Biochemistry (BCHM)
Chemistry (CHEM)
Professor Joseph Capitani
Chair of the Department
Professor M. Todd Tippetts,
Associate Chair
The goals of the chemistry and biochemistry department are to provide a program which emphasizes the basic understanding of the constituents of matter, its transformations and the chemical principles involved therein. The department also promotes the study of the chemical and biochemical environment and the manner and methods by which they are investigated. To accomplish this goal, students are provided with a basic framework of knowledge by which they can carry out further study, research and understand the implication of scientific discoveries, inventions and their impact upon human welfare. They learn to think analytically and independently and are encouraged to apply this knowledge ethically throughout their lifetimes to civic, personal and professional problems. As a result, students are prepared for careers in the various disciplines and subdisciplines of chemistry and biochemistry, in the teaching of these disciplines and for pursuing higher studies in basic and applied sciences or to follow professional careers in medicine, dentistry, law and other areas.
Requirements for the B.S. Major in Chemistry: Students in this program must maintain a 2.8 GPA in the major by the end of the fourth semester. Students who do not maintain this GPA are advised not to continue in the chemistry major. The following chemistry courses are required: 101, 102, 302, 309, 310, 311, 319, 320, 323, 324, 335, 336, 410, 437 and 452. A minimum grade of C in any chemistry course is necessary for credit toward the major. Majors may not elect CHEM 100, 105, or 106. The chemistry department is approved by the American Chemical Society and will certify students as having complied with the Society requirements provided they have completed the minimum requirements for the B.S. plus CHEM 433 and one additional 400 level course.
Requirements for the B.S. Major in Biochemistry: Students in this program must maintain a 2.8 GPA in the major by the end of the fourth semester. Students who do not maintain this GPA are advised not to continue in the biochemistry major. The following chemistry courses are required: 101, 102, 302, 309, 310, 311, 319, 320, 323, 324, 335, 410, 433, 434, 436, 437 and 458. BIOL 111-112, 113-114 and an advanced biology elective are also required. A minimum grade of C in any chemistry or biology course is necessary for credit toward the major. Majors may not elect CHEM 100, 105, or 106. Students planning to enter either medical or dental school should consult with the Premedical Advisory Committee and should acquaint themselves with the entrance requirements of medical or dental schools. Students pursuing the B.S. degree in biochemistry may, through the judicious choice of electives comply with the American Chemical Society requirements for certification.
Requirements for the B.A. Major in Chemistry: Students in this program must successfully complete the following courses with a minimum grade of C: CHEM 101-102, 319-320 and 323-324. They will then be permitted to enroll in the following required courses: CHEM 302, 309, 310, 311 and a chemistry elective.
Requirements for the B.A. Major in Biochemistry: Students in this program must successfully complete the following courses with a minimum grade of C: CHEM 101-102, 319-320, 323-324 and BIOL 111-112, 113-114. They will then be permitted to enroll in the following required courses: CHEM 302, 309, 433, 434, 436, and 458.
Undergraduate research is encouraged and the department is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation that is available for student use. Included are a Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer, an X-ray crystallography apparatus, a diode-array UV/visible spectrophotometer, a Fourier-transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectrophotometer, an atomic absorption unit, several high performance liquid chromatographs, gas chromatographs, and a molecular modeling laboratory.
Students who transfer into the chemistry and biochemistry programs are required to take at least half of their required chemistry credits at Manhattan College.
Requirements for the Minor in Chemistry: Students should complete 15 credits or five courses in the department of chemistry and biochemistry for the minor. This would generally include CHEM 101-102, CHEM 319-320 and one additional course.
Requirements for the Minor in Biochemistry: Students should complete 15 credits or five course in the department of chemistry and biochemistry for the minor. These credits must include at least 8 credits from the following courses: CHEM 433, 434, 436 and 458. A student may not count the same credits towards minors in both chemistry and biochemistry.
Breakage Deposit: Students registering for any laboratory course must present a $20 breakage card (obtained from the Bursar’s Office) at the second laboratory meeting.
100. Foundations of Chemistry. A brief course in fundamental principles and applications of chemistry to the living world. Two lectures and one two-hour laboratory period. This course is designed for students majoring in the Arts, in Physical Education, or in Radiological Sciences and cannot be used as a substitute for any other course in chemistry. (Cr.3)
101-102. General Chemistry. The fundamental laws and principles of chemistry; appropriate laboratory exercises to illustrate these principles and to develop proper techniques; introduction to quantitative analytical methodology. The laboratory in the second semester includes an introduction to systematic inorganic qualitative analysis. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory period per week. Prerequisite for CHEM 101: a high school chemistry course or CHEM 100. It is recommended that a student achieve a grade of C or higher in CHEM 101 before taking CHEM 102. (Cr.4, 4)
105-106. Chemistry. An introductory course in the principles of chemistry, with application to the health sciences. Fundamentals of general chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry. Appropriate laboratory exercises illustrate these principles and develop techniques. This course cannot be taken as a prerequisite for Organic Chemistry. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory period per week. (Cr.4, 4)
197-198. General Chemistry: Honors. An intensive introductory course in all the major branches of chemistry, including biochemistry. The level at which material is introduced will vary so as to adjust to the backgrounds of the students. The laboratory will include some open ended experiments designed to develop an appreciation for creative research. Admission to the course is by invitation of the professor in charge of the course and is not restricted to chemistry majors. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory period per week. Registration only with permission of instructor. (Cr.4, 4)
302. Analytical Chemistry. Principles and applications of classical wet analytical techniques such as gravimetric and volumetric methods, as well as modern analytical techniques, such as electrochemistry, spectroscopy and chromatography. Statistical evaluation of analytical data. Three lectures and a four hour laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 102. (Cr.5)
309-310. Physical Chemistry. The application of thermodynamics to the study of the states of matter, phase equilibria, chemical equilibria, thermal chemistry, and electrochemistry. Chemical kinetics, diffusion and the migration of ions. Elucidation of the molecular structure of matter by classical physical and quantum mechanical considerations. Prerequisite: CHEM 102. Corequisites: MATH 201, and PHYS 102 or 108. (Cr.3, 3)
311. Physical Chemistry Laboratory I. Laboratory studies of physical chemical measurements on gases, heats of chemical processes, equilibrium, emf and conductance. A four hour laboratory. Corequisite: CHEM 310. (Cr.2)
319-320. Organic Chemistry. The chemistry of carbon compounds. Emphasis on structure and mechanisms of organic reactions. Three lectures and one problem period. Prerequisite: CHEM 102. (Cr.3, 3)
323-324. Organic Chemistry Laboratory. Synthesis, purification, analysis, mechanistic studies and spectral characterization of organic compounds. Four hours of laboratory. Prerequisite or Corequisite: CHEM 319 for 323; 320 for 324. (Cr.2, 2)
335. Inorganic Chemistry. The chemistry of the elements and their compounds. Industrial, biochemical, environmental, and geochemical applications of inorganic chemistry are emphasized. The periodic table, elementary bonding models and thermodynamic data are used to organize, understand, and predict chemical and physical properties of inorganic compounds. Three lectures. Prerequisite: CHEM 102. (Cr.3)
336. Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory. Study of the properties, synthesis and characterization of inorganic compounds. Experiments include preparations of metallic and non-metallic elements from compounds; simple salts by wet and dry methods; common gases; coordination compounds; air sensitive compounds; organometallic compounds; high temperature superconductors. A four hour laboratory. Corequisite: CHEM 335. (Cr.2)
410. Physical Chemistry Laboratory II. Laboratory studies of kinetics, spectroscopy, molecular structure and molecular modeling. A four hour laboratory. Prerequisite or Corequisite: CHEM 311. (Cr.2)
415. Advanced Organic Chemistry. Structure, mechanism and synthesis in modern organic chemistry. An introduction to the chemistry of natural products and heterocyclic compounds will be included. Three lectures. Prerequisite: CHEM 320. (Cr.3)
421. Advanced Topics in Chemistry. Advanced topics in chemistry will be either polymer chemistry or environmental chemistry. A student may elect this course more than once if the topics are different each time. Three lectures. Prerequisites: CHEM 310, CHEM 320. (Cr.3)
427. Advanced Physical Chemistry. Topics in theoretical physical chemistry with an introduction to the chemical aspects of quantum and statistical mechanics, and group theory. Three lectures. Prerequisite: CHEM 310. (Cr.3)
433. Biochemistry I. An introduction to the chemistry of biologically important amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins and hormones. Enzyme kinetics and catalysis, protein structure and function, introduction to intermediary metabolism will be included. Three lectures. Prerequisite: CHEM 320. (Cr.3)
434. Biochemistry II. Chemistry and metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Protein folding and posttranslational modification. Three lectures. Prerequisite: CHEM 433. (Cr.3)
435. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. Molecular structure and bonding theory. Transition metal chemistry. An introduction to spectroscopy, catalysis, and organometallic chemistry. Three lectures. Prerequisites: CHEM 310 and 335. (Cr.3)
436. Biochemistry Laboratory. Four hour laboratory with emphasis on techniques used in protein and enzymology laboratories. Prerequisite or Corequisite: CHEM 434. (Cr.2)
437. Computers, Structures and Bonding. An intermediate level presentation of the fundamental ideas of metallic, ionic and covalent bonding. The consequences of these bonding schemes are then related to the plenitude of three dimensional chemical, biochemical and crystalline structure. The latest computer software of interest to chemists and biochemists is incorporated in a hands on approach in order to render chemical structures and deduce chemical properties based on the bonding pertinent to those structures using the computer for chemical literature searching and manuscript preparation. Three lectures. Prerequisites: CHEM 309, 320, and 335. (Cr.3)
452. Advanced Spectroscopy. Molecular UV/Vis absorption and luminescence spectroscopy; atomic absorption and emission spectroscopy; nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry; infrared and Raman spectroscopy; mass spectroscopy. Three lectures and a four hour laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 302, 310, 320, 324, 410. (Cr.5)
458. Biochemistry III. Biochemistry of the nucleic acids, DNA and RNA. Three lectures and a four hour laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 434. (Cr.5)
460, 461. Chemical Research. An investigation of an original nature carried out by the student under the guidance of a faculty member; a brief written report is submitted to and approved by the faculty of the department. (Cr.1, 2)
571. Physical Biochemistry. Quantitative characterization and analysis of macromolecules with applications of biochemistry and molecular biology. Emphasis on the principles and application of laboratory techniques including chromatography, electrophoresis, hydrodynamic methods and spectroscopy. Three lectures. Prerequisite: CHEM 434. (Cr.3)