CHEMISTRY

Professors: David L. Beveridge, Philip H. Bolton (Chair), M. Gilbert Burford (Emeritus), Albert J. Fry, Peter A. Jacobi, Stewart E. Novick, George A. Petersson, Rex F. Pratt, Wallace C. Pringle, Jr., John W. Sease (Emeritus), Peter S. Wharton

Associate Professors: Joseph W. Bruno, Joseph L. Knee

Assistant Professor: T. David Westmoreland

Adjunct Associate Professor: G. Ravishanker (Computing Center)

Research Fellows: Anita Bartoszko-Malik, Richard Beger, Jiasheng Guo, David Kombo, Surat Kumar, Sharon

Parker, Ke Yu Wang, Xian-Man Zhang

Chemistry is the science of molecules. Scientific, medical, and technological phenomena ultimately are understood in terms of molecular structure and interactions. Understanding of chemistry is essential to effective work in all sciences, and some knowledge of chemistry is useful in such fields as law, government, business, and art. Many aspects of our high-technology society can be understood better from the viewpoint of chemistry.

The following are typical important chemical problems: the structure of DNA, the molecular details of the resistance of bacteria to penicillin, the chemistry of air pollution, the synthesis of new molecules that might be expected to have medical applications, the consequences of putting electrons and photons into molecules, the details of what happens as two molecules collide, the fundamental basis of the energies of molecules, and the role of metallic elements in organic chemistry and biochemistry. These are all areas of research by Wesleyan faculty and their undergraduate and graduate co-workers.

The Chemistry Department at Wesleyan University meets the needs of non-science majors, chemistry majors, and other science majors with the following programs:

1. Non-scientists are encouraged to consider Chemistry 117 or Chemistry 141, 142 as part of their program to meet NSM requirements. Chemistry 117 is concerned with the chemistry and technology of energy, water, liquid, and solid wastes, with particular concern for the environment; this course is essentially qualitative in nature. Chemistry 141, 142 is an introduction to chemistry, which includes quantitative material. Chemistry 141 can be taken as a single-semester course toward the NSM requirements and can be taken by students who have had no high school chemistry.

2. Scientists majoring in areas other than chemistry can prepare themselves better for work in their discipline by having a grounding in chemistry, which will enable them to understand molecular phenomena. Chemistry 141, 142, or 143, 144 covers introductory chemistry. The Chemistry 143, 144 sequence, requiring some prior chemistry and calculus, provides a more sophisticated introduction and represents a better preparation for science majors. The Chemistry 141, 142 sequence requires no previous exposure to chemistry or calculus, and emphasizes environmental and biological applications. Chemistry 152, Introductory Chemistry Laboratory, is taken concurrently with Chemistry 142 or 144, in the spring semester. Organic Chemistry (251, 252) normally follows Introductory Chemistry. The laboratory courses, Chem 257, the General Chemistry Laboratory, and Chem 258, the Organic Chemistry Laboratory, are usually taken concurrently with Chem 251, 252. The two courses, Introductory Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, plus the laboratory sequence, Chemistry 152, 257, 258, are required for admission to medical, dental, and veterinary schools.

3. Chemistry majors. Students who anticipate the possibility of majoring in chemistry should, if possible, take Chemistry 143, 144 as freshmen. The program for majors is described in detail below. Students who have scores of 4 or 5 in the Chemistry Advanced Placement Examination should consult with the department about the possibility of advanced placement in Organic Chemistry or, in exceptional circumstances, in Physical Chemistry.

4. Biochemistry. A student whose interest in biochemistry arises from a desire to understand biological systems at the molecular level may choose to study biochemistry as a chemistry major. The chemistry major program offers excellent preparation for career opportunities or advanced work in biochemistry. Students interested in this option would take Chemistry 143, 144, if possible, and then Biochemistry (Chemistry 383) as an elective; other electives may be chosen from upper-level chemistry, MB&B, or biology courses. Participation in the weekly biochemistry evening seminars (Chemistry 587, 588) and in undergraduate research is also recommended. A second option for students interested in biological aspects of chemistry is the biological track of the chemistry major (see below).

5. Seminars are an important part of the intellectual life of the Chemistry Department. There are weekly departmental seminars on Friday afternoons followed by refreshments and discussions in the Chemistry Lounge. Important scientists from other universities and research laboratories are the speakers at this departmental gathering. Majors are strongly encouraged to attend these and, with permission of instructor, may obtain academic credit (Chem 521, 522). (Such credit cannot count toward the electives for the major, however.) In addition, chemistry students and faulty speak at weekly research seminars in chemical physics, organic-inorganic chemistry, and biochemistry. Programs for each semester are available from the Chemistry Department office.

6. Research in chemistry is an important part of the program for most majors. Wesleyan's small but excellent graduate program makes it possible for majors to work at the cutting edge of discovery in chemistry. Every full-time faculty member is involved in significant research. Undergraduates participating in the departmental research program normally attend a research seminar in their area, and most research groups have weekly meetings to discuss new results.

Major in chemistry. In order to major in chemistry, a student should complete a year of Introductory Chemistry (Chemistry 141, 142, or, preferably, Chemistry 143, 144, and the associated lab, Chemistry 152), unless the student has been given Advanced Placement. In addition, a year of organic chemistry (Chemistry 251, 252), the concurrent laboratories (Chemistry 257, 258), and a year of physical chemistry (Chemistry 337, 338) are required. One year of advanced laboratory is required (Chemistry 375, 376, the Integrated Chemistry Laboratory). The major is completed by electing a total of at least three credits from 300-level courses (other than 337, 338, or 348 or 349). One of these three may be replaced by two research tutorials. All chemistry majors are encouraged to do research with a faculty member, including during one or more summers. Financial support for summer research is generally available.

Calculus (Mathematics 117, 122, or 125, OR 121,122, or 125, OR Advanced Placement) is also required for the major. Students who have been exempted from Chemistry 144 must take Chemistry 361 in order to gain familiarity with inorganic chemistry.

Before or during the second semester of the sophomore year, a student interested in majoring in chemistry should consult with the chair of the Chemistry Department or the departmental advisers for specific areas of chemistry (analytical, biochemical, inorganic, organic, and physical) concerning a suitable program of study. If the student does opt for a chemistry major, these people may also assist in the choice of a major adviser for the student.

A chemistry major planning graduate work in chemistry ordinarily takes at least one additional 300-level chemistry course (excluding 337, 338, or 348 or 349) and two semesters of undergraduate research, Chemistry 421, 422, or 429, 430. When feasible, an intensive continuation of research during at least one summer is encouraged. The preparation of a senior thesis based on this research (Chemistry 429, 430) provides extremely valuable experience and is strongly recommended. Graduate courses may be elected with permission.

A chemistry major planning to attend medical school, teach in a secondary school, or do graduate work in such fields as biochemistry, geochemistry, environmental science, or chemical physics may request permission from the departmental curriculum committee to replace one of the elective credits in the concentration program with an appropriate course offered by another science or mathematics department. A similar substitution may be requested when appropriate as part of an interdepartmental major. Independent research is encouraged.

A solid mathematical background is important to those students who plan to do graduate work in chemistry. Such students should also try to take Physics 113 and 116 prior to their junior year. Mathematics 221 and 222 are recommended to those whose interests lie in physical chemistry.

The "Biological Chemistry" track within the chemistry major. The Chemistry Department recognizes that a number of students each year are interested in a major program containing a strong biology of biochemistry component and somewhat less emphasis on chemistry than the standard chemistry major. In response to this interest, the Chemistry Department now offers a "biological chemistry" track. This track would, for example, be an excellent preparation for medical school or graduate school in biochemistry. (Students interested in chemistry as a profession are advised to take the standard chemistry major track, which provides a better preparation for graduate school in chemistry.)

In order to begin a major in this track a student should complete a year of Introductory Chemistry (Chemistry 141, 142, or, preferably Chemistry 143, 144, and the associated laboratory, Chemistry 152), unless the student has been given Advanced Placement. In addition, a year of organic chemistry (Chemistry 251, 252), the concurrent laboratories (Chemistry 257, 258), and a year of biology (Biology 205, 206) are required. One year of advanced laboratory (Chemistry 375, 376, the Integrated Chemistry Laboratory) is also required. The major is completed with biochemistry (Chemistry 383) and Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences (Chemistry 381), and two electives, one of which should be a 300-level chemistry course and the other may be molecular biology (MB&B 208), another upper-level MB&B course, or another 300-level chemistry course. One of the two electives may be replaced by two research tutorials. Participation in the weekly biochemistry evening seminar (Chemistry 587, 588), and in research, both during the academic year and over at least one summer, is strongly recommended.