2007-08 - Pitzer College

260 SCIENCE
SCIENCE
D. Thomson: Conservation biology, population modeling, ecology of biological invasions,
plant ecology and plant/pollinator interactions.
E. Wiley: Molecular biology; genetics, chromatin structure in the ciliate Tetrahymena.
Chemistry
Advisers: K. Black, A. Fucaloro, M. Hatcher-Skeers, A. Hurshman, T. Poon, K. Purvis-
Roberts, A. Wenzel, S. Williams, A. Zanella.
AISS 1AL, 1BL, 2AL, 2BL. Accelerated Integrated Science Sequence. See complete
description above.
14L,15L. Basic Principles of Chemistry. A study of the structure of matter and the
principles of chemical reactions. Topics covered include atomic and molecular structure,
chemical bonding, thermodynamics, equilibria, electrochemistry, kinetics, descriptive
inorganic and organic chemistry, and spectroscopy. Three lectures and one four-hour
laboratory per week. (Chemistry 14 is a prerequisite to 15.) Laboratory fee: $50 per
semester. Fall, A. Fucaloro, M. Hatcher-Skeers, A. Hurshman, K. Purvis-Roberts, Spring,
K. Black, A. Hurshman, G. Leskowitz, A. Zanella.
29. Accelerated General Chemistry. A one semester accelerated General Chemistry
course as an alternative to the year-long Chemistry 14 and 15 sequence for students with
a strong chemistry background. This course will cover atomic and molecular structure,
spectroscopy, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, kinetics, equilibria,
transition metals, nuclear chemistry and descriptive inorganic chemistry. Three lectures
and one four-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: 4 or 5 on the Chemistry Advanced
Placement test (or completion of comparable honors chemistry course in high school),
Mathematics 30 (or concurrent) and permission of instructor. Students must sign-up with
instructor during Spring semester pre-registration to be eligible. Laboratory fee: $50.
Spring, B.S. Williams.
51L. Topics in Forensic Science. This course will explore chemical and physical methods
used in modern crime detection. Topics as diverse as microcopy, toxicology, serology,
fingerprinting. Document examination, DNA analysis, and arson investigation will be
examined. Students will use case studies, collaborative work, and online resources
extensively throughout the course. Enrollment limited. Laboratory fee: $30. This is a fulllab
natural science course. Spring, T. Poon.
70L. Land, Air and Ocean Science. This course is an introduction to basic principles of
environmental science with application to air and water pollution. Topics including
global warming, the ozone hole, acid rain, energy production, sustainable development,
etc., will be discussed. We will concentrate on both the scientific explorations and the
political implications of such issues. Enrollment limited. Laboratory fee: $30. [not offered
2007-08]
116L, 117L. Organic Chemistry. The chemistry of organic compounds developed from
considerations of bonding, structure, synthesis, and mechanisms of reaction. Selected
application of those principles to biological systems. Prerequisite: Chemistry 15, or both
semesters of the AISS course, or equivalent. (Chemistry 116 is prerequisite to 117.)
Laboratory fee: $50 per semester. Fall/Spring, K. Black, T. Poon, A. Wenzel, B.S. Williams, Staff.
121, 122. Principles of Physical Chemistry. A course designed to investigate
physiochemical systems through classical thermodynamics, statistical thermodynamics,
kinetics, quantum mechanics, and spectroscopy. Prerequisites: Chemistry 15, Physics 31
(or 34), or both semesters of the AISS course, and Mathematics 31. (Chemistry 121 is
prerequisite to 122.) Enrollment limited. Fall/Spring, A. Fucaloro, M. Hatcher-Skeers.
123. Advanced Organic Chemistry. Organic chemistry is the study of carbon-containing
compounds, which are ubiquitous to everyday life. From pharmaceuticals to plastics, the
structure of an organic molecule determines its function. This course is designed to
introduce students to advanced topics in the field of organic chemistry. Topics covered
will expand upon material covered in the Chemistry 116/117 organic sequence, with
particular emphasis on stereoelectronic effects in organic reaction mechanisms. Prerequisites:
Chemistry 117, or permission of instructor. Enrollment limited to 24. Fall, A. Wenzel.
126L, 127L. Advanced Laboratory in Chemistry. A survey of advanced laboratory
techniques including physical and chemistry methods, analytical chemistry (especially
instrumental methods), and synthesis and characterization of compounds. Prerequisites:
Chemistry 15, or both semesters of the AISS course, Chemistry 117, Physics 34 (or 31), or
both semesters of the AISS course, and Mathematics 31. Chemistry 126 is prerequisite for
127, except with permission of instructor. Chemistry 121, 122 recommended as corequisite.
Enrollment limited. Laboratory fee: $50. Fall/Spring, K. Black, M. Hatcher-
Skeers, A. Hurshman, T. Poon, K. Purvis-Roberts, A. Wenzel, B.S. Williams, Z. Zanella.
128. Inorganic Chemistry. A survey of the bonding, structure, reactions, mechanisms,
and properties of inorganic compounds. Special emphasis will be placed upon transition
metal chemistry. Topics will include elementary group theory, atomic structure, ionic and
covalent bonding, spectroscopy, molecular orbital theory, periodic trends, bioinorganic
chemistry, and organometallic chemistry. Prerequisites: Chemistry 117, Chemistry 121 (or
concurrent). Enrollment limited to 20. [not offered 2007-08]
130L. Inorganic Synthesis. This laboratory course will include a variety of synthetic
techniques or inorganic compounds. Emphasis will be on transition metal complexes, including
organometallic compounds, and some main group compounds will also be prepared. Students
will use appropriate spectroscopic methods and chromatography to characterize products.
Use of original journal references will be stressed. Prerequisites: Chemistry 117 and 121
(or concurrent). Half-course. Enrollment limited to 12. Laboratory fee, $50. [not offered 2007-08]
134. Introduction to Molecular Modeling. This course provides an introduction to both
the theory and practice of current molecular modeling methods. Students use molecular
mechanics, molecular orbital theory, and molecular dynamics to study chemical systems
ranging from small organic structures to large biomolecules. The computational work is
carried out using Spartan, Macro Model and Gaussian software. One-half course credit.
Prerequisites: Chemistry 117, 121. Enrollment limited to 12. [not offered 2007-08]
136. Modern Molecular Photochemistry. This course will explore the interaction of light
with molecules and the chemical and physical changes that result. Emphasis will be
placed on modern applications of photochemistry in the areas of synthesis, mechanistic
studies, medicine, and materials science. One-half course credit. Prerequisite: Chemistry
117. Enrollment limited. [not offered 2007-08]
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