You will have the opportunity to study advanced inorganic chemistry for 12 upper division science credits in the lecture portion of this program.  Topics covered include atomic structure, bonding models, molecular symmetry, group theory and its applications, molecular orbital theory, acid-base chemistry, the solid state and most excitingly, the chemistry of transition metals, their unique bonding, and their  compounds (the study of coordination compounds). Towards the end of the quarter, we will investigate the spectra of these very interesting compounds. Students’ understanding of the material will be assessed using weekly homework assignments, closed-book exams, and primary literature-based assignments.

In the 4-credit laboratory students will work with analytical instrumentation available at the college, earning driver’s licenses to operate them and using the instruments to collect data on a variety of samples. More advanced students who already have a research project selected using analytical instruments  will be able to work on that project. Students are expected to share the results of their projects at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium of the Puget Sound Section of the American Chemical Society.

Students who want to take both the lecture and lab sections should register for the 16-credit option.

Faculty: Dr. Dharshi Bopegedera, Lab I, Room 2006, (867-6620).

Pre-requisites: One year of college level general chemistry (with laboratory if taking the instrumentation laboratory portion of this program)

Preparatory for studies and careers in: chemistry, graduate studies in chemistry, chemical industry, science education.