Chemistry

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (three tracks) certified by American Chemical Society (ACS)

• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Environmental Chemistry

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (non-ACS)

Program Description

Chemistry is the field of science associated with atoms and molecules, hence nanoscience and beyond. Overall, chemists focus their efforts to understand the behavior and properties of matter, the reactions and transformations that dictate chemical processes, and the creation of new substances. Chemistry is often considered the central science linking the physical sciences with engineering, medicine, and life sciences. The subject of chemistry is typically organized into more focused subdisciplines, including organic chemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, theoretical/computational chemistry, and materials chemistry. A degree in chemistry examines these topics to promote a fundamental understanding of the world and an application toward technological problems. Professional chemists apply their knowledge in many different areas ranging from environmental and biochemical processes to the development of new materials. They work in academic environments, high-tech start-ups, and research and development laboratories associated with practically every advanced technological field including medicine, energy, biotechnology, computing, and agriculture.

The BS degree program in chemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS) with a more traditional chemistry track that can be tailored to optimize preparation consistent with a student's individual career goals offered along with specific curricular tracks emphasizing environmental chemistry or biochemistry.  These degree tracks are designed to educate professionals for the varied career opportunities this central scientific discipline affords. The curricula are therefore founded in rigorous fundamental science complemented by application of these principles to the materials, energy, minerals, biochemical and/or environmental fields. It is strongly encouraged that those aspiring to enter PhD programs in chemistry or biochemistry are strongly advised to include undergraduate research among their elective hours. Others interested in industrial chemistry choose area of special interest elective courses, in both chemistry and other departments. A number of students complete a dual degree in chemistry and chemical engineering as an excellent preparation for industrial careers.  

There is a separate BS degree in Biochemistry which is also offered. The BS degree program in biochemistry is designed to educate professionals for the varied career opportunities this scientific discipline affords, e.g. medicine, veterinary etc. Biochemistry is the field of science concerned with the chemical and physicochemical processes that occur within living organisms. It focuses on molecular genetics, protein science, and metabolism. Almost all areas of the life sciences are being uncovered and developed by biochemical methodology and research. Biochemistry focuses on understanding how biological molecules give rise to the processes that occur within living cells and between cells, which in turn relates greatly to the study and understanding of tissues, organs, organism and microorganism structure and function.

A degree in biochemistry examines these topics to promote a fundamental understanding of the fusion of chemistry and biology and an application toward technological problems. Professional biochemists apply their knowledge in many different areas ranging from environmental processes to the development of new biomaterials, to drug development and even novel renewable bioenergy systems. They work in academic environments, high-tech startups, and research and development laboratories associated with practically every advanced technological field including medicine, energy, biotechnology, computing, and agriculture.

The instructional and research laboratories located in Coolbaugh Hall are state-of-the-art facilities with modern instrumentation for synthesis and characterization of molecules and materials. Instrumentation includes gas chromatographs (GC), high-performance liquid chromatographs (HPLC), inductively coupled-plasma-atomic emission spectrometers (ICP-AES), field-flow fractionation (FFF) equipment, mass spectrometry equipment (MS, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, PY/MS, PY/GC/MS, SFC/MS, MALDI-TOF), 400 MHz and 500 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers (NMR), infrared spectrometers (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV) spectrometers, thermogravimetric analyzers (TGA), differential scanning calorimeters (DSC), and others including equipment for microscopy, light scattering, and elemental analysis.  In addition, the campus provides access to the Mines 2,144 core 23 teraflop supercomputer for computational research.

Professors

Thomas Albrecht-Schönzart, Distinguished Professor

Thomas Gennett, Department Head

Richard C. Holz, Provost

Mark P. Jensen, Grandey University Chair in Nuclear Science & Engineering

Daniel M. Knauss, Associate Dean of Energy and Materials

Matthew C. Posewitz

James F. Ranville

Ryan M. Richards

Alan S. Sellinger

Jenifer C. Shafer

Bettina M. Voelker

David T. Wu

Associate Professors

Svitlana Pylypenko

Brian G. Trewyn

Shubham Vyas

Assistant Professors

Dylan Domaille

Annalise Maughan

C. Michael McGuirk

Christine Morrison

Teaching Professors

Renee L. Falconer, Associate Department Head

Angela Sower

Teaching Assistant Professors

Christian Beren

Amanda Jameer

Kara Metzger

Jonathan Miorelli

Research Professors

Mark E. Eberhart

Kim R. Williams

Research Assistant Professors

Shane Galley

Jessica Jackson

Yuan Yang

Joint Appointees

Matthew Beard

Todd Deutsch

Jesse Hensley

Justin Johnson

Calvin Mukarakate

Bryan Pivovar

David Robichaud

Daniel Ruddy

Professors Emeriti

Scott W. Cowley

Dean W. Dickerhoof

Mark E. Eberhart

Ronald W. Klusman

Donald Langmuir

Donald L. Macalady

Patrick MacCarthy

Michael J. Pavelich

Mark R. Seger

E. Craig Simmons

Kent J. Voorhees

Thomas R. Wildeman

Program Educational Objectives (Bachelor of Science in Chemistry)

In addition to contributing toward achieving the educational objectives described in the Mines Graduate Profile and the ABET accreditation criteria, the BS curricula in chemistry are designed to:

• Impart mastery of chemistry fundamentals.
• Develop ability to apply chemistry fundamentals in solving open-ended problems.
• Impart knowledge of and ability to use modern tools of chemical analysis and synthesis.
• Develop ability to locate and use pertinent information from the chemical literature.
• Develop ability to interpret and use experimental data for chemical systems.
• Develop ability to effectively communicate in both written and oral formats.
• Prepare students for entry to and success in professional careers.
• Prepare students for entry to and success in graduate programs.
• Prepare students for responsible contribution to society.

Curriculum

The BS chemistry curricula, in addition to the strong basis provided by the common core, contain three components: chemistry fundamentals, laboratory and communication skills, and applications courses.

Chemistry fundamentals

• Analytical chemistry – sampling, method selection, statistical data analysis, error sources, theory of operation of analytical instruments (atomic and molecular spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, chromatography and other separation methods, electroanalytical methods, and thermal methods), calibration, standardization, stoichiometry of analysis, equilibrium, and kinetic principles in analysis.
• Inorganic chemistry – atomic structure and periodicity, crystal lattice structure, molecular geometry and bonding (VSEPR, Lewis structures, VB and MO theory, bond energies, and lengths), metals structure and properties, acid-base theories, main-group element chemistry, coordination chemistry, term symbols, ligand field theory, spectra and magnetism of complexes, organometallic chemistry, and nanomaterials chemistry and design.
• Organic chemistry – bonding and structure, structure- physical property relationships, reactivity-structure relationships, reaction mechanisms (nucleophilic and electrophilic substitution, addition, elimination, radical reactions, rearrangements, redox reactions, photochemical reactions, and metal-mediated reactions), chemical kinetics, catalysis, major classes of compounds and their reactions, and design of synthetic pathways.
• Physical chemistry – thermodynamics (energy, enthalpy, entropy, equilibrium constants, free energy, chemical potential, non-ideal systems, standard states, activity, phase rule, phase equilibria, phase diagrams), electrochemistry, kinetic theory (Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, collision frequency, effusion, heat capacity, equipartition of energy), kinetics (microscopic reversibility, relaxation processes, mechanisms and rate laws, collision and absolute rate theories), quantum mechanics (Schroedinger equations, operators and matrix elements, particle-in-a-box, simple harmonic oscillator, rigid rotor, angular momentum, hydrogen atom, hydrogen wave functions, spin, Pauli principle, LCAO method, MO theory, bonding), spectroscopy (dipole selection rules, rotational spectra, term symbols, atomic and molecular electronic spectra, magnetic spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, multiphoton selection rules, lasers), statistical thermodynamics (ensembles, partition functions, Einstein crystals, Debye crystals), group theory, surface chemistry, X-ray crystallography, electron diffraction, dielectric constants, dipole moments, and elements of computational chemistry.

Laboratory and communication skills

• Analytical methods – gravimetry, titrimetry, sample dissolution, quantitative spectroscopy, GC, HPLC, GC/MS, potentiometry, NMR, AA, ICP-AES
• Synthesis techniques – batch reactor assembly, inert-atmosphere manipulations, vacuum line methods, high-temperature methods, high-pressure methods, distillation, recrystallization, extraction, sublimation, chromatographic purification, product identification
• Physical measurements – refractometry, viscometry, colligative properties, FTIR, NMR
• Information retrieval – Chemical Abstracts online searching, CA registry numbers, Beilstein, Gmelin, handbooks, organic syntheses, organic reactions, inorganic syntheses, primary sources, ACS Style Guide
• Reporting – lab notebook, experiment and research reports, technical oral reports
• Communication – scientific reviews, seminar presentations, publication of research results

Applications

• Elective courses – application of chemistry fundamentals in chemistry elective courses or courses in another discipline e.g., chemical engineering, environmental science, materials science.
• Internship – summer or semester experience in an industrial or governmental organization working on real-world problems.
• Undergraduate research – open-ended problem solving in the context of a research project.

Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Degree Requirements (Chemistry Track)

* Technical electives are courses in any technical field.  HASS, PAGN, Military Science, ROTC, McBride and the business courses of EBGN are not accepted technical electives. Examples of possible electives that will be recommended to students are:

** Chemistry electives are non-required courses taught within the Chemistry Department.  In addition, graduate-level Chemistry and Geochemistry courses taught within the department are acceptable. 

CHGN495 SENIOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH is taught as a possible chemistry elective.  Those aspiring to enter PhD programs in Chemistry or related fields are strongly advised to include undergraduate research in their curricula.  The objective of CHGN495 is that students successfully perform an open-ended research project under the direction of a CSM faculty member.  Students must demonstrate through the preparation of a proposal, prepared in consultation with the potential faculty research advisor and the CHGN495 instructor, that they qualify for enrollment in CHGN495.

Degree Requirements  (Environmental Chemistry Track)

* Technical electives are courses in any technical field. HASS, PAGN, Military Science and ROTC, McBride and the business courses of EBGN are not accepted technical electives. 

** Chemistry electives are non-required courses taught within the Chemistry department.  In addition, graduate-level Chemistry and Geochemistry courses taught within the department are acceptable. 

Environmental electives are courses that are directly or indirectly related to Environmental Chemistry.  Examples include environmental CEEN courses and CHGN462.  Students can consult their advisors for further clarification.

CHGN495 SENIOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH is taught as a possible chemistry elective.  Those aspiring to enter PhD programs in Chemistry or related fields are strongly advised to include undergraduate research in their curricula.  The objective of CHGN495 is that students successfully perform an open-ended research project under the direction of a CSM faculty member.  Students must demonstrate through the preparation of a proposal, prepared in consultation with the potential faculty research advisor and the CHGN495 instructor, that they qualify for enrollment in CHGN495.

Degree Requirements (Biochemistry Track)

* Technical electives are courses in any technical field. HASS, PAGN, Military Science and ROTC, McBride and the business courses of EBGN are not accepted technical electives. * Possible technical electives that will be recommended to students are:

** Chemistry electives are non-required courses taught within the Chemistry department.  In addition, graduate-level Chemistry and Geochemistry courses taught within the department are acceptable. 

CHGN495 SENIOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH is taught as a possible chemistry elective.  Those aspiring to enter Ph.D. programs in Chemistry or related fields are strongly advised to include undergraduate research in their curricula.  The objective of CHGN495 is that students successfully perform an open-ended research project under the direction of a CSM faculty member.  Students must demonstrate through the preparation of a proposal, prepared in consultation with the potential faculty research advisor and the CHGN495 instructor, that they qualify for enrollment in CHGN495.

Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry

CHGN Electives:

Tech Electives:

Major GPA

During the 2016-2017 academic year, the Undergraduate Council considered the policy concerning required major GPAs and which courses are included in each degree’s GPA.  While the GPA policy has not been officially updated, in order to provide transparency, council members agreed that publishing the courses included in each degree’s GPA is beneficial to students. 

The following list details the courses that are included in the GPA for this degree:

• CHGC100 through CHGC599 inclusive
• CHGN100 through CHGN599 inclusive

The Mines guidelines for Minor/ASI can be found in the Undergraduate Information section of the Mines Catalog.

Chemistry Minor and ASI Programs

No specific course sequences are suggested for students wishing to include chemistry minors or areas of special interest in their programs. Rather, those students should consult with the Chemistry department head (or designated faculty member) to design appropriate sequences. For the purpose of completing a minor in Chemistry, the Organic Chemistry sequence is exempt from the 100–200-level limit.

ASI programs include Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, and Biochemistry. Refer to the main ASI section of the Bulletin for applicable rules for Areas of Special Interest.

Courses