Chemistry

http://www.whitworth.edu/chemistry

The Whitworth Chemistry Department strives to develop confident, well-prepared students who are able to contribute to the world community on issues relating to modern chemistry. Our students are expected to develop strong oral and written communication skills, to engage in critical thinking, to develop excellent laboratory skills, to work on independent research, and to prepare for vocations in industrial, academic and professional areas.

The learning outcomes of this major prepare students to:

  • Understand the development of chemical theory and apply current chemical content to solving problems
  • Communicate scientific issues in writing
  • Communicate scientific issues verbally
  • Use and critically analyze the chemical literature
  • Know and use standard lab techniques
  • Understand the connections between their faith and/or worldview and the theory and practice of chemistry and ethical decision-making

B.S. students will also do the following:

  • Demonstrate the ability to conduct research through the development and use of experiments to test a hypothesis

Courses

CH 101 Introduction to Chemistry3
Introduction to the fundamental concepts in chemistry for nursing majors, select allied health fields. Fall semester. Restricted to allied health majors.
CH 101L Introduction to Chemistry Lab1
Basic laboratory practices, exploring acid-base chemistry, bonding, molecular forces, gases and thermochemistry. Corequisite: concurrent enrollment in CH 101. Fall semester. Lab fee.
CH 102 Bioorganic Chemistry3
Fundamentals of organic chemistry and biochemistry for nursing students. Organic structure, isomerism, nomenclature. Properties and reactions of lipids, carbohydrates, proteins. Prerequisite: CH 101 or CH 161. Spring semester.
CH 102L Bioorganic Chemistry Lab1
Simple quantitative analysis, separation techniques, enzyme studies. Corequisite: concurrent enrollment in CH 102. Spring semester. Lab fee.
CH 104 Prep Course for History of Chemistry and Art Study Program in Europe1
Preparatory course for students accepted to the History of Chemistry and Art Study Abroad course. Students will study chemical theory, learn about art history, and ties between chemistry and art. Students will also examine the culture of the European countries to be visited.
CH 105 Chemistry History and Art in Europe3
This course will examine how chemical ideas have developed over time, how social, cultural and historical factors have influenced the development of science and chemistry and conversely, how chemistry and science have contributed to society and human culture. The course traces the historical development of chemistry from ancient to modern times on site in London, Paris, and Munich. Students will "meet" the chemists, read from their original writings, and see where they lived and what they created. Periodic offering.
CH 114 Science of Cooking3
This non-majors course will be a scientific exploration of the food we eat. Students will learn chemistry and biology concepts applied to food and cooking. The course will also explore the scientific process through the optimization of recipes. The course will require students to complete cooking experiments at home.
CH 120H The Chemistry in Art3
Chemistry applied to understanding art media, color, and form as well as art appreciation, history, analysis and conservation. Explore chemistry concepts through arts & crafts projects. Appropriate for non-science students. No pre-requisites. Meets honors course criteria. Periodic Jan term offering.
CH 161 General Chemistry I3
Foundational course in chemistry. Treatment of measurement concepts, atomic and molecular theories, chemical reactions, chemical bonding, basic calculations. One year of high school chemistry recommended. Passing score on the Whitworth Mathematics Readiness Check or a C- in MA 130, MA 150, MA 171 or MA 172 required. Fall and spring semesters.
CH 161H General Chemistry I Honors3
Foundational course in chemistry. CH 161H differs from the regular CH 161 offering in its small class size, its emphasis on active, collaborative, and problem-based learning, and a more rigorous, process-oriented approach. The dominant theme of the course is the connection between the molecular-level attributes of matter (elemental composition, atomic structure and electronic configurations, bonding, molecular structure and intermolecular forces) and the observable physical and chemical properties of individual substances as applied in the real world. One year of high school chemistry recommended. Passing score on the Whitworth Mathematics Readiness Check or a C- in MA 130, MA 150, MA 171 or MA 172 required. Fall, periodically.
CH 161L General Chemistry I Lab1
Basic laboratory techniques, simple synthesis, titration, qualitative analysis. Prerequisite: CH 161, CH 161H, or concurrent enrollment. Fall and spring semesters. Lab fee.
CH 181 General Chemistry II3
Properties of solutions, introduction to kinetics, acid-base concepts, equilibrium, nuclear radioactivity, electrochemistry, and thermochemistry. Prerequisite: CH 161 or CH 161H with minimum grade of C-. Fall and spring semesters.
CH 181L General Chemistry II Lab1
Titrations, equilibrium constant determination, reaction kinetics, electrochemical studies. Prerequisites: CH 161L and concurrent enrollment in CH 181. Fall and spring semesters. Lab fee.
CH 271 Organic Chemistry I3
Detailed treatment of basic organic chemistry concepts. Nomenclature, conformational and structural analysis, basic reaction mechanisms. Prerequisite: CH 181 with minimum grade of C-.
CH 271L Organic Chemistry I Lab1
Preparation, purification and identification of organic compounds. An introduction to organic synthesis. Prerequisites: CH 181L and concurrent enrollment in CH 271. Fall and spring semesters. Lab fee.
CH 278 Organic Chemistry II3
Reactions of organic molecules, mechanisms of reactions, and how such reactions may be employed in the synthesis of new compounds. Prerequisite: CH 271 with minimum grade of C-. Spring semester.
CH 278L Organic Chemistry II Lab1
Synthetic techniques for organic compounds, design of multi-step synthesis, introduction to chemical literature, and spectroscopy. Prerequisites: CH 271L and concurrent enrollment in CH 278. Spring semester. Lab fee.
CH 304 Prep Course for History of Chemistry and Art Study Program in Europe1
Preparatory course for students accepted to the History of Chemistry and Art Study Abroad course. Students will study chemical theory, learn about art history, and ties between chemistry and art, in addition to doing an in-depth literature research review of a historical chemist. Students will also examine the culture of the European countries to be visited.
CH 305 Chemistry History and Art in Europe3
This course will examine how chemical ideas have developed over time, how social, cultural and historical factors have influenced the development of science and chemistry and conversely, how chemistry and science have contributed to society and human culture. The course traces the historical development of chemistry from ancient to modern times on site in London, Paris, and Munich. Students will "meet" the chemists, read from their original writings, and see where they lived and what they created. Periodic offering.
CH 320W Scientific Literacy and Communication3
This course is intended to equip each student with the skills needed to quickly and comfortably search, read, and utilize the chemical literature. Students will practice leading discussions of scientific topics and give an oral presentation on a research topic. This is a writing intensive course and students will learn to write in the style of a chemist through multiple assignments. Finally, chemistry encompasses many different paths and through exploring various topics, interacting with a variety of people, students will get the opportunity to expand their ideas about vocation.
CH 325L Community Chemistry Outreach1
Promotion of science education through service-learning opportunities in the community, such as the presentation of fun chemistry experiments/demos as part of departmental outreach efforts to local K-12 students. Prerequisite: CH 101 or CH 161. Jan Term and periodic spring.
CH 331 Environmental Chemistry3
Study of the environment from a systems approach. Includes study of the hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and geosphere (earth) and interactions with the anthrosphere (humans). Spring semesters, even years. Prerequisites: CH 271.
CH 331L Environmental Chemistry Lab1
Explore the laboratory methods typical in environmental analysis. Includes sampling techniques, use of certified protocol(s), and spectroscopic and instrumental analysis. Co-requisite: concurrent enrollment in CH 331. Spring semester even years.
CH 335 Modern Analytical Chemistry3
Overview of the science of analytical chemistry, including statistical treatment of collected data, and modern analytical methods of analysis including titrations, electrochemistry, spectroscopy, chromatography, and mass spectrometry. Specific emphasis will be placed on core concepts of analysis and applied method selection throughout the covered concepts. Prerequisites: CH 181. Spring semesters, odd years.
CH 335L Modern Analytical Chemistry Lab1
Laboratory corequisite of CH335 (Analytical Chemistry) with focus on mastery of quantitative analytical methods including titrations, electrochemistry, spectroscopy, chromatography, and mass spectrometry. Corequisite: concurrent enrollment in CH 335. Spring semester, odd years. Lab fee.
CH 336 Spectroscopic Analysis3
Advanced treatment of the most common spectroscopic techniques including UV-Vis, IR, NMR, and GC-MS. Prerequisites: CH 278. Fall semester, odd years.
CH 336L Spectroscopic Analysis Lab1
Use of instrumentation in solving analytical problems. Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in CH 336. Fall semester, odd years. Lab fee.
CH 345 Supramolecular Chemistry3
This course will examine the fundamental basis for molecular assembly and illustrate how intermolecular interactions can be exploited to form diverse supramolecular architectures ranging from small molecules to biological systems. The course will present an overview of the current advances in supramolecular systems and provide students with an awareness and appreciation of the broader relevance of supramolecular chemistry as applied to organic assemblies, coordination building units and systems of higher complexity. Prerequisite: CH 271. Recommended: CH 278. Jan term, odd years.
CH 351 Inorganic Chemistry3
A study of the elements (especially metals) and their compounds. Bonding, crystal-field theory, coordination compounds, organometallics, symmetry, group theory and descriptive inorganic chemistry. Prerequisites: CH 181 and MA 171. Fall semester, even years.
CH 351L Inorganic Chemistry Lab1
Approaches to synthesis of inorganic compounds. Corequisite: concurrent enrollment in CH 351. Fall semester, even years. Lab fee.
CH 387 Chemistry Experimental Design1
This course is designed for junior or senior students completing a B.S. degree in chemistry who may be interested in pursuing professional school or an industrial position after graduating from Whitworth. Students will be introduced to a research area through reading, discussing, and writing about primary literature. At the beginning of the semester, students will practice skills and techniques using prescribed protocols to hands-on skills and learn about experimental design. For the remainder of the semester, students will carry out a research project in order to gain experience with experimental design, troubleshooting, and the complex nature of scientific inquiry. Prerequisite: CH 320W. Spring semester.
CH 387L Chemistry Experimental Design Lab1
In this laboratory, students will engage in critical thinking, will develop advanced laboratory skills, and work on independent research. Students will be introduced to a research area through primary literature and develop skills and techniques specific to the research area and experimental design. Students will then carry out a research project to gain experience with experimental design, troubleshooting, and the complex nature of scientific inquiry.
CH 394L Chemistry Research0
Research in chemistry, first semester. By permission.
CH 401 Biochemistry I3
Structure and function of major classes of biomolecules. Overview of enzyme catalysis and kinetics. Prerequisites: CH 278. Fall semester.
CH 401L Biochemistry I Lab1
Biochemical separations, assays and enzyme studies. Primary focus is on proteins and nucleic acids. Prerequisites: CH 271L and CH 401. Spring Semester. Lab fee.
CH 402 The Biochemistry of DNA and RNA3
In depth study of nucleic acid structure and function. Overview of replication, transcription, translation, and control of gene expression. The history and gender inequalities surrounding the discovery of DNA structure will also be examined. Prerequisites: CH 401. Jan Term, odd years.
CH 403 Biochemistry II3
Metabolic pathways and biochemical energy conversions. Overview of cellular signaling pathways and controls. Prerequisite: CH 401. Spring semester.
CH 421 Thermochemistry3
Kinetics, thermodynamics, liquids and solids, changes of state, phase diagrams. Prerequisites: CH 181, PS 153, and MA 172. Fall semester, even years
CH 421L Thermochemistry Lab1
Energetic, kinetic and thermodynamic studies. Primary focus is on phase transitions, mixtures, and gases. Corequisite: concurrent enrollment in CH 421. Fall semester, even years. Lab fee.
CH 423 Quantum Chemistry3
Basic quantum mechanical theories, and its application to lasers, magnetism, molecular structure, and vibrational and electronic spectroscopy. Prerequisites: CH 181, PS 153 and MA 172. Fall semester, odd years.
CH 423L Quantum Chemistry Lab1
Infrared and electronic spectroscopy, laser spectroscopy and computer modeling of quantum chemistry problems. Corequisite: concurrent enrollment in CH 423. Fall semesters, odd years. Lab fee.
CH 490H Internship1-12
CH 494LH Chemistry Research1
Research in chemistry, second semester, or for students completing research off campus at another university, an industry site or a national laboratory. By permission.
CH 497H Chemistry Senior Thesis1
Research performed on campus or off campus will be shared with others. Students are expected to complete a research paper and give a presentation to a conference audience. The course should be taken in the spring semester after completion of chemistry research. By permission. Prerequisite: CH 494L or CH 488L. Spring semester.

Requirements for a Chemistry Major, B.A. (45-46)

CH 161General Chemistry I3
or CH 161H General Chemistry I Honors
CH 161LGeneral Chemistry I Lab1
CH 181General Chemistry II3
CH 181LGeneral Chemistry II Lab1
CH 271Organic Chemistry I3
CH 271LOrganic Chemistry I Lab1
CH 278Organic Chemistry II3
CH 278LOrganic Chemistry II Lab1
CH 320WScientific Literacy and Communication3
Approved upper-division chemistry electives *11
*At least two credits of lab required
No more than 2 credits of internships or independent study, no more than 2 credits of teaching assistantships, no more than 4 credits of Chemistry research (CH 488LH or CH 494LH), and no more than 4 total credits for any combination of the above will count towards chemistry electives.
MA 171Calculus I4
MA 172Calculus II3-4
or MA 256 Elementary Probability and Statistics
One of the following year-long sequences:8
College Physics for Life Sciences
and College Physics for Life Sciences Laboratory I
College Physics for Life Sciences II
and College Physics for Life Sciences Lab II
General Physics I
and General Physics I Lab
General Physics II
and General Physics II Lab

(Students wishing to pursue a teaching endorsement in chemistry should discuss recommended courses with a chemistry advisor. All endorsements subject to change; see School of Education for updated requirements.)

Chemistry Major, B.A. (Pre-Pharmacy Track) (52)

CH 161General Chemistry I3
or CH 161H General Chemistry I Honors
CH 161LGeneral Chemistry I Lab1
CH 181General Chemistry II3
CH 181LGeneral Chemistry II Lab1
CH 271Organic Chemistry I3
CH 271LOrganic Chemistry I Lab1
CH 278Organic Chemistry II3
CH 278LOrganic Chemistry II Lab1
CH 320WScientific Literacy and Communication3
CH 401Biochemistry I3
CH 401LBiochemistry I Lab1
CH 403Biochemistry II3
Approved upper-division chemistry electives* at least one credit of lab required7
HS 220
220L
Anatomy and Physiology I
and Lab: Anatomy and Physiology I
4
or BI 350 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
HS 221
221L
Anatomy and Physiology II
and Lab: Anatomy and Physiology II
4
or BI 323 Animal Physiology
BI 306Medical Microbiology4
BI 306LMedical Microbiology Lab0
MA 171Calculus I4
MA 256Elementary Probability and Statistics3
or MA 256H Elementary Probability and Statistics
Recommended:
General Biology I: Genes, Cells and Evolution
and General Biology I: Genes, Cells and Evolution Lab
General Biology II: Ecology and Evolution
and Ecology and Evolution Lab
One of the following year-long sequences
College Physics for Life Sciences
and College Physics for Life Sciences Laboratory I
College Physics for Life Sciences II
and College Physics for Life Sciences Lab II
or
General Physics I
and General Physics I Lab
General Physics II
and General Physics II Lab
*

Up to 7 credits of upper division chemistry credit may be transferred from WSU Spokane School of Pharmacy.

Chemistry Core for B.S. Requirements (37)

One of the following:3
General Chemistry I
General Chemistry I Honors
CH 161LGeneral Chemistry I Lab1
CH 181General Chemistry II3
CH 181LGeneral Chemistry II Lab1
CH 271Organic Chemistry I3
CH 271LOrganic Chemistry I Lab1
CH 278Organic Chemistry II3
CH 278LOrganic Chemistry II Lab1
CH 320WScientific Literacy and Communication3
One of the following options:2
Chemistry Experimental Design
and Chemistry Experimental Design Lab
or
Chemistry Research
and Chemistry Senior Thesis
MA 171Calculus I4
MA 172Calculus II4
PS 151General Physics I3
PS 151LGeneral Physics I Lab1
PS 153General Physics II3
PS 153LGeneral Physics II Lab1
or PS 154L Near Space Research Project

(Students wishing to pursue a teaching endorsement in chemistry should discuss recommended courses with a chemistry advisor. All endorsements subject to change; see School of Education for updated requirements.)

General Track for Chemistry, B.S. (60)

Core requirements36
Five of the following20
Environmental Chemistry (plus lab)
Modern Analytical Chemistry (plus lab)
Spectroscopic Analysis (plus lab)
Inorganic Chemistry (plus lab)
Biochemistry I (plus lab)
Thermochemistry (plus lab)
Quantum Chemistry (plus lab)
Approved upper-division chemistry electives4
No more than 2 credits of internships or independent study, no more than 2 credits of teaching assistantships, no more than 4 credits of Chemistry research (CH 488LH or CH 494LH), and no more than 4 total credits for any combination of the above will count towards chemistry electives.

Biochemistry Track for Chemistry, B.S. (65-67)

Core requirements36
CH 401Biochemistry I3
CH 401LBiochemistry I Lab1
CH 403Biochemistry II3
Two of the following: 8
Thermochemistry (plus lab)
Environmental Chemistry (plus lab)
Modern Analytical Chemistry (plus lab)
Spectroscopic Analysis (plus lab)
Inorganic Chemistry (plus lab)
Quantum Chemistry (plus lab)
Approved upper-division chemistry electives3-4
No more than 2 credits of internships or independent study, no more than 2 credits of teaching assistantships, no more than 4 credits of Chemistry research (CH 488LH or CH 494LH), and no more than 4 total credits for any combination of the above will count towards chemistry electives.
BI 140General Biology I: Genes, Cells and Evolution4
BI 143General Biology II: Ecology and Evolution4
One of the following upper division biology courses:3-4
Medical Microbiology
Animal Physiology
Plant Physiology
Developmental Biology
Introduction to Genomics
Introduction to Genetics
Molecular Genetics
Neurophysiology
Cell Physiology

Physical Chemistry Track for Chemistry, B.S. (61-64)

Core requirements36
CH 421Thermochemistry3
CH 421LThermochemistry Lab1
CH 423Quantum Chemistry3
CH 423LQuantum Chemistry Lab1
Two of the following:8
Environmental Chemistry (plus lab)
Modern Analytical Chemistry (plus lab)
Spectroscopic Analysis (plus lab)
Inorganic Chemistry (plus lab)
Biochemistry I (plus lab)
Approved upper-division chemistry electives3-4
No more than 2 credits of internships or independent study, no more than 2 credits of teaching assistantships, no more than 4 credits of Chemistry research (CH 488LH or CH 494LH), and no more than 4 total credits for any combination of the above will count towards chemistry electives.
Approved math or physics courses6-8
Calculus III
Discrete Mathematics
Differential Equations
Linear Algebra
Modern Physics

Requirements for a Chemistry Minor (20)

CH 161General Chemistry I3
or CH 161H General Chemistry I Honors
CH 161LGeneral Chemistry I Lab1
CH 181General Chemistry II3
CH 181LGeneral Chemistry II Lab1
CH 271Organic Chemistry I3
CH 271LOrganic Chemistry I Lab1
Approved chemistry electives8
For teacher certification, the following course is required:
Science in Secondary School (2)
For teacher certification, the following courses are strongly suggested:
Organic Chemistry II
Organic Chemistry II Lab
Community Chemistry Outreach
Modern Analytical Chemistry
Modern Analytical Chemistry Lab
Environmental Chemistry
Biochemistry I
Biochemistry I Lab
SI for General Chemistry
Elementary Probability and Statistics
College Physics for Life Sciences
and College Physics for Life Sciences Laboratory I
College Physics for Life Sciences II
and College Physics for Life Sciences Lab II
All endorsements subject to change; see School of Education for updated requirements.

Interdisciplinary Courses

STEM 126 Seminar for Health Professions1
A seminar to introduce students to the pre-health fields. Visiting speakers will represent medical, dental, pharmacy, and veterinary fields. This course will cover the specifics of courses, majors, and other issues related to pre-health fields. Students will also reflect on the importance of the connections between academic disciplines as they consider future vocational options. Recommended for pre-health professional students interested in the fields listed above. This seminar fulfills the SC 126 Shared Curriculum requirement. Spring semester.
STEM 351 Preparatory Seminar: Health Professions1
A cross-disciplinary course focusing on synthesis of general biology, general chemistry, general physics, organic chemistry, physiology, NMR and IR spectroscopy. Strategic course for learning to apply introductory science/math knowledge to questions involving higher-order content. Intended for students planning to take the Medical College Admissions Test, Dental Aptitude Test, or veterinary-school entrance exams. Intended primarily for students in their junior or senior year. Students will prepare for health professions both in terms of the entrance exams and by researching each school's focus and prerequisites. Prerequisites: BI 140, BI 143, CH 161, CH 181, CH 271, CH 278, PS 151 & 153 or PS 131 & 133.
Dean

ERICA SALKIN

Chair

TRISHA RUSSELL

Professors

DEANNA OJENNUSKAREN STEVENS

Associate professors

KERRY BRENOTRISHA RUSSELLERIC DAVIS

Hugh Johnston Endowed Professor

KRAIG WHEELER