Chemistry  
 

Degrees/Courses
 
The curriculum and course requirements are designed for the degree of Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in chemistry following the recommendations of the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society. A student completing the B.S. in Chemistry should be prepared for these options: an entry level research position in industry or in governmental agencies; graduate level studies in chemistry or chemical engineering; postbaccalaureate professional studies (medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, related fields). Students will find the curriculum more compatible if their high school education included Biology, Chemistry, Physics and four years of mathematics.
 
Chemistry Major (B.S.) Chemical Physics Major Chemistry Minor
General Education Environmental Science Nursing and Allied Health
Science Education Chemistry Course Descriptions
 
Major in Chemistry (B.S.) (Major Checklist - pdf)
  1. Forty (40) semester hours in chemistry:
    Required courses: CY111/112, CY211/212, CY215, CY311/312, CY400/401 or approved research.
    Elective courses: CY315, CY325, CY336, CY346, CY398, CY399
  2. Allied fields required:
    Physics 213/214 and Mathematics 121, 122, 231.
    (Majors should consider Differential Equations, Linear Algebra and Abstract Algebra.)
  3. One course in applied or mathematical statistics (i.e. MS252 or higher).
  4. At least 20 semester hours of the major requirements must be taken at Aquinas. A GPA of at least 2.0 must be maintained; A C– is allowed in only one class
  5. Majors are required to take a major field test in Chemistry. Participation in the seminar/lecture series sponsored by the departments of natural sciences and Mathematics. Eight lectures/seminars in science are required before graduation.
  6. A student who has taken an AP course and the AP exam with a score of 5 may be exempt from CY111. This student may start CY211 (organic) in the fall but must take CY112.
  7. Upper level courses taken at other educational institutions must have approval for transfer before the course is taken.
 
Suggested Four-Year Sequence for Chemistry Majors
This outline is not meant to represent the only acceptable plan. Students who do not take CY111/112 in the first year should discuss other options with a chemistry professor.
  • Year 1: CY111, CY112, MS121, MS122
  • Year 2: CY211, CY212, MS231, MS252 or higher statistics course
  • Year 3: CY215, CY elective, PC213, PC214
  • Year 4: CY311, CY312, CY400, CY401, CY elective

(2 year course rotation - pdf)
 
Minor in Chemistry
A minor in chemistry is often useful to students majoring in other sciences. In addition to the fundamental interconnectedness of the subject matter, chemistry laboratories include many opportunities for students to gain practical skills, such as the operation of analytical instrumentation. The minor requires 28 semester hours of chemistry. At least 14 semester hours of the minor requirements must be taken at Aquinas and the student must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0.A C- is allowed in only one class. Attendance at a minimum of 4 seminars/lectures of the NSM Division is required.
 
Required Courses
  1. Required courses: CY111/112, CY211/212, CY215.
    Elective courses: one from CY315, CY325, CY336, CY346, CY398, CY399 or CY311/312.
  2. At least half of the semester hours of the minor requirements must be taken at Aquinas. A GPA of at least 2.0 must be maintained; A C– is allowed in only one class.
  3. Attendance at a minimum of 4 seminars/lectures of the departments of natural sciences and Mathematics is required.
 
General Education
As part of the general education requirements, all Aquinas students must take two science courses (6 semester hours) representing different scientific disciplines. At least one of the courses must have a laboratory component. There are four chemistry courses at the introductory level that fulfill this requirement:
  • CY101 Environmental Chemistry
  • CY102 Chemistry and Society
  • CY111 General Chemistry
  • CY155 General, Organic, and Biochemistry; if taken concurrently with CY157, this counts as a lab science course.
 
Environmental Science
The environmental science major includes at least 20 semester hours of chemistry courses. Students majoring in environmental science must take CY111/112 General Chemistry and CY211/212 Organic Chemistry. In addition, EV250 Environmental Instrumentation may be co-listed with CY346 Instrumental Methods of Analysis.
 
Nursing and Allied Health
Students involved in the UDM-Mercy/Aquinas College nursing program are required to take CY155/156 - General, Organic, and Biochemistry. CY157/158 are optional, but strongly recommended, laboratories to accompany CY155/156. Aquinas students majoring in allied health fields are expected to take the lab sections.
 
Science Education
Chemistry is not an approved major or minor for Elementary Certification. Students wishing to obtain Secondary Certification may major or minor in chemistry. Students planning to seek certification should contact the School of Education for further information.
 
Chemistry and Business Administration Dual Major
 
 

Course Descriptions
 
CY100 Preliminary Chemistry (3)
An introductory survey of elementary inorganic chemistry for those students who need preparation for CY111/112 (General Chemistry). Topics include measurement, nomenclature, structure of atoms and molecules, states of matter, stoichiometry, and acid/base theory. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: none.
 
CY101 Environmental Chemistry (3) NL

Application of chemical concepts to ecosystems; implications of chemical technology to the social and physical environment.

Prerequisites: High-school chemistry recommended.
 
CY102 Chemistry for Non-Major (3) NL
The basic principles of chemistry are applied to everyday living situations. Common elements and compounds will be used to illustrate principles, some of which are acid-base theory, oxidation-reduction, radioactivity, and toxicity. The presentation of these principles may vary each semester depending on the instructor’s use of history, household products or other perspective. Chemistry will be related to other disciplines, the national economy, other industries, and the future wellbeing of humans and the natural environment. Two hours lecture and one lab period per week.
Prerequisite: none.
 
CY111 General Chemistry I (5) NL
The first college course in chemistry designed primarily for science majors. Topics include atomic structure, chemical bonding, molecular structure, properties of gases, solids, and liquids, stoichiometry, and thermochemistry. Three hours of lecture, one 3-hour laboratory period, and one 2-hour recitation per week. Prerequisites: High-school chemistry or equivalent and two years of algebra or equivalent mathematics, or CY100. High-school physics strongly recommended.
 
CY112 General Chemistry II (5)
A continuation of CY111. Topics include coordination chemistry, descriptive inorganic and organic chemistry, electrochemistry, equilibria, kinetics, and thermodynamics. Three hours of lecture and two three-hour laboratory periods per week.
Prerequisite: CY111, with a grade of C– or better, or its equivalent.
 
CY155 General, Organic, and Biochemistry I (3) (NL, if CY 157 is also completed)
This is the first semester of an introductory course for the nursing, health professions and other disciplines who need an introduction to chemistry. It combines the elements of general chemistry and organic chemistry. It does not replace these courses for the major or minor. It will cover atomic theory, reactions, mole calculations, solutions, gases, acids and bases, radiation chemistry and the hydrocarbon chemistry. Three hours lecture per week.
 
CY156 General, Organic, and Biochemistry II (3)
This is the second semester of the sequence. It will cover the basics in organic and biochemistry. The major topics will be the chemistry of the functional organic groups, the basic biomolecules, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, protein metabolism and nucleic acid duplication and replication. Three hours lecture per week.
Prerequisites: CY155, with a grade of C or better.
 
CY157 General, Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory I (1)
This is the laboratory course that may accompany CY 155. The laboratory work will illustrate the principles in CY155. This class will meet for one laboratory session per week.
 
CY158 General, Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory II (1)
This is the laboratory course that may accompany CY 156. The laboratory work will illustrate the principles in CY156. This class will meet for one laboratory session per week.
 
CY211 Organic Chemistry (5)
This is the first semester of a year-long course in organic chemistry for science majors. Topics include bonding, reaction mechanisms, structure, stereochemistry, and synthesis and reactions of aliphatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives. The correlation of physical properties to molecular structure and instrumentation is introduced. Three hours of lecture and two three-hour laboratory periods per week.
Prerequisite: CY112, with a grade of C- or better, or its equivalent.
 
CY212 Organic Chemistry (5)
Continuation of CY211. Topics include carbonyl compounds and reactions, aromatic hydrocarbons, the application of UV, IR, NMR and mass spectroscopy in the identification of the molecular structure, heterocyclic compounds. Multistep synthesis will be introduced. Three hours of lecture and two three-hour laboratory periods per week; or 4 hours lecture and one three-hour lab period per week.
Prerequisite: CY211, with a grade of C– or better, or its equivalent.
 
CY215 Quantitative Analysis (4)
A first course in chemical analysis. Topics include gravimetric and volumetric methods, statistical applications, ionic equilibria, chromatography, and spectroscopy. Two hours of lecture and two three-hour laboratory periods per week. Prerequisite:
CY112 with a grade of C- or better.
 
CY311/312 Physical Chemistry (4/4)
A two-semester course in the theoretical principles of chemistry. Topics include thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, phase equilibria, electrochemistry, kinetics,and quantum chemistry. Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory period per week each semester. May be offered every other year. Prerequisites for CY311: CY112, MS 231 and PC213 with grades of C- or better. PC213 and/or MS231 may be taken as a co-enrollment.
Prerequisites for CY312: CY311 and PC214 with grades of C- or better. PC214 may be taken as a co-enrollment.
 
CY315 Advanced Organic Chemistry (4)
An advanced course in organic chemistry. Topics will include qualitative organic analysis in both traditional and spectroscopic methods, reaction mechanisms and conditions, molecular structure, orbital symmetry, retrograde synthesis, and multistep synthesis. In the laboratory, classical and instrumental methods will be used to identify compounds. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory periods per week. Offered every other year.
Prerequisite: CY212, with a grade of C- or better, or its equivalent.
 
CY325 Biochemistry (4)
A first course in biochemistry for science majors. Topics include biomolecules, enzymes and their mechanisms of action, biological energetics, nucleic acids (their structure and function), and carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory period per week.
Prerequisite: CY212, with a grade of C- or better, or its equivalent.
 
CY336 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (4)
Principles of inorganic chemistry with emphasis on periodicity, molecular orbital theory, bonding, solid structure, acid/base, reduction/oxidation reactions, and systematic chemistry of the elements. Coordination chemistry and organometallic chemistry will also be discussed. The laboratory will focus on the synthesis and characterization of inorganic compounds. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory period per week. Offered every other year.
Prerequisite: CY112 with a grade of C- or better.
 
CY346 Instrumental Methods of Analysis (4)
An introduction to instrumental methods both theoretical and practical. Topics include spectroscopic methods (UV/Visible, IR, Raman, AA, AE, NMR), electrochemical methods (potentiometry and voltammetry), chromatographic methods (GC and HPLC), radio methods, and thermal methods. Two hours of lecture and two three-hour laboratory periods per week.
Prerequisite: CY215 with a grade of C- or better.
 
CY398 Readings in Chemistry (1)
Individually-negotiated program of readings primarily directed towards literature searches in chemistry. An independent contract must be filed with the Registrar.
Prerequisite: approval of the instructor and the department chairperson.
 
CY399 Independent Projects (1–3)
Individually-negotiated non-research projects. Independent contracts must be filed with the Registrar.
Prerequisite: approval of the instructor and the department chairperson.
 
CY400/401 Undergraduate Seminar/Research (1/2)
A two-semester introduction to chemical research. The first semester will begin with a literature search on the research topic and will include beginning laboratory work. Literature search will include Chemical Abstracts and other data-retrieval systems for information on the theory and method needed for the project. The second semester will consist of laboratory work and will conclude with a seminar on the results of the project. CY400 will be offered each fall. CY401 will be offered each spring.
Prerequisites: Junior or senior status and approval of department chairperson.