Chemistry

Do you like to work with your hands, create things or solve puzzles?  If so, chemistry may be the major for you.  Chemists study the structure and transformation of matter and create entirely new substances, such as pharmaceuticals, conducting polymers and synthetic fibers.

At North Central College, you can experience a chemistry curriculum approved by the American Chemical Society as you earn your bachelor's degree in either chemistry or biochemistry. All coursework in the major is taught by full-time Ph.D. faculty members and covers all the major areas of chemistry (analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, and physical) with hands-on laboratory experience an important part of each course.

A strong commitment to education and research in the sciences has helped make North Central's chemistry department well equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation used for both teaching and research. More than $1,000,000 has been spent for equipment in recent years, including the 400 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer, Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS), High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectrophotometer (FTIR), Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AA), Preparatory Chromatography, UV-Vis Spectrometer, Electrophoresis, Ultracentrifuge, Polarimeter, and Microwave Reactors.

In addition, we also have a glovebox for working with air sensitive compounds and molecular modeling stations to help you visualize molecules in three dimensions and compute their properties. You will have the opportunity to use these instruments in both your coursework and undergraduate research projects.

Course Descriptions

The courses listed herein have been approved by the faculty as authorized by the Board of Trustees.  Prerequisites (if any) and the General Education Requirement(s) which each course fulfills (if any) are noted following each course description.

Current course offerings are available in Merlin.

 

CHEM 100 - Chemistry Today

4.00 credit hours

A chemistry course for non-science majors. A quest for understanding those facets of chemistry that most directly affect daily existence through a study of selected topics in inorganic, organic and biological chemistry. Does not count toward a chemistry major. May not be taken after any higher-level chemistry course. Laboratory required. 

Prerequisite(s): High school algebra. 
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Sciences.

 

CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I

4.00 credit hours

A discussion of chemical principles through examples from the chemistry of carbon compounds and the molecules found in living systems. Major topics include atomic and electronic structure, ions, molecules, Lewis structures, VSEPR, hybridization, intermolecular forces, chromatography, equilibria, kinetics, stereochemistry and polymer chemistry. Laboratory required. 

Prerequisite(s): One year of high school chemistry and two years of high school algebra.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Sciences.
iCon(s): Innovating the World.

 

CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II

4.00 credit hours

An introduction to chemical principles within the context of the environmental issues of fuel and energy, water treatment and acid rain. Major chemical topics include gas laws, aqueous reactions and solubility, equilibria, acid/base chemistry, buffers, thermochemistry, redox, electrochemistry and nuclear chemistry. Laboratory required. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 121. 
iCon(s): Sustaining Our World.

 

CHEM 125 - General Chemistry for Engineers

2.00 credit hours

An introduction to chemical principles within the context of the engineering. Major chemical topics include gases, periodic table trends, atomic and molecular structures, energy, entropy, kinetics, acid-base and equilibria and electrochemistry. 

Prerequisite(s): One year of high school chemistry and two years of high school algebra. 

 

CHEM 251 - Organic Chemistry I

4.00 credit hours

Survey of the various classes of carbon compounds, with emphasis upon molecular structure, stereochemistry and mechanisms of Organic reactions. Techniques for isolating, purifying and characterizing organic compounds are learned in the laboratory. Laboratory required. 

Prerequisite(s): Six hours in Chemistry including CHEM 121 or CHEM 122. 

 

CHEM 252 - Organic Chemistry II

4.00 credit hours

Continuation of CHEM 251. This course builds on previously learned concepts to further explore the mechanisms of organic reactions. The emphasis shifts from physical organic to synthetic organic chemistry. Laboratory required. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 251. 

 

CHEM 295 - Research

1.00-4.00 credit hours

Individual laboratory investigation of a problem in chemistry, undertaken with guidance of a faculty member. May be taken more than once for up to four total credit hours. 

 

CHEM 299 - Independent Study

1.00-12.00 credit hours

Individual studies in chemistry, undertaken with guidance of a faculty member. 

 

CHEM 301 - Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry

4.00 credit hours

Theoretical concepts of bonding including the solid state, acid/base and redox chemistry and kinetics. Descriptive chemistry of the elements. Laboratory required. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 122. 

 

CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis

4.00 credit hours

Discussion of analytical methods including sample collection and preparation, statistical analysis of data and quantitative analysis including theory and techniques for gravimetric, volumetric, spectrophotometric, chromatographic and electrochemical methods. Laboratory required. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 122. 

 

CHEM 311 - Separation Methods

2.00 credit hours

Theory and practice of instrumental analytical chemistry related to separation methods including HPLC, GC, ion chromatography and capillary electrophoresis and related sampling handling and data analysis. Laboratory required. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 310. 

 

CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy

2.00 credit hours

Theory and practice of instrumental analytical chemistry related to atomic and molecular spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Laboratory required. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 310. 

 

CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis

2.00 credit hours

Theory and practice of instrumental analytical chemistry related to materials and surface characterization. Major topics include electrochemical analysis, microscopy techniques, and solid-state analysis. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 310. 

 

CHEM 315 - Spectral Interpretation

2.00 credit hours

This course explores the spectroscopic methods and the identification of organic structures by interpretation of the spectra. Specific topics include 1-D Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H & 13C), 2-D Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, NOESY, etc.), Infrared and Mass-Spectroscopy. This course emphasizes individual and collaborative problem-solving techniques that can be utilized to identify organic structures by the combination of the techniques described above. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 251. 

 

CHEM 340 - Thermodynamics and Kinetics

4.00 credit hours

Chemical thermodynamics and chemical kinetics, including properties of gases, the First and Second Laws of thermodynamics and their application to physical and chemical systems, phase and chemical equilibria, rates and mechanisms of reactions, reaction dynamics. Laboratory required. Students with credit in PHYS 340 and PHYS 341 may not take CHEM 340 for credit.

Prerequisite(s): MATH 151; PHYS 132 or PHYS 162. 

 

CHEM 345 - Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy

4.00 credit hours

Quantum theory, electronic structure of atoms and molecules, chemical bonding, computational chemistry, spectroscopic methods used to study molecular structure and reactions, statistical thermodynamics. Laboratory required. 

Prerequisite(s): MATH 151; PHYS 132 or PHYS 162. 

 

CHEM 391 - Seminar I

1.00 credit hours

In this course, students cover relevant professional development topics such as ethics, job seeking skills and safety. Students, faculty and guest presenters discuss research results in the format of a scientific meeting. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 251 or concurrent enrollment.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Career Preparation. 

 

CHEM 392 - Seminar II

1.00 credit hours

In this course, students learn to search the chemical literature, read primary literature and orally present a journal article. Students, faculty and guest presenters discuss research results in the format of a scientific meeting. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 251.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Career Preparation. 

 

CHEM 399 - Independent Study

1.00-12.00 credit hours

Individual studies in chemistry, undertaken with guidance of a faculty member. 

Prerequisite(s): Junior standing. 

 

CHEM 401 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

4.00 credit hours

Coordination chemistry of the transition metals including isomerism, symmetry, group theory, molecular orbital theory, crystal field theory, UV-visible spectroscopy and kinetics and mechanisms of ligand substitution reactions. Study of macromolecular, supramolecular and nanoscale chemistry. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 301. 

 

CHEM 451 - Advanced Organic Chemistry

4.00 credit hours

This course explores advanced topics in organic chemistry which build on the principles covered in CHEM 251 and CHEM 252 . The course explores one topic in depth such as physical organic chemistry, synthesis or catalysis. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 252. 

 

CHEM 455 - Organometallic Chemistry

4.00 credit hours

This course explores the structure and bonding in organometallic compounds, ligands, fundamental organometallic reactions and catalysis within the context of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. 

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 252. 

 

CHEM 485 - Chemical Research and Scientific Writing

4.00 credit hours

Students integrate their undergraduate chemistry education with independent research projects. Laboratory required. 

Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior standing.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Writing Intensive, Career Experiential.

 

CHEM 490 - Special Topics

4.00 credit hours

Advanced topics in chemistry. May be repeated with new content. 

 

CHEM 493 - Seminar III

1.00 credit hours

Students, faculty and guest presenters discuss research results in the format of a scientific meeting. Students orally present the results from a completed research project (summer research, independent study, off-campus research program, CHEM 485, BCHM 465, etc.).

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 391 and CHEM 392. 

 

CHEM 495 - Research

1.00-4.00 credit hours

Individual laboratory investigation of a problem in chemistry, undertaken with guidance of a faculty member. Credit for research from CHEM 295 and 495 may be repeated up to a maximum of eight total credits. 

Prerequisite(s): Junior standing. 

 

CHEM 497 - Internship

0.00-12.00 credit hours

Valuable professional experiences supplement classroom instruction and allow students to apply theories and concepts to broader issues and system. Students explore career options within a specific area of study and critically reflect on the experience in a structured manner. May be repeated with different professional experience.

Prerequisite(s): Junior standing.

 

CHEM 499 - Independent Study

1.00-12.00 credit hours

Individual studies in chemistry, undertaken with guidance of a faculty member. 

Prerequisite(s): Junior standing. 

Faculty Emeriti

Anne T. Sherren
Professor of Chemistry Emerita
B.A., Agnes Scott College, 1957; Ph.D., University of Florida, 1961
atsherren@noctrl.edu
Personal Page

David Horner
Harold and Eva White Distinguished Professor in the Liberal Arts Emeritus
B.A., Otterbein College, 1977; M.S., 1979, Ph.D., 1984, University of California at Berkeley
dahorner@noctrl.edu

 

Chemistry students actively use the skills they learn! Our students take advantage of a rich assortment of extra-curricular and professional activities and opportunities to enrich their education.

 

Research is how new knowledge is generated and is a critical element of any chemist or biochemist’s education.

  • All chemistry and biochemistry majors complete a research project in one of our research courses (BCHM 465 or CHEM 485).
  • Students may also complete research in collaboration with faculty during the school year or in the summer. Learn about our faculty’s research interests or see the undergraduate research page for more information.
  • Students can apply for national competitive research opportunities sponsored by organizations like the National Science Foundation or the U.S. Department of Energy. For example, Sienna Alicea completed summer research experiences in the fields of oceanographic chemistry at Savannah State University and agricultural chemistry at the University of Washington.
  • Students can design their own research projects and apply for funding through the college’s Ritcher Grants. Mary Lanoue conducted research in medical chemistry thanks to the generous support of a Richter grant. Mary graduated with a Biochemistry degree and is now a student in the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Des Moines University.
  • Students can present research at our annual Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research and can receive conference funding to travel to a regional or national conference. In recent years, our students have presented at national American Chemical Society meetings as well as the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research.

Work experience will put student’s chemical knowledge into practice.

  • Students can gain experience on campus as lab assistants, stockroom assistants, preceptors, or peer tutors.
  • Internships with local companies can expand student’s skills in chemistry. For instance, Jackson Sheeman and Josh Vegetabile each completed a summer internship through an annual collaboration with Particle Technology Labs in Downers Grove, Illinois. Other local companies which have hired NCC students as interns include, McCrone Associates, Nanophase Technologies and PerkinElmer.  Additionally, students can obtain chemistry internships on campus with Fehr Solutions and with Gold Eagle Co.

Student organizations are a great source of information on career options, as well as a lot of fun!

  • Our award-winning Student Members of the American Chemical Society sponsors chemistry-related speakers and trips, as well as social and educational programming. Follow our department on Instagram or Facebook for more information.
  • Other student organization related to chemistry and biochemistry include Beta Beta Beta (biology honor society), the Pre-Health Organization (pre-health), and Green Scene (environmental club).

Pre-health students have a range of options to prepare for their future careers.

  • Our pre-health advisor provides support for students preparing for medical, dental or veterinary medicine as well as allied-health fields.
  • Our Pre-Health Organization provides information, resources and opportunities to students who are interested in entering health-related careers such as medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, optometry, veterinary medicine and podiatry.

Departmental scholarships are available to Chemistry and Biochemistry majors to help fund their education. Some relevant scholarships include:

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