Chem 319, unless they are completing the BA/MS program.

CHEM 432-0 – X-Ray Crystallography

This class focuses on structure determination by X-Ray Crystallography. The course will include lectures on crystallographic theory applied on single-crystals and powders as well as hands-on experience with instrumentation, structure solution, and refinement software. Students will be asked to provide single-crystal samples from their own research or from their research groups for in-class analysis.

Enrollment by instructor permission only.

CHEM 433-0 – Structural Inorganic Chemistry

Chemical applications of group theory and the determination of inorganic and organic molecular and extended structures by modern physical techniques.

CHEM 434-0 – Inorganic Chemistry

This course will be focused on magnetism and electronic structure of transition metal complexes. By the end of the course students will learn how to acquire and interpret magnetic data for transition metal complexes. The primary focus of the course will be molecular species.

CHEM 435-0 – Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: Chemical Structure and Bonding

This purpose of this course is to present a number of topics that highlight the influence of electronic structure in coordination compounds on determining molecular and solid-state structure, bonding, reactivity, and magnetic behavior. Of particular focus are topics not commonly covered in upper-division undergraduate inorganic courses, especially those relevant to areas of active chemical research. Much of the content and examples will be taken directly from the primary chemistry literature. The first approximately 60% of the course will be comprised of lectures, with the remainder involving short critical literature review student presentations.

CHEM 435-0 – Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: Solid State and Materials

CHEM 442-1 – Quantum Chemistry

This course is intended to establish the foundations of quantum mechanics at the graduate level.

*Topics Covered*

•  Two-slit experiment
• Stern-Gerlach experiment
• State space
• Operators and observables
• Matrix representation
• Angular momentum
• Heisenberg equation of motion
• Density matrix
• Liouville equation
• Harmonic oscillator (classical and quantum)
• Generalized two-level system
• Second quantization
• Quantum statistical mechanics
• Special topics (if time allows)

CHEM 442-2 – Quantum Chemistry

This course covers two topics: molecular electronic structure theory and time dependent quantum mechanics. Included are applications to molecular optical properties, to the interaction of radiation and matter, to scattering theory and to time-dependent spectroscopy.

CHEM 443-0 – Kinetics and Spectroscopy

The first part of the course focuses on a practical approach to chemical kinetics and dynamics. It will briefly review basic rate laws and rate laws for complex reactions, temperature dependence of reaction rates as well as their chemical applications. The second part of the course focuses on spectroscopic methods in solving chemical kinetics and dynamics problems, with fundamental concepts on the interaction of light and matter, the core process in various spectroscopic methods. This is an advanced graduate level course on a special topic, which implies that one will study the materials in a research-like atmosphere and will read and critique the literature. The prerequisite of the course are some quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics and fundamental spectroscopy knowledge, and some basic calculus and linear algebra skills. 

CHEM 444-0 – Elementary Statistical Mechanics

chem-445-0 – Advanced Physical and Analytical Chemistry

CHEM 445-0 – Analytical Chemistry

Principles and applications of analytical methods, with emphasis on advanced separation science, dynamic electrochemistry, and advanced mass spectrometry.

CHEM 445-0 – Advanced Physical Chemistry: Modern Spectroscopy

No description available.

CHEM 448-0 – Computational Chemistry

The aim of this course is to study the application of modern computer technology, in combination with theoretical chemistry methods, to molecular problems. 

CHEM 460-0 – Organic Chemistry Seminar

No description available.

CHEM 461-0 – Physical Chemistry Seminar

No description available.

CHEM 463-0 – Inorganic Chemistry Seminar

No description available.

CHEM 519-0 – Responsible Conduct of Research Training

No description available.

CHEM 570-0 – Chemistry Colloquium

No description available.

Graduate-level Courses Available to Undergraduates

CHEM 401-0 – Principles of Organic Chemistry

An accelerated one quarter course in organic chemistry (without laboratory) intended for graduate students in chemistry and related fields needing a working knowledge of the principles of organic chemistry. Topics include structure and reactions of organic molecules and an introduction to the strategy of organic synthesis. These topics approximately parallel those covered in Chemistry 212-1,2. This course may also be appropriate for graduate students or advanced undergraduates in other fields of science and engineering having little or no prior course work in organic chemistry. This course is not appropriate for Northwestern undergraduates who have completed Chemistry 210-1,2 or 212-1,2. Registration by Chemistry Department placement or by permission of the instructor only

CHEM 407-0 – Materials and Nanochemistry

This course introduces first year graduate students and seniors in chemistry to the field of materials and nanotechnology focusing on synthetic methods to create materials and nanostructures with specific functions. Following an introduction that defines "materials" and "nanoscience", the course covers specific synthetic strategies and methodologies. The first topic covered is polymerization chemistry, starting with basic principles followed by the most advanced methods known to synthesize polymers such as living free radical reactions, ring opening methathesis polymerization, recombinant DNA synthesis of polymers, and supramolecular noncovalent polymers. This is followed by topics in selfassembly of materials and nanostructures including liquid crystals, gels, self-assembly of amphiphiles, self-assembling monolayers, layer-by-layer assemblies, and colloidal crystals. The last third of the course covers chemical synthesis of ceramics, and synthesis of nanomaterials such as quantum dots, metal nanoparticles, graphene, and carbon nanotubes.

CHEM 415-0 – Advanced Organic Chemistry

The materials science and chemistry of soft nanomaterials for myriad applications including nanomedicine. Preparative and synthetic approaches to organized, assembled, discrete nanomaterials will be described. Course will include an in depth discussion of advanced characterization techniques and strategies for this class of material. 

The class covers techniques for preparing and characterizing complex nanomaterials mostly generated from polymers. The course will include a brief summary of synthetic approaches to designed, engineered polymers and how to access precision materials at the nanoscale from these polymers. A large portion of the class will include exciting new developments in the characterization of these materials including scattering methods and advanced electron microscopy including liquid phase and cryogenic TEM. 

Prerequisites: Chem 210-1 or Mat Sci 331

Co-listed with Mat Sci 395 and BMD ENG 395

CHEM 415-0 – Bio-Organic Chemistry

The aim of this course is to make students familiar with the recent developments in the field of chemical biology. This is a relatively new field of science that transcends the areas of chemistry, biology, and drug discovery. The major dogma in this field is to use principles of chemistry to provide answers to fundamental questions in biology and human medicine. Particular emphasis in this field is placed on designing drug-like molecules (precursors to FDA drugs) and chemical reaction and use those molecules/reactions to study basic biological processes. These approaches are particularly powerful in the cases when standard biological techniques such as gene-knock out and RNAi to study biology do not work. The knowledge obtained during these studies is then directly translated into the drug discovery process, to produce new human medicines. The course introduces students into a wide variety of experimental techniques and control experiments using in the area of chemical biology. This course is suited for graduate students, as well as undergraduate students majoring in chemistry, chemical and biological engineering, biomedical engineering, and biology.

CHEM 435/445 – Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: Chemistry of Alternate Energy (co-listed as) Advanced Physical Chemistry: Chemistry of Alternate Energy

The course will cover fundamental aspects of light-to-electrical energy conversion, light-to-chemical energy conversion, molecular hydrogen as a potentially renewable fuel source, carbon dioxide capture and transformation, and related concepts, chiefly from a chemistry and materials perspective. Emphasis will be placed on promising emerging science and technology, including that associated with organic photovoltaics, solid-state dye cells, and photo-catalytic and electro-catalytic materials for water splitting. Depending on interest, other topics such as thermoelectrics, thermal-solar water splitting, biofuels, or redox flow batteries and other electrical energy storage technologies may be discussed. The course will be taught at the beginning-graduate-student/upper-level-undergraduate-student level.