DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

**College Seminar Courses are Not Open to General Enrollment**

Science and the Scientist: The essence and impact of Chemistry research (Fall 2025; Veronica Berns)

In this seminar, we will delve into the world of chemistry research, exploring not only the processes that unfold within the laboratory but also the key decision-makers driving innovation. Through engaging readings, discussions, and presentations, you will have the opportunity to meet some of the chemists at Northwestern who illuminate their methodologies in tackling significant questions about our world. This course also emphasizes the importance of effective scientific communication. Whether articulating the nuanced technicalities of an experiment to peers or elucidating the broader implications of a study to the public, adept communication is indispensable for scientists. You will sharpen your communication skills, tailoring scientific narratives to suit diverse audiences and to achieve various objectives.

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

Students who have taken AP or IB Chemistry courses are not eligible for this sequence.

Prerequisite: permission of department via Initial Chemistry Assessment. 

Please contact chemhelp@northwestern.edu regarding permission and/or access to the Initial Chemistry Assessment. 

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

Students who have taken AP or IB Chemistry courses are not eligible for this sequence.

Prerequisite: permission of department via Initial Chemistry Assessment. 

Please contact chemhelp@northwestern.edu regarding permission and/or access to the Initial Chemistry Assessment. 

Quantum mechanics, electronic structure, periodic properties of elements, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, gas laws, intermolecular forces, properties of solids and liquids, solutions and colligative properties. Must be taken concurrently with the CHEM 161-0 laboratory course. 

Prerequisite: permission of department via Initial Chemistry Assessment. 

Please contact chemhelp@northwestern.edu regarding permission and/or access to the Initial Chemistry Assessment

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 151-0 lecture course.

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 151-0 lecture course.

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.

Foundational concepts in organic chemistry will be introduced. Topics include structure and properties of common functional groups, acidity/basicity, conformational analysis, stereochemistry, and reactivity of organic compounds.

Prerequisite: 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* permission of department by placement exam. Must be taken concurrently with CHEM 235-1.

Foundational concepts in organic chemistry will be introduced. Topics include structure and properties of common functional groups, acidity/basicity, conformational analysis, stereochemistry, and reactivity of organic compounds.

Prerequisite: 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* permission of department by placement exam. Must be taken concurrently with CHEM 235-1.

Primarily for chemistry majors and students in ISP. Basic concepts of structure, stereochemistry, and reactivity of organic compounds. The chemistry of hydrocarbons and alcohols. Must be taken concurrently with CHEM 237-1.

Prerequisites: 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* permission of department by placement exam. Students may not receive credit for both CHEM 217-1 and 212-1.

Standard laboratory techniques in organic chemistry will be covered. Techniques will focus on the isolation and purification of organic compounds as well as the use of spectroscopic methods to determine identity and purity.

Prerequisite:  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* permission of department by placement exam. Must be taken concurrently with CHEM 215-1.

Standard laboratory techniques in organic chemistry will be covered. Techniques will focus on the isolation and purification of organic compounds as well as the use of spectroscopic methods to determine identity and purity.

Prerequisite:  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* permission of department by placement exam. Must be taken concurrently with CHEM 215-1.

Primarily for chemistry majors and students in ISP. Molecular modeling, unknown identification by spectroscopic methods, and experimental techniques of modern chemistry emphasizing reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkyl halides, alcohols, and carbonyls. Must be taken concurrently with CHEM 217-1.

This course introduces first year graduate students and undergraduates in chemistry to supramolecular design of materials and nanostructures. The course focuses on the synthetic methods and basic physical principles needed to create functional materials and nanomaterials for useful applications. After a general introduction, the first area covered is the synthesis of molecularly precise polymers using techniques such as living anionic and free radical reactions, atom transfer, metathesis, and recombinant synthesis of artificial proteins. This is followed by topics in self-assembly strategies to create materials using supramolecular chemistry to design interactions among their components. This section includes supramolecular polymerization, molecular design of liquid crystals, superlattices through molecular self-sorting, metal organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, colloidal crystals, gels, and layer-by-layer assemblies. The third section of the course covers design of functional nanostructures through self-assembly of amphiphiles, sol-gel chemistry, organic monolayers, quantum dot and metal nanoparticle assemblies, and carbon nanostructure systems such as graphene and nanotubes.

Prerequisite: CHEM 215-3 or CHEM 212-3 or CHEM 217-3.

Taught with CHEM 407. Undergraduates should enroll in CHEM 307, unless they are officially completing the BA/MS program.

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. Prerequisites: CHEM 215-3 or CHEM 212-3 or CHEM 217-3 (C- or better).

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

This class covers the following topics: Laws of thermodynamics, thermochemistry, chemical potentials, and solution thermodynamics.

Prerequisites: 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 230-1; PHYSICS 135-1/136-1 and PHYSICS 135-2/136-2 (students may take Physics 135-2 concurrently).

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.

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 215-1 or MSE 331 or equivalent

Co-listed with MSE 444 and BMD ENG 444

The aim of this course is to provide graduate students with an intuitive understanding of quantum mechanics in preparation of advanced quantum chemistry courses and their research. Basic topics will be covered such as the Schrödinger equation, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, operators, and commutation relations, and simple quantum systems will be solved using analytical techniques. A basic understanding of algebra and differential equations is required. Throughout this course, an emphasis will be put on how the quantum mechanical concepts are related to one another, as well as to everyday classical phenomena.

The goal of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training is for researchers to perform the most ethical research possible. RCR training is critical to prepare undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers for ethical challenges that may arise when conducting research. RCR is mandatory for all Department of Chemistry researchers. Undergraduate researchers are required to complete the on-line course only.