University of Delaware
Graduate Catalog 1996-1997
College of Arts and Science
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course Descriptions
CHEM 502 Environmental Chemistry 3
Chemical principles underlying and analytical tools employed in air and
water pollution, the greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion, waste
disposal and recycling, energy conservation, and other selected
environmental topics.
PREREQ: An undergraduate level Chemistry or Calculus course.
RESTRICTIONS: Open to Environmental Science graduate students.
CHEM 527 Introductory Biochemistry 3
A one-semester survey of the fundamentals of biochemistry.
PREREQ: CHEM322 or CHEM332.
RESTRICTIONS: For undergraduate majors in biology and chemistry,
graduate students in agriculture, biology, nutrition, marine sciences
and engineering not using biochemistry professionally. BISC103 or
BISC207 strongly recommended.
CHEM 610 History of Chemistry 3
A survey of the development of chemistry. Use made of the UNIDEL
Collection of Rare Books in the History of Chemistry.
PREREQ: General Chemistry.
CHEM 620 Analytical Spectroscopy 3
Experimental aspects of electronic and vibrational spectroscopy. Linear
and nonlinear optics; photon counting; Fourier transformation; and
topics from the current literature.
PREREQ: CHEM437 and CHEM438.
CHEM 621 Chemical Separations 2
Fundamental description of chemical separations. Zone broadening and
separation efficiency; and chemistry of separations. Application of
fundamental principles to chromatography, electrophoresis, field-flow
fractionation and newly emerging techniques.
PREREQ: CHEM437 and CHEM438.
CHEM 622 Electroanalytical Chemistry 3
Analytical applications of electrochemistry: dynamic and steady-state
methods of potentiometry, coulometry, voltammetry, and ancillary
techniques.
RESTRICTIONS: Requires Senior or graduate status in chemistry. Offered
in Fall of even-numbered years.
CHEM 623 Chemometrics 3
Provides chemists with an introduction to modern methods of reducing and
analyzing chemical data using computers. Covers probability and simple
statistics, optimization methods, pattern recognition, factor analysis,
regression, time series analysis of chemical data and data
transformation methods.
PREREQ: CHEM437.
CHEM 624 Interpretation of Mass Spectra 1
Molecular ions and elemental composition from precise mass and isotopic
ratios. Fragmentation mechanisms and the correlations of electron
ionization mass spectra with molecular structure.
RESTRICTIONS: Requires Junior, Senior or graduate status in
chemistry/biochemistry.
CHEM 625 Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry 1
Analytical applications of ion/molecule reactions. Mechanisms and
thermochemical kinetics of gaseous ionic reactions. Correlations of
spectra with molecular structure. Atmospheric pressure ionization mass
spectrometry.
RESTRICTIONS: Requires Junior, Senior or graduate status in
chemistry/biochemistry.
CHEM 626 Instrumental Methods in Mass Spectrometry 2
Experimental techniques in analytical mass spectrometry: ionization
methods mass analyzers, tandem mass spectrometry, coupled
chromatographic methods and applications.
RESTRICTIONS: Requires Senior or graduate status in chemistry.
CHEM 627 Practical Mass Spectrometry 1
Instrumentation and experiments in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor. CHEM624 recommended as
Coreq. or Prereq.
CHEM 633 Advanced Organic Chemistry: Physical 3
Sterochemistry and reactivity of organic compounds; and reaction
mechanisms, structure and bonding.
PREREQ: CHEM332.
CHEM 634 Advanced Organic Chemistry: Synthesis and Reactivity 3
Reactions of organic compounds, with emphasis on synthetic methods.
PREREQ: CHEM332.
CHEM 641 Biochemistry 3
Structure and function of proteins, enzymes and coenzymes; carbohydrate
metabolism and its regulation; and citric acid cycle.
PREREQ: CHEM322 or CHEM332.
CHEM 642 Biochemistry 3
Intermediary metabolism of lipids, amino acids, purines and pyrimidines;
nucleic acid chemistry; protein and nucleic acid synthesis; molecular
basis of genetic regulation; and selected topics.
PREREQ: CHEM641.
CHEM 643 Intermediary Metabolism 3
General principles of intermediary metabolism with emphasis on
biosynthetic pathways of amino acids, nucleotides, coenzymes,
antibiotics and toxic secondary metabolites.
PREREQ: CHEM642.
CHEM 644 Mechanisms of Enzyme Catalysis 3
Detailed chemical mechanism of enzyme catalysis for several
representatives. Emphasis on kinetic and physical organic methods.
PREREQ: CHEM641.
CHEM 645 Mechanisms of Enzyme Regulation 3
Mechanisms of regulation of enzymes are considered with emphasis on
models for allosteric regulation, role of association-dissociation
reactions and enzyme-catalyzed covalent modification. Modern
experimentation approaches are discussed with examples taken from the
recent literature.
PREREQ: CHEM641.
CHEM 647 Biochemical Evolution 3
The origins and evolution of life as reconstructed from geochemical,
biochemical and genetic evidence.
PREREQ: CHEM642 or CHEM527.
CHEM 648 Membrane Biochemistry 3
Recent advances in the structure and function of biomembranes and
related model systems, with particular reference to molecular and
physiochemical mechanisms.
PREREQ: CHEM527 or CHEM641.
CHEM 649 Protein Biochemistry 3
Addresses the current level of understanding of protein structure,
stability and reactions, both in vitro and in vivo. Readings in textbook
and reference literature, lectures and case studies.
PREREQ: CHEM641.
CHEM 651 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I 3
Inorganic chemistry: application of the principles of structure and
reactivity, examples from compounds of both the representative elements
and the transition metals.
PREREQ: CHEM444 and CHEM457.
CHEM 652 Organometallic Chemistry 3
Chemistry of carbon to transition-metal bonds beginning with rules
governing structure and stability; effects of metal and ancillary ligand
environment; general mechanistic steps; NMR and IR spectroscopy;
fluxional processes. Followed by applications in homogeneous catalysis
and stoichiometric organic synthesis.
PREREQ: CHEM444 and CHEM457.
CHEM 654 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II 3
A group theoretical approach to structure and bonding in inorganic
compounds.
PREREQ: CHEM444 and CHEM457.
CHEM 655 Marine Inorganic Chemistry 3
See MAST850 for course description.
CHEM 671 Quantum Chemistry 3
Basic principles and methods of quantum theory including wave mechanics
of simple systems, angular momentum and the hydrogen atom, and
approximate methods applied to atomic and molecular structure.
PREREQ: CHEM444.
CHEM 672 Spectroscopy 3
Application of quantum theory to the interpretation of absorption and
emission spectra in terms of atomic and molecular properties.
PREREQ: CHEM671.
CHEM 674 Chemical Dynamics 3
Experimental methods in chemical kinetics, rate laws and mechanisms,
statistical and dynamical theories of reaction rates, and applications
of the principles and techniques of kinetics to a variety of systems.
PREREQ: CHEM444.
CHEM 677 Chemical Thermodynamics 3
The elements of classical and statistical thermodynamics and their
application to chemical problems.
PREREQ: CHEM443.
CHEM 680 Introductory Polymer Science 3
Provides a broad foundation in the basic concepts of polymer science,
including synthesis, physical structures and phase transitions,
structure/property relationships, material properties, characterization
methods and current trends in polymer technology.
PREREQ: CHEM322 or CHEM332; and CHEM419 or CHEM444.
CHEM 820 Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry 1-3
Advanced topics in analytical methods and techniques from the current
literature.
PREREQ: CHEM620, CHEM621, CHEM622 or CHEM623.
RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.
CHEM 830 Special Topics in Organic Chemistry 1-3
Topics from natural product chemistry (alkaloids, terpenes, steroids),
organic nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, alicyclic and heterocyclic
compounds, stereochemistry, organometallic chemistry, photochemistry and
theoretical organic chemistry.
PREREQ: CHEM634.
RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.
CHEM 840 Modern Topics in Biochemistry 1-3
Detailed examination of a number of problems of current research
interest in biochemistry.
PREREQ: CHEM641.
RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.
CHEM 850 Special Topics in Inorganic Chemistry 1-3
Advanced topics selected from the chemistry of the less common elements,
metal hydrides, organometallic compounds and coordination compounds.
PREREQ: CHEM651.
RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.
CHEM 855 Marine Inorganic Chemistry 3
See MAST850 for course description.
CHEM 865 Seminar 0 PF
CHEM 868 Research 1-9
CHEM 869 Master's Thesis 1-6
CHEM 871 Statistical Thermodynamics 3
Applications of statistical mechanics to chemical problems.
RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor.
CHEM 874 Special Topics in Physical Chemistry 1-3
RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor. May be repeated for
credit when topics vary.
CHEM 964 Pre-Candidacy Study 3-12 PF
Research and readings in preparation of dissertation topic and/or
qualifying examinations for doctoral students before admission to
candidacy but after completion of all required course work.
RESTRICTIONS: Not open to students who have been admitted to candidacy.
CHEM 969 Doctoral Dissertation 1-12 PF
UNIV 895 Master's Sustaining: Non-Thesis 0 PF
UNIV 899 Master's Sustaining: Thesis 0 PF
UNIV 999 Doctoral Sustaining 0 PF