Weill Medical College of Cornell University · Courses
CHEM
76 courses with the subject CHEM, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
CHEM 1001Chemical Concepts2.5
PSSP Chemical Concepts introduces foundational topics at the level of rigor students will encounter in General Chemistry at Cornell. In a collaborative and active learning environment, students will develop chemical intuition in the areas of atomic structure, introductory quantum mechanics, stoichiometry, and basic reactions. Through problem-solving activities and guided practice, students will learn to apply multiple approaches to challenging questions, report answers with correct significant figures, and master essential skills like conversions, balancing reactions, and drawing molecular structures. This course emphasizes growth mindset strategies and fosters a supportive community of learners.
CHEM 1010Introductory Seminar in Chemical Research0.5
CHEM 1010 will introduce current and prospective Chemistry majors to research opportunities in Chemistry and Chemical Biology. The seminar will foster an interactive environment where students can building connections with faculty and upper-year Chemistry majors, and explore research opportunities within the department.
Reviews material presented in CHEM 3570 lectures and offers practice with CHEM 3570 material. Weekly reviews and problem solving sessions focus on the most important topics covered in lecture, and office hours held throughout the week by Learning Strategies Center tutors to help improve performance in CHEM 3570.
Reviews material presented in CHEM 3580 lectures and offers practice with CHEM 3580 material. Weekly review sessions focus on the most important topics covered in lecture and office hours held throughout the week are designed to help improve performance in CHEM 3580.
This course centers on the critical reasoning skills required to solve freshmen chemistry problems. Our regular freshman chemistry classes (CHEM 1560, CHEM 2070, CHEM 2090 and CHEM 2150) all presuppose an understanding of the basic quantitative reasoning skills required to solve chemistry problems and focus their limited lecture time instead on the teaching of chemistry knowledge.
CHEM 1080Introduction to Critical Thinking for the Sciences1
This course centers on the critical reasoning skills required to solve first-year chemistry problems. Our Spring first-year chemistry class (CHEM 2080) presupposes an understanding of the basic quantitative reasoning skills required to solve chemistry problems and focus their limited lecture time instead on the teaching of chemistry knowledge. This course compensates for the fast pace of CHEM 2080.
Fundamentals of chemistry will be introduced and applied to real world situations. Critical aspects of 21st century life depend on an informed voting public that can assiduously address scientific issues. The role of chemistry, the good and the bad, will be an increasingly important component of everyday life. The course seeks to prepare you to be an informed voter.
CHEM 1560 is the lecture component of a one-semester introduction to fundamental topics in general chemistry, both qualitative and quantitative. Co-enrollment in CHEM 1561 (lab) is required. CHEM 1560 (lecture) and CHEM 1561 (lab) together provide a complete one-semester introduction to general chemistry and serve as preparation for CHEM 1570. CHEM 1560 is not recommended for premedical or pre-veterinary students. Students planning to take CHEM 2080 should be enrolled in CHEM 2070 rather than CHEM 1560.
CHEM 1561Introduction to General Chemistry Laboratory1
CHEM 1561 is the laboratory component of a one-semester introduction to fundamental topics in general chemistry, both qualitative and quantitative. Co-enrollment in CHEM 1560 (lecture) is required. CHEM 1560 (lecture) and CHEM 1561 (lab) together provide a complete one-semester introduction to general chemistry and serve as preparation for CHEM 1570. CHEM 1560 and CHEM 1561 are not recommended for premedical or pre-veterinary students. Students planning to take CHEM 2080 and CHEM 2081 should be enrolled in CHEM 2070 and CHEM 2071 rather than CHEM 1560 and CHEM 1561.
Solve It! will teach the skill of solving cognitively challenging general chemistry questions, such as students receive in CHEM 2070. Students will explore Polya's method of problem solving while solving problems on unit conversions, combustion analysis, limiting reactants, isotopes, the Bohr model, periodic trends, 3-D Lewis structures, atomic orbitals, molecular orbitals, ideal gases, and the kinetic theory of gases. In addition, students will learn fundametal arithmetic and mathematical skills.
CHEM 2070 is the lecture component of General Chemistry I. Covers fundamental chemical principles, with considerable attention given to the quantitative aspects and techniques important for further work in chemistry. Main topics include chemical transformations and equations, periodic trends of the elements, electronic structure of atoms, chemical bonding, and the collective behavior of molecules.
This is the laboratory component of CHEM 2070 General Chemistry I. Covers fundamental chemical principles, with considerable attention given to the quantitative aspects and techniques important for further work in chemistry. Main topics include chemical transformations and equations, periodic trends of the elements, electronic structure of atoms, chemical bonding, and the collective behavior of molecules.
CHEM 2080 is the lecture component of General Chemistry II. Covers fundamental chemical principles, including reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. These principles are presented quantitatively and explored in the laboratory. Considerable attention is given to the quantitative calculations and techniques important for further work in chemistry.
CHEM 2081 is the laboratory component of General Chemistry II. Covers fundamental chemical principles, including reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. These principles are presented quantitatively and explored in the laboratory. Considerable attention is given to the quantitative calculations and techniques important for further work in chemistry.
CHEM 2090 is the lecture component of Engineering General Chemistry. Covers basic chemical concepts, such as reactivity and bonding of molecules, introductory quantum mechanics, and intermolecular forces in liquids and solids and gases. Attention will be focused on aspects and applications of chemistry most pertinent to engineering.
CHEM 2091Engineering General Chemistry Laboratory1
CHEM 2091 is the laboratory component of CHEM 2090 Engineering General Chemistry. Covers basic chemical concepts, such as reactivity and bonding of molecules, introductory quantum mechanics, and intermolecular forces in liquids and solids and gases. Attention will be focused on aspects and applications of chemistry most pertinent to engineering.
Intensive systematic study of the laws and concepts of chemistry, with considerable emphasis on quantitative aspects. CHEM 2150 covers electronic structure of atoms, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, kinetics, and equilibrium. This course serves as an accelerated entry into organic chemistry in the Spring semester for students with a strong background in chemistry. Laboratory work covers qualitative and quantitative analysis, thermodynamics, kinetics transition metal chemistry, and spectroscopic techniques.
CHEM 2510Introduction to Experimental Organic Chemistry2
Introduction to the synthesis, separation, characterization, and handling of materials, including chromatography, extraction, crystallization, infrared spectroscopy, and others. An experiment is performed the first week of lab. Students need to enroll in the course Canvas site and complete the appropriate pre-lab assignments outlined on that site before coming to the first lab.
CHEM 2770Methods in Chemical Education for Undergraduate Course Assistants2
This course prepares undergraduate Course Assistants (CAs) to provide effective academic support for students enrolled in a variety of Chemistry courses. Chemistry Course Assistants (CAs) facilitate review sessions, host drop-in office hours, and support problem-solving sessions and discussion components. Through guided practice, reflection, and discussion of effective teaching strategies, CAs will develop the skills necessary to facilitate student learning, communicate effectively, and help reduce barriers to academic success in these environments. Students will combine practical experience in their assigned chemistry courses with weekly learning opportunities that will touch on learning theory, instructional strategies, communication skills, and personal reflection.
CHEM 2780 is the second teaching methods companion class to CHEM 2070 and CHEM 2080. CHEM 2780 students will co-lead weekly 2-hour review sessions; meet in 2-hour group meetings to develop and refine teaching materials; attend a 1-hour discussion class on a current STEM pedagogical theory; and assess teaching progress for 1-hour (all activities on a weekly basis).
Survey of the methods basic to the experimental study of physical chemistry, with a focus on the areas of chemical equilibrium, kinetics, thermodynamics, and molecular spectroscopy.
Introduction to the techniques of synthetic organic chemistry. A representative selection of the most important classes of organic reactions is explored in the first half of the semester, augmented by lectures on the reaction chemistry and the theory of separation and characterization techniques.
Chemical and instrumental methods of analysis, including fluorescence spectroscopy, electrochemistry, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography. Error analysis, experiment design, and data analysis using Jupyter notebooks.
Introduction to experimental physical chemistry, including topics in spectroscopy and kinetics. The analysis and numerical simulation of experimental data is stressed.
Study of the important classes of carbon compounds-including those encountered in the biological sciences. The course emphasizes their three-dimensional structures, mechanisms of their characteristic reactions, their synthesis, methods of identifying them, and their role in modern science and technology.
The course emphasizes the important classes of organic compounds, with particular emphasis on their three-dimensional structures, mechanisms of their characteristic reactions, their synthesis, methods for their identification, and their applications in modern technology and medicine.
The course provides an intensive introduction to organic chemistry as a solid foundation for subsequent study in the fields of chemical, biological, materials and physical sciences. Students will learn a set of important tools and concepts that will enable appreciation and powerful application of modern organic chemistry.
Rigorous and systematic study of organic chemistry with a focus on molecules that have biological applications. The course emphasizes a mechanistic understanding of organic reactions and applies this knowledge toward complex systems such as amino acids and carbohydrates.
First course in a two-semester sequence on physical chemistry. The course covers quantum mechanics, aspects of chemical bonding, and spectroscopy. Emphasis is placed on developing a quantitative toolkit for physical chemistry and applying it towards explaining and quantifying experimental observations.
Second course in a two-semester sequence on physical chemistry. The course covers thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and chemical kinetics. Emphasis is placed on developing a quantitative toolkit for physical chemistry and applying it towards explaining and quantifying experimental observations. Together, CHEM 3870 and 3880 satisfy the minimum requirement for physical chemistry for the chemistry major.
CHEM 3890-CHEM 3900 is a year-long sequence covering key topics in physical chemistry. CHEM 3890 introduces the use of mathematics and physics to investigate chemical systems. The fundamental principles of quantum mechanics are introduced and applied to understanding the structure and spectra of atoms and molecules. Specific topics include exact and approximate solutions to the Schrodinger equation, angular momentum, bonding and molecules, and spectroscopy. CHEM 3900 follows with an introduction to the behavior of ensembles of quantum particles (statistical mechanics), the laws of thermodynamics, and kinetic theory.
CHEM 3900 is a continuation of CHEM 3890 and discusses the thermodynamic behavior of macroscopic systems in the context of quantum and statistical mechanics. After an introduction to the behavior of ensembles of quantum mechanical particles, the laws of thermodynamics, concepts of equilibrium, and chemical kinetics are covered in detail.
This course will introduce STEM students to the challenges of planning, financing, launching, and managing a new scientifically oriented business venture. The course focusses on case studies together with presentations by entrepreneurs in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and life sciences industries. Topics include new technology evaluation, IP assessment and management, business formation, resource allocation, personnel development, as well as manufacturing and sales issues
Discussion of chemical bonding and reactivity with an emphasis on the transition metals. A ground up approach will be taken, building bonding models from atomic electronic structure to molecular orbital theory. Course will also introduce concepts germane to solid state chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, and organometallic catalysis.
This course provides an introduction to both the fundamental biochemistry of living systems, including the structure and synthesis of biological macromolecules, and modern approaches that combine organic chemistry with emerging techniques from the chemical and life sciences to interrogate biological systems.
Provides selected undergraduate Course Assistants (CAs) with experiential learning opportunities in teaching and academic support within Chemistry courses. Responsibilities include facilitating review sessions, conducting office hours, and assisting with problem-solving and discussion activities.
This course provides a broad overview of modern computational methods in Chemistry. Topics covered will include investigating the statistical mechanics of condensed phase chemical systems using Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics, quantum mechanical characterization of molecular energetics and structure using Electronic Structure Theory (Hartree Fock, Perturbation Theory, and Density Functional Theory), and time-dependent approaches to investigate chemical reaction dynamics and kinetics.Lab work will be an integral component of this course and will involve introductory scientific programming, and the use of commercially available scientific software. The midterms will be an in-class presentation and a half-semester long computational project will determine final grades in the course.
In the Chemistry Honors Seminar students will present their research in written and oral form. The course will also include a broader discussion of professional issues and life skills in the world of chemistry.
This course provides a broad overview of modern computational methods in Chemistry. Topics covered will include investigating the statistical mechanics of condensed phase chemical systems using Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics, quantum mechanical characterization of molecular energetics and structure using Electronic Structure Theory (Hartree Fock, Perturbation Theory, and Density Functional Theory), and time-dependent approaches to investigate chemical reaction dynamics and kinetics.
CHEM 6050Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I: Symmetry, Structure, and Reactivity3
A group theoretical analysis of bonding in main group compounds will be followed by a survey of modern coordination chemistry, including rudimentary spectroscopy and magnetism, and inorganic reaction mechanisms.
This course will provide a foundational background in the science of nanoscale materials, a research field that has been extremely active for more than twenty years. Simplified models of quantum mechanics, band theory, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and surface science will be presented. This theoretical background will be used to understand the structure and properties of inorganic materials, such as nanocrystals and nanowires, and organic materials, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and p-conjugated molecules. Previous exposure to quantum mechanics at the level of the Schrodinger equation will be assumed. The intended audience is first-year graduate students and upper-level undergraduate students in chemistry and related fields, including applied physics, physics, and materials/chemical/electrical/mechanical engineering.
Application of NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectroscopy in organic chemistry, metabolomics, chemical biology, synthesis, inorganic chemistry, and polymer chemistry. Optional labs provide hands-on experience with NMR and MS instruments in the Cornell Chemistry Department and at Boyce Thompson Institute.
Fundamentals and applications of electrochemistry. Topics include the fundamentals of electrode kinetics, electron transfer theory, the electrical double layer, diffusion, and other modes of mass transport. A broad range of electrochemical methods, techniques and instrumentation will also be covered. Additional subjects may be covered depending on class interest.
Electrochemistry is involved with electrified interfaces and the interaction/interconversion of chemical and electrical energy. This course focuses on the fundamentals of interfacial phenomena including electrode kinetics, electron transfer theory, the electrical double layer, mass transport, and diffusion processes. The course will cover a broad range of electrochemical methods to advance our understanding of structure-property relationships of energy materials. The course will also include selected current topics including: (1) Advanced renewable energy conversion and storage technologies, such as CO2 reduction, H2 production, lithium batteries, and solar cells. (2) Introduction to the state-of-the-art development of analytical methods including electron microscopy and X-ray methods. (3) Electrochemistry with interdisciplinary overlap with solid-state chemistry and materials science, such as photoelectrochemistry, organic electrochemistry, and bioelectrochemistry.
This course provides an introduction to both the fundamental biochemistry of living systems, including the structure and synthesis of biological macromolecules, and modern approaches that combine organic chemistry with emerging techniques from the chemical and life sciences to interrogate biological systems.
The course focuses on stereoelectronic properties of organic compounds, conformational analysis, reaction thermodynamics and kinetics, stereochemistry, reactive intermediates, and catalysis. Case studies will focus on applications of these concepts and corresponding techniques that lead to creative design of selective organic synthesis and mechanistic insights into complex organic transformations. A particular emphasis is on the development of chemical and mechanistic intuition that will facilitate the students' laboratory research efforts.
Modern techniques and strategies of organic synthesis including catalysis, radical chemistry, photochemistry, and electrochemistry, application of organic reaction mechanisms and retrosynthetic analysis to the problems encountered in rational multistep synthesis, with particular emphasis on modern development in synthesis design.
CHEM 6690Modern Catalytic Reactions in Organic Synthesis3
Catalysis is fundamental and essential to modern organic synthesis. This course will cover topics in transition metal catalysis, biocatalysis, photoredox catalysis, and electrosynthesis with a focus on reaction mechanism and synthetic applications. Topics of current interest are emphasized. Transition metal-based catalysts are invaluable in both organic and polymer synthesis. This course begins with an overview of organometallic chemistry and catalysis. Subsequent modules on catalytic synthesis of small molecules and polymers are then presented. Topics of current interest are emphasized.
Physical studies of proteins, with emphasis on using single molecule methodologies and on studies of metalloproteins. Topics include: Physical/chemical concepts that include chemical structure and conformation of proteins, protein folding energy landscape, electron transfer theory, enzyme catalysis, chemical kinetics, and single-molecule kinetics. Experimental methodologies that include absorption and emission spectroscopy, fluorescence energy resonance transfer, confocal microscopy, total internal reflection fluorescence, single molecule spectroscopy, time correlated single photon counting, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers, super-resolution imaging with optical microscopy. Protein structure and function that includes metalloprotein structure/function (bioinorganic chemistry), GFP and variants, protein labeling, motor proteins, protein-protein interactions, protein-DNA interactions, and live-cell imaging.
CHEM 6890-CHEM 6900 is a year-long sequence covering key topics in physical chemistry. CHEM 6890 introduces the use of mathematics and physics to investigate chemical systems. The fundamental principles of quantum mechanics are introduced and applied to understanding the structure and spectra of atoms and molecules. Specific topics include exact and approximate solutions to the Schrodinger equation, angular momentum, bonding and molecules, and spectroscopy.
CHEM 6900 is a continuation of CHEM 6890 and discusses the thermodynamic behavior of macroscopic systems in the context of quantum and statistical mechanics. After an introduction to the behavior of ensembles of quantum mechanical particles, the laws of thermodynamics, concepts of equilibrium, and chemical kinetics are covered in detail.
CHEM 7870Computational Methods of Physical Chemistry3
This course will introduce students to analytical and computational methods useful for graduate-level research in both experimental and theoretical physical chemistry. These methods will be used to explore interesting topics in quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. The goal of this course is to bridge the gap between the analytical techniques taught in introductory courses and the computational (and visualization) methods required for modern research problems. Topics explored will include: scientific programming and visualization, numerical solution of the Schrodinger equation, linear and nonlinear optimization techniques, stochastic/Monte Carlo methods, and Machine Learning.
Course will cover: 1) the physics of scattering and image formation, 2) macromolecular crystallography, 3) small-angle X-ray scattering, and 4) cryo-electron microscopy. Students will learn the theoretical principles of structural biology and gain practical experience with modern methods in data processing, structure determination, refinement, validation, and interpretation.
The chief aim of this course is to provide an understanding of how the tools of modern spectroscopy can be applied to unravel the structural and dynamical properties of molecular systems, with a focus on optical techniques. The course will briefly cover the theoretical basis of light-matter interactions and factors governing the vibrational and electronic spectra of diatomic and polyatomic molecules. The main portion of the course will address current topics in spectroscopic research with a survey of different techniques and the theory behind them. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to understand and interpret the results of a wide array of steady-state and optical spectroscopic techniques applied to complex molecules.
A modern introduction to quantum mechanics (QM). Topics will include: the quantum state vector, the probabilistic interpretation of QM, the mathematical language of QM, angular momentum, QM in the continuum, solutions to the Schrodinger equation for simple 1D applications, the coulomb potential and the hydrogen-atom, independent particles, the variational approach, and time-independent perturbation theory.
Introduces the fundamentals of statistical mechanics: ensembles, distributions, averages, and fluctuations, building to the treatment of systems of interacting molecules. Topics from equilibrium statistical mechanics include structure and thermodynamics of molecular liquids, critical phenomena, and computational statistical mechanics. Topics from nonequilibrium statistical mechanics include spectroscopy, chemical kinetics, transport, and the microscopic origins of irreversibility.
