Filtered CHCHE Courses (2025-26)

First term: An introduction to general chemistry concepts with a focus on structure and bonding. Concepts will be tied to fundamental principles related to energy sustainability. Descriptions of atoms, both the physical and electronic structure with an introduction to quantum mechanics; chemical bonding models building up from molecules to extended solids; periodic trends; electrochemistry; and descriptions of states of matter. Second Term: A continuation of introduction to general chemistry concepts with a focus on chemical reactivity, and properties of complex chemical systems. Concepts related to energy, sustainability and human health will be the focus of the course with coverage of chemical thermodynamics; kinetics; non-covalent interactions; structure and bonding of organic molecules. Graded pass/fail.

An introduction to general chemistry focusing on the molecular level understanding of the structures, properties and reactivities of matter. The course introduces the physical and electronic structures of atoms and molecules, periodic properties, chemical bonding, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, equilibrium thermodynamics, acid-base chemistry, electrochemistry, kinetics, and fundamental reactions of organic and biochemistry. This material provides the foundation to develop the molecular basis of energy production, conversion, storage and transmission in both society and the biosphere, with carbon dioxide used as a reference system in the lectures and the lab to exemplify underlying chemical concepts. Satisfies the core requirements for Ch 1ab and Ch 3a/3x.

Introduces the basic principles and techniques of synthesis and analysis and develops the laboratory skills and precision that are fundamental to experimental chemistry. Limited enrollment. Students must take Ch 3 in their first six terms of residence in order to be graded pass/fail. Ch 3 a and Ch 3 x both satisfy the institute's Core requirement for a Chemistry Laboratory.

Introduces concepts and laboratory methods in chemistry and materials science centered on the theme of solar energy conversion and storage. Students will perform experiments involving optical spectroscopy, electrochemistry, laser spectroscopy, photochemistry, and photoelectrochemistry, culminating in the construction and testing of dye-sensitized solar cells. Students must take Ch 3 in their first six terms of residence in order to be graded pass/fail. Ch 3 a and Ch 3 x both satisfy the institute's Core requirement for a Chemistry Laboratory.

Introduction to methods of synthesis, separation, purification, and characterization used routinely in chemical research laboratories. Ch 4 a focuses on the synthesis and analysis of organic molecules; Ch 4 b focuses on the synthesis and analysis of inorganic and organometallic molecules. Ch 4 a, second term; Ch 4 b, third term.

Modern synthetic chemistry. Specific experiments may change from year to year. Ch 5 a focuses on experiments illustrating the multistep syntheses of natural products. Ch 5 b focuses on the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of coordination and organometallic complexes and their applications in organic and electrochemical catalysis. Methodology will include advanced techniques of synthesis and instrumental characterization. Terms may be taken independently.

Introduction to modern physical methods in chemistry and biology. Techniques include laser spectroscopy, microwave spectroscopy, electron spin resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, FT-IR, fluorescence, scanning probe microscopies, and UHV surface methods.

This advanced laboratory course will provide experience in contemporary methods used in chemical biology, including polypeptide synthesis and selective labeling and imaging of glycoproteins in cells. Experiments will address amino acid protecting group strategies, biopolymer assembly and isolation, and product characterization. A strong emphasis will be placed on understanding the chemical basis underlying the successful utilization of these procedures. In addition, experiments to demonstrate the application of commercially available enzymes for useful synthetic organic transformations will be illustrated.

Introduction to methods of extraction, synthesis, separation and purification, and spectroscopic characterization of Aspirin, Dyes, and an independent project relating to medical test strips. Open to non-premedical students, as space allows.

Instruction in synthesis, separation, purification, and physical and spectroscopic characterization procedures of model organic compounds. Specifically looking into dye synthesis, methods of isomer identification, and an independent project relating to engineering and organic chemistry. Enrollment priority given to chemical engineering majors.

Ch 10 ab is a weekly seminar by a member of the chemistry department on a topic of current research; the topic will be presented at an informal, introductory level. Ch 10 c is a research-oriented laboratory course, which will be supervised by a chemistry faculty member. Weekly class meetings will provide a forum for participants to discuss their research projects. Graded pass/fail.

The course will focus on techniques used in modern biochemistry laboratories. Students will learn how to express recombinant proteins in bacteria and purify them with various chromatography techniques. Purified proteins will be characterized by various in vitro assays.

This course has two concurrent components: (1) A physical chemistry-based approach to topics in chemical equilibrium: thermodynamics, solutions, acids, bases, and buffers, electrochemistry, and kinetics. (2) Investigation of the principles behind a suite of analytical instruments and methods in chromatography, spectroscopy, titration, and select electrochemical methods.

Laboratory experiments are used to illustrate modern instrumental techniques that are currently employed in industrial and academic research. Emphasis is on determinations of chemical composition, measurement of equilibrium constants, evaluation of rates of chemical reactions, and trace-metal analysis.

Atomic and molecular quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, chemical dynamics, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics.

The synthesis, structure, and reaction mechanisms of organic compounds.

Offered to B.S. candidates in chemistry. Units in accordance with work accomplished. Prerequisite: consent of research supervisor. Experimental and theoretical research requiring a report containing an appropriate description of the research work.

Occasional advanced work involving reading assignments and a report on special topics. No more than 12 units in Ch 81 may be used as electives in the chemistry option.

Three terms of Ch 82 are to be completed during the junior and/or senior year of study. At the end of the third term, students enrolled in Ch 82 will present a thesis of approximately 20 pages (excluding figures and references) to the mentor and the Chemistry Curriculum and Undergraduate Studies Committee. The thesis must be approved by both the research mentor and the CUSC. An oral thesis defense will be arranged by the CUSC in the third term for all enrollees. The first two terms of Ch 82 will be taken on a pass/fail basis, and the third term will carry a letter grade.

Training in the techniques of oral presentation of chemical and biochemical topics. Practice in the effective organization and delivery of technical reports before groups. Strong oral presentation is an essential skill for successful job interviews and career advancement. Graded pass/fail. Class size limited to 12 students.

Training in the writing of scientific research papers for chemists and chemical engineers. Fulfills the Institute scientific writing requirement.

Small group study and discussion on special areas of chemistry, chemical engineering, molecular biology, or biophysics. Instructors drawn from advanced graduate students and postdoctoral staff will lead weekly tutorial sessions and assign short homework assignments, readings, or discussions. Tutorials to be arranged with instructors before registration.

Structure and bonding of inorganic species with special emphasis on symmetry, spectroscopy, molecular orbital theory, ligand field theory, coordination/organometallic chemistry, and contemporary applied topics.

Lectures and recitation introducing the molecular basis of life processes. In the first term, topics will include the structure and chemical properties of biological macromolecules, molecular biology methods, and biological catalysis. The second term will cover an overview of metabolism and the biochemistry behind the transmission of genetic information.

Lectures and recitation on the molecular basis of biological structure and function. Emphasizes the storage, transmission, and expression of genetic information in cells. Specific topics include DNA replication, recombination, repair and mutagenesis, transcription, RNA processing, and chromatin structure.

Introduction to group theory, ligand field theory, and bonding in coordination complexes and organotransition metal compounds. Systematics of bonding, reactivity, and spectroscopy of commonly encountered classes of transition metal compounds.

The milk we drink in the morning (a colloidal dispersion), the gel we put into our hair (a polymer network), and the plaque that we try to scrub off our teeth (a biofilm)are all familiar examples of soft materials. Such materials also hold great promise in helping to solve engineering challenges like drug delivery, water remediation, and sustainable agriculture, as well as the development of new coatings, displays, formulations, food, and biomaterials. This class will cover fundamental aspects of the science of soft materials, presented within the context of these challenges. We will also have guest speakers describe new applications of soft materials.

Modern ideas of chemical bonding, with an emphasis on concepts useful for predictions of structures, energetics, excited states, and properties. Part a: The quantum mechanical basis for understanding bonding, structures, energetics, dynamics, and properties of materials (polymers, ceramics, metals alloys, semiconductors, and surfaces), including transition metal and organometallic systems with a focus on chemical reactivity. The emphasis is on explaining and predicting chemical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of materials in terms of atomistic concepts.; Part b: The student does an individual research project using modern quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics computer programs to calculate wavefunctions, structures, and properties of real molecules. The final is a draft for a publication.

Application of Atomistic-based methods to predicting the structures and properties of molecules and solids and for simulating the dynamical properties. It is aimed at experimentalists and theorists interested in learning how to apply atomistic theory to understanding structures, properties, and dynamics of molecules and solids. This course emphasizes hands-on use of modern commercial software (such as Jaguar or ORCA for QM on molecules, VASP for QM on periodic systems, and LAMMPS for MD) for practical applications and in such areas as catalysis (heterogeneous, homogeneous, and electrocatalysis), semiconductors (group IV, III-V, surfaces, defects), organo-metallics, inorganic systems (ceramics, zeolites, superconductors, and metals), biological systems (proteins, DNA, carbohydrates, lipids), and polymers (crystals, amorphous systems, co-polymers). The first 5 weeks of Ch 121a covers the basic methods of QM and MD with hands-on applications to systems using modern software. For the midterm each student proposes a short research project to use atomistic simulations for a problem that has not yet been published. For the second 5 weeks of Ch 121a each student addresses this research project with a weekly 5-10 min presentation on progress. The final is a 5 page report on the results. In Ch 121b each student selects a more extensive research project (could be an extension of the Ch 121a project) and uses atomistic simulations to solve it. The final is a draft of a paper for publication.

This course provides an introduction to small molecule X-ray crystallography. Topics include symmetry, space groups, diffraction by crystals, the direct and reciprocal lattice, Patterson and direct methods for phase determination, and structure refinement. It will cover both theoretical and applied concepts and include hands-on experience in data collection, structure solution and structure refinement.

A treatment of quantum mechanics with application to molecular and material systems. The basic elements of quantum mechanics, the electronic structure of atoms and molecules, the interactions of radiation fields and matter, and time dependent techniques relevant to spectroscopy will be covered. The course sequence prepares students for Ch 126, Ch 225, and 226.

Quantum mechanical foundations of the spectroscopy of molecules. Topics include the theory of radiation-matter interactions, applications of group theory to spectroscopy, angular momentum, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, rotational spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy, and photoelectron spectroscopy.

This course will cover basic optics and introduce modern optical spectroscopy principles and microscopy techniques. Topics include molecular spectroscopy, linear and nonlinear florescence microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, coherent microscopy, single-molecule spectroscopy, and super-resolution imaging.

Design, construction, and characterization of engineered biological systems. Students propose and execute research projects in biomolecular engineering, synthetic biology, and genetic engineering fields. Projects will cover a broad range of molecular and cell biology, and genetics and genomics lab techniques.

Physical description and computations of chemical reactions and photochemistry with applications in air pollution, planetary atmospheres and condensed phases. Topics include: kinetic modeling, time-dependent quantum mechanics, rate constants, transition state theory intermolecular potentials, classical two-body elastic scattering, reactive scattering, nonadiabatic processes, statistical theories of unimolecular reactions, photochemistry, laser and molecular beam methods, theory of electron transfer, solvent effects, condensed phase dynamics, surface reactions, isotope effects.

Through lectures, in-class activities, and problem sets, students learn and use methods in data science to execute a project focused on a Quantitative Structure Property Relationship (QSPR). Students complete a typical research-based data science pipeline, including project definition, metric evaluation, data collection, data cleaning, exploratory data analysis, model selection, visualization, and reporting. During data cleaning and exploratory data analysis, students learn key concepts about univariate and multivariate statistics. Throughout the project, students learn about bias and fairness, the reproducibility crisis, statistical paradoxes, and more. Python is the programming language of instruction.

Student groups complete a one-term, data-science project that addresses an instructor-approved chemical engineering challenge. The project may be an original research idea; related to work by a research group at the Institute; an entry in a relevant national/regional contest; a response to an industry relationship; or other meaningful opportunity. There is no lecture, but students participate in weekly progress updates. A student may not select a project too similar to research completed to fulfill requirements for ChE 80 or ChE 90 abc.

The properties and photoelectrochemistry of semiconductors and semiconductor/liquid junction solar cells will be discussed. Topics include optical and electronic properties of semiconductors; electronic properties of semiconductor junctions with metals, liquids, and other semiconductors, in the dark and under illumination, with emphasis on semiconductor/liquid junctions in aqueous and nonaqueous media. Problems currently facing semiconductor/liquid junctions and practical applications of these systems will be highlighted.

Inorganic chemistry of natural waters with an emphasis on equilibrium solutions to problems in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Topics will include, acid-base chemistry, precipitation, complexation, redox reactions, and surface chemistry. Examples will largely be drawn from geochemistry and geobiology. Selected topics in kinetics will be covered based on interest and time.

This course will address both one-dimensional and two-dimensional techniques in NMR spectroscopy which are essential to elucidating structures of organic and organometallic samples. Dynamic NMR phenomena, multinuclear, paramagnetic and NOE effects will also be covered. An extensive survey of multipulse NMR methods will also contribute to a clear understanding of two-dimensional experiments. (Examples for Varian NMR instrumentation will be included.)

An overview of chemical approaches used to study, target, and rewire biology. Topics covered will include bioorganic chemistry, bioconjugation and bioorthogonal chemistries, fluorophores and chemical probes, crosslinking and proximity labeling, chemical genetics, new modalities in pharmacology and screening, photopharmacology, reprogramming genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic codes.

Discussion of key principles in organic chemistry, with an emphasis on reaction mechanisms and problem-solving. This course is intended primarily for first-year graduate students with a strong foundation in organic chemistry. Meets during the first three weeks of the term. Graded pass/fail.

Ch 153 a: Topics in modern inorganic chemistry. Electronic structure, spectroscopy, and photochemistry with emphasis on examples from the research literature. Ch 153 b: Applications of physical methods to the characterization of inorganic and bioinorganic species, with an emphasis on the practical application of Moessbauer, EPR, and pulse EPR spectroscopies. Ch 153 c: Theoretical and spectroscopic approaches to understanding the electronic structure of transition metal ions. Topics in the 153 bc alternate sequence may include saturation magnetization and zero-field splitting in magnetic circular dichroism and molecular magnetism, hyperfine interactions in electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, Moessbauer and magnetic Moessbauer spectroscopy, vibronic interactions in electronic absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopy, and bonding analyses using x-ray absorption and/or emission spectroscopies. Parts b, c not offered 2025-26.

A general discussion of the reaction mechanisms and the synthetic and catalytic uses of transition metal organometallic compounds.

An introduction to the fundamentals and simple applications of statistical thermodynamics. Foundation of statistical mechanics; partition functions for various ensembles and their connection to thermodynamics; fluctuations; noninteracting quantum and classical gases; heat capacity of solids; adsorption; phase transitions and order parameters; linear response theory; structure of classical fluids; computer simulation methods.

An advanced course emphasizing the conceptual structure of modern thermodynamics and its applications. Review of the laws of thermodynamics; thermodynamic potentials and Legendre transform; equilibrium and stability conditions; metastability and phase separation kinetics; thermodynamics of single-component fluid and binary mixtures; models for solutions; phase and chemical equilibria; surface and interface thermodynamics; electrolytes and polymeric liquids.

A detailed course about chemical transformation in Earth's atmosphere. Kinetics, spectroscopy, and thermodynamics of gas-phase chemistry of the stratosphere and troposphere; sources, sinks, and lifetimes of trace atmospheric species; stratospheric ozone chemistry; oxidation mechanisms in the troposphere; aerosol chemistry.

Basic principles of modern structural and biophysical methods used to interrogate macromolecules from the atomic to cellular levels, including light and electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, single molecule spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, and molecular dynamics and systems biology simulations.

The central dogma of molecular biology describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein. Each step in this process depends on different macromolecular machines that copy, transcribe, and decode the information stored in DNA. This course will focus on the function of such assemblies, including the replisome, RNA Pol II, the spliceosome, the ribosome, and translocons. The course will be taught through a combination of lectures and student-led discussions of the primary literature that has shaped our understanding of how macromolecular machines operate. Students will also prepare a short research proposal that will be peer reviewed and discussed at the end of the term at a mock NIH-style study section.

This course will cover selected aspects of the chemistry of aquatic systems. Lectures cover basic principles of physical-organic chemistry relevant to the aquatic environment under realistic conditions. Specific topics covered in this course include the basic principles of equilibrium chemical and physical processes important for natural waters. Topics include: chemical potential, fugacity, phase transfer, acid-base chemistry, metal-ligand substitution chemistry, surface chemistry, octanol-water partitioning, air-water partitioning, partitioning to solid organic matter and biomedia, sorption processes, air-water exchange dynamics, and the kinetics and mechanisms of coupled organic and inorganic redox reactions. Thermodynamics, transport, phase transfer and kinetics are emphasized.

Discussion of the energetic principles and molecular mechanisms that underlie enzyme's catalytic proficiency and exquisite specificity. Principles of selectivity, allostery, and force generation in biology. Practical kinetics and their application to more complex biological systems, including steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetics, and kinetic simulations.

Offered to M.S. candidates in chemistry. Graded pass/fail.