Courses

Chemistry matters! From fueling the world's economy to preventing the next pandemic to forecasting future climate change, chemistry touches all aspects of daily life. This course provides an introduction to chemical principles and applications for students with little or no high school chemistry background. Through the lens of contemporary issues and applications (e.g. energy, environment, materials, medicine, etc.), students will be introduced to concepts fundamental to studying matter at the molecular level. Particular emphasis will be placed on skills essential for students to understand chemistry in these contexts, including quantitative reasoning and the development of chemical literacy and intuition. Laboratory meetings will be used to reinforce lecture material through experimentation at the bench and active learning exercises. [ more ]

This course broadens and deepens the foundation in chemistry of students who have had one or more years of chemistry at the high school level. Most students begin study of chemistry at Williams with this course. Familiarity with stoichiometry, basic concepts of equilibria, the model of an atom, Lewis structures and VSEPR, and gas laws is expected. Principal topics for this course include modern atomic theory, molecular structure and bonding, states of matter, chemical equilibrium (acid-base and solubility), and an introduction to atomic and molecular spectroscopies. Laboratory periods will largely focus on experiment design, data analysis, literature, scientific writing, ethics, and other skills critical to students' development as scientists. The course is of interest to students who anticipate professional study in chemistry, related sciences, or one of the health professions, as well as to those who want to explore the fundamentals of chemistry as part of their general education. This course may be taken pass/fail; however, students who are considering graduate study in science or in the health professions should elect to take this course for a grade. [ more ]

Since the discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) in 1983, modern techniques of molecular biology have revealed much about its structure and life cycle. The intensity of the scientific investigation directed at HIV-1 is unprecedented in history. We now know more about this virus than any other pathogen. However, the early optimism concerning the prospects for an effective AIDS vaccine has not yet materialized, and HIV strains that are resistant to drug therapies are common. We are now four decades into the AIDS pandemic, and the World Health Organization estimates that there are more than 38 million HIV-infected persons worldwide. After an introduction to chemical structure, we examine the molecular biology of the HIV virus, the molecular targets of anti-HIV drugs, and the prospects for a cure. We look at how HIV-1 interacts with the human immune system and discuss strategies for developing an effective HIV vaccine. [ more ]

Class of 2027 ONLY (Class of 2024, 2025, 2026 see CHEM 256). This course treats an array of topics in modern chemistry, emphasizing broad concepts that connect and weave through the various subdisciplines of the field--biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry. It provides the necessary background in chemical science for students who are planning advanced study or a career in chemistry, biological science, geoscience, environmental science, or a health profession. Topics include coordination complexes, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and kinetics. Laboratory sections will give students hands-on experience involving synthesis, characterization, and reactivity studies of coordination and organic complexes; spectroscopic analyses; thermodynamics; electrochemistry; and kinetics. Students will hone their skills in the presentation of results through written reports and worksheets. [ more ]

This course is a continuation of Chemistry 156 and it concludes the systematic study of the common classes of organic compounds with emphasis on theories of structure and reactivity. Specific topics include radical chemistry, an introduction to mass spectrometry and ultraviolet spectroscopy, the theory and chemical reactivity of conjugated and aromatic systems, the concepts of kinetic and thermodynamic control, an extensive treatment of the chemistry of the carbonyl group, alcohols, ethers, polyfunctional compounds, the concept of selectivity, the fundamentals of organic synthesis, an introduction to carbohydrates, carboxylic acids and derivatives, acyl substitution reactions, amines, and an introduction to amino acids, peptides, and proteins. The coordinated laboratory work includes application of the techniques learned in the introductory level laboratory, along with new functional group analyses, to the separation and identification of several unknown samples. Skills in analyzing NMR, IR, and MS data are practiced and further refined. [ more ]

Class of 2024, 2025, and 2026 ONLY (Class of 2027 see CHEM 200). This course treats an array of topics in modern chemistry, emphasizing broad concepts that connect and weave through the various subdisciplines of the field--biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry. It provides the necessary background in chemical science for students who are planning advanced study or a career in chemistry, biological science, geoscience, environmental science, or a health profession. Topics include coordination complexes, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and kinetics. Laboratory sections will give students hands-on experience involving synthesis, characterization, and reactivity studies of coordination and organic complexes; spectroscopic analyses; thermodynamics; electrochemistry; and kinetics. Students will hone their skills in the presentation of results through written reports and worksheets. [ more ]

This course introduces the foundational concepts of biochemistry with an emphasis on the structure and function of biological macromolecules. Specifically, the structure of proteins and nucleic acids are examined in detail in order to determine how their chemical properties and their biological behavior result from those structures. Other topics covered include catalysis, enzyme kinetics, mechanism and regulation; the molecular organization of biomembranes; and the flow of information from nucleic acids to proteins. In addition, the principles and applications of the methods used to characterize macromolecules in solution and the interactions between macromolecules are discussed. The laboratory provides a hands-on opportunity to study macromolecules and to learn the fundamental experimental techniques of biochemistry including electrophoresis, chromatography, and principles of enzymatic assays. [ more ]

This lecture course provides an in-depth presentation of the complex metabolic reactions that are central to life. Emphasis is placed on the biological flow of energy including alternative modes of energy generation (aerobic, anaerobic, photosynthetic); the regulation and integration of the metabolic pathways including compartmentalization and the transport of metabolites; and biochemical reaction mechanisms including the structures and mechanisms of coenzymes. This comprehensive study also includes the biosynthesis and catabolism of small molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and nucleotides). Laboratory experiments introduce the principles and procedures used to study enzymatic reactions, bioenergetics, and metabolic pathways. [ more ]

Enzymes are complex biological molecules capable of catalyzing chemical reactions with very high efficiency, stereo-selectivity and specificity. The study of enzymatically-catalyzed reactions gives insight into the study of organic reaction mechanisms in general, and into the topic of catalysis especially. This course explores the methods and frameworks for determining enzymatic reaction mechanisms. These methods are based on a firm foundation of organic reaction mechanisms and chemical kinetics. We will investigate the major types of biochemical reactions, focusing on their catalytic mechanisms and how those mechanisms can be elucidated. We will lay the foundation for this mechanistic consideration with discussion of transition state theory, structure-reactivity relationships, steady state and pre-steady kinetics, use of isotopes, genetic modification, and other tools for probing enzymatic reactions. We will also examine the catalytic roles of a variety of vitamins and cofactors. [ more ]

This course surveys the rapidly evolving, interdisciplinary and interconnected fields of chemical and synthetic biology. Chemical biology uses precise molecular-level manipulations to influence living systems from the bottom up, often by introducing components that are foreign to nature. Synthetic biology takes advantage of existing molecular technology and adopts an engineering mindset to reprogram life. Students will achieve literacy through immersion in chemical and synthetic biology. We will prioritize broad exposure to these fields, their vocabulary, culture, practices and ideas, through extensive engagement with the primary literature that expert practitioners use to teach themselves. The course model is instructor-facilitated peer-to-peer instruction, emphasizing skills important for autonomous and collaborative work in real-world scientific and professional fields. Topics we will cover include synthetic genomes, metabolic engineering, chemical synthesis and manipulation of biomacromolecules, directed evolution, and reworking of the central dogma of biology. [ more ]

The origins of organic chemistry are to be found in the chemistry of living things and the emphasis of this course is on the chemistry of naturally-occurring compounds. This course presents the logic and practice of chemical total synthesis while stressing the structures, properties and preparations of terpenes, polyketides and alkaloids. Modern synthetic reactions are surveyed with an emphasis on the stereochemical and mechanistic themes that underlie them. To meet the requirements for the semester's final project, each student chooses an article from the recent synthetic literature and then analyzes the logic and strategy involved in the published work in a final paper. A summary of this paper is also presented to the class in a short seminar. There will be no laboratory component in 2022. Instead, one of the three class meetings each week will focus on discussion and presentation of reactions, mechanisms, and syntheses from the chemical literature. [ more ]

The structure of a molecule is inherently linked to its reactivity, and these correlations form the basis for understanding organic reaction mechanisms. This course advances the understanding from previous organic courses through a detailed examination of the concepts that underlie these structure/reactivity relationships, including molecular strain and stability, acid/base chemistry, steric and electronic effects, and aromaticity. These concepts will also be explored in the context of specific classes of reaction mechanisms. Classical and modern experimental and theoretical tools used to elucidate reaction mechanisms will also be presented, including reaction kinetics, isotope effects, and linear free energy relationships. By studying the primary literature, we will see how these experiments have been applied to the elucidation of reaction mechanism, while also learning to design a set of experiments for study of mechanisms of contemporary interest. [ more ]

From synthetic to natural macromolecules, we encounter polymers everywhere and every day. This course explores the multitude of synthetic techniques available and discusses how structure defines function. Topics include polymer types, concept of molecular weight, structure-property relationships and polymer synthesis methods including condensation and chain (anionic, cationic, radical) polymerizations. Fundamentals of composition and physical properties of polymers, and methods of characterization are also covered. Examples of polymer functionalization, self-assembly, and surface modification are also discussed. [ more ]

This course provides an introduction to quantum mechanics which serves as the basis for understanding atomic and molecular structure as well as spectroscopic methods. This leads to a discussion of chemical kinetics and molecular reaction dynamics in the gas phase and in solution.Computational chemistry methods are used to illustrate chemical concepts, to interpret experimental data, and to extend hypotheses. Applications of these principles are chosen from contemporary research fields, including polymer chemistry, photochemistry, atmospheric chemistry, and solid and liquid state chemistry. Quantitative laboratory experiments and consultation with the scientific literature provide the background necessary for carrying out an independent theoretical or experimental project. [ more ]

This course introduces students to the methods used to assess the risks posed by organic chemicals to human, animal, and ecosystem health. Our goal is to develop a quantitative understanding for how specific features of organic molecular structure directly dictate a given molecule's environmental fate. We will begin by using thermodynamic principles to estimate the salient physiochemical properties of molecules (e.g., vapor pressure, solubility, charging behavior, etc.) that impact the distribution, or partitioning, of organic chemicals between air, water, soils, and biota. Then, using quantitative structure activity relationships, we will predict the degradation kinetics resulting from natural nucleophilic, photochemical, and biological processes that determine chemical lifetime in the environment. [ more ]

The thermodynamic laws provide us with our most powerful and general scientific principles for predicting the direction of spontaneous change in physical, chemical, and biological systems. This course develops the concepts of energy, entropy, free energy, temperature, heat, work, and chemical potential within the framework of classical and statistical thermodynamics. The principles developed are applied to a variety of problems: chemical reactions, phase changes, energy technology, industrial processes, and environmental science. Laboratory experiments provide quantitative and practical demonstrations of the theory of real and ideal systems studied in class. [ more ]

In this course, physical chemistry concepts are presented from the viewpoint of their practical application to a set of biochemical problems, which are explored side-by-side in the lecture and highly-integrated lab program. Major emphasis is placed on quantitative thermodynamic models of equilibrium processes, and students will learn how to develop and apply mathematical models to data. The main topics covered include: 1) conformations of biological macromolecules and the forces that stabilize them; 2) spectroscopic techniques for the study of structure and function; and 3) macromolecular interactions and binding. [ more ]

This tutorial provides an introduction to the principles of computational quantum mechanics and their application to problems of chemical interest such as chemical bonding, chemical reactivity, and molecular spectroscopy. Emphasis is placed upon modern electronic structure calculations, their fundamentals, practical considerations, interpretation, and applications to current research questions. Under guidance in sessions and through independent work, students will use computational methods to explore assigned weekly research problems. The research results will be presented to and discussed with the tutorial partner at the end of each week. [ more ]

Chemistry junior research and thesis. [ more ]

Chemistry junior research and thesis. [ more ]

Chemistry independent study for juniors. [ more ]

Chemistry independent study for juniors. [ more ]

Individual research projects in a field of interest to the student are carried out under the direction of a faculty member and culminate in a thesis; this is part of a full-year thesis (493-494). Students in this program are strongly encouraged to keep 1:10 p.m. to 2:25 p.m. on Friday free for departmental colloquia. [ more ]

Individual research projects in a field of interest to the student are carried out under the direction of a faculty member and culminate in a thesis; this is part of a full-year thesis (493-494). Students in this program are strongly encouraged to keep 1:10 p.m. to 2:25 p.m. on Friday free for departmental colloquia. [ more ]

Chemistry independent study for seniors. Individual research projects in a field of interest to the student are carried out under the direction of a faculty member. [ more ]

Chemistry independent study for seniors. Individual research projects in a field of interest to the student are carried out under the direction of a faculty member. [ more ]