DEPARTMENT
OF CHEMISTRY
Degree of Bachelor of Science
in Chemistry Requirements
The
course of study for the degree of Bachelor of Science
in Chemistry takes four academic years. The minimum
requirements for the degree are 135-136 semester hours.
A candidate must complete his general education requirements
of 51-52 semester hours as prescribed by the University
of Liberia. He must earn fifty-two (52) semester hours
in his major, eighteen (18) semester hours in his minor
and thirteen (13) semester hours of supporting elective.
Course
Description - Chemistry
101-102
Chemistry - General Chemistry
A
general concept of the fundamental laws and theories
of chemistry: gas laws and the laws of chemical combination
: oxidation and reduction; solutions - kinds and properties;
chemical kinetics, equilibria and thermodynamics; related
problems. A study of non-metals, metals and their compounds;
and a brief introduction to the fundamental ideas and
the scope of organic chemistry.
The
laboratory work includes experiments, the fundamental
laws, rate of reactions, heat and reactions, neutralization,
oxidation and reduction; preparation of selected elements
and study of their properties; systematic separation
and identification of cations and anions. Three hours
lecture, one hour recitation, and three hours laboratory.
Credit:
4 credits/semester
201-202
Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
Pre-requisite: Chemistry 102
Extended
study of Inorganic Chemistry from the standpoint of
periodic classification of elements. Classification
of elements according to electronic structure of elements.
Different types of linkages. Modern theory of complex
compounds. Comparison between elements belonging to
the main groups and sub-groups. Detail study of the
structures of the latter. Three hours lectures.
Credit: 3 credits/semester
203
Chemistry - Quantitative Analysts
Pre-requisite: Chemistry 102
Principles
of gravimetric and volumetric analysis, with emphasis
on a comparison of these methods with respect to the
errors and uncertainties in experimental measurements.
Two hours lecture and
204
Chemistry - Advanced Quantitative Analysis
Pre-requisite: Chemistry 203
An
introduction to the use of instruments in the measurement
of quantities whose magnitude can be correlated with
concentration or total amount of a substance in solution.
A brief study of chromatographic methods of analysis.
Two hours lecture and six hours laboratory.
Credit:
4 credits/semester
205-206
Chemistry - Principles of Physical and Analytical Chemistry
Pre-requisite: Chemistry 102
Ideal
gas laws, solubility of gases in liquids, measurement
of gas uptake or output by biological systems; some
properties of aqueous solution - vapor pressure; solutions
of non-electrolytes \ six hours laboratory. Osmosis,
solution of electrolyte; solubility of salts in water;
acids, bases and buffers in aqueous solution. PH in
biological systems. Background Thermodynamics; Enthalphy.
Free energy, Entropy, Spontaneous reactions; chemical
Equilibrium, the application of Thermodynamics to Biochemistry;
the kinetics of chemical reactions; the kinetics of
enzyme -catalysed reactions; oxidation and reduction,
Electrode potentials, Potentiometric Titarations. Three
hours lecture, and three hours laboratory.
Credit:
4 credits/semester
301
Chemistry - Organic Chemistry I
Pre-requisite: Chemistry 102
An
introduction to the Study of carbon compounds. The development
of fundamental theories for the interpretation of reactions
and properties of these compounds. Modern orbital and
bonding theory; other theoretical aspects concerning
structure of molecules; and the relationship of structure
and reactivity. Study of the simple saturated and unsaturated
aliphatic compounds, including compounds of mixed and
. multiple functions. Cyclic compounds; oplical activity
of organic compounds. Three hours of lecture, one hour
recitation, and three hours of laboratory.
Credit:
4 credits/semester
302
Chemistry - Organic Chemistry II
Pre-requisite: Chemistry 301
A
study of aromatic compounds; halides, phenols, ethers;
acfds and derivatives; the carbonyl compounds; nitrogen
compounds' Three hours of lecture, one hour recitation
and three hours of laboratory.
Credit:
4 credits/semester
312
Chemistry - Physical Methods of Analysis
Pre-requisite: Chemistry 301
An
introduction to spectroscopy; study of the principles
of visible, ultraviolet, infrared, and nuclear magnetic
resonance spectroscopy; instrumentation and use in the
identification of 'organic compounds. Three hours lecture.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
401-402
Chemistry -General Physical Chemistry
Pre-requisite: Chemistry 203 and 204, Maths 201 &
202
Physico-chemical
study of matter in the gaseous, liquid and solid states.
Elementary principles of thermodynamics; free energy,
entropy, partial molar functions; properties of solutions;
electrolytes and non-electrolytes and the colligative
properties ol solutions; thermochemistry; chemical equilibria
in homogeneous and hetergeneous systems; catalysts;
phase rule; chemical kinetics; colloids an6 surface
phenomena; electrochemistry; conductance and electromotive
(orce and their applications. Three hours lectures and
three hours of laboratory per week.
Credit:
4 credits/semester
403
Chemistry - Qualitative Organic Analysis
Pre-requislte: Chemistry 302 and 312
The
course includes complete qualitative analysis of organic
compounds and separation and identification of components
of mixtures; Detection of elements; determination of
physical constants and solubility In different solvents;
tests for functional groups; preparation of derivatives
and the use of spectral correlation for final identification.
Two hours lecture and six hours laboratory per week.
Credit:
4 credits/semester
404-405
Chemistry - Advanced Topics in Chemistry
Pre-requisites: Chemistry 401 and 403, or concurrent
enrollment
Selected
Topics of Interest. Three hours lecture.
Credit: 3 credits/semester
407
Chemistry - Organic Chemistry II
Pre-requisite: Chemistry 302
A
study of Heterocyclic compounds; polymers; carbohydrates;
Ami no acids and proteins; and an introductory study
of nucleic acids.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
408
Chemistry - Chemistry of Natural Products
Pre-requisites; Chemistry 204, 312, 403 and 407
Selected
organic reactions and natural organic products; carbohydrates,
proteins, liquids, alkaloids, steroids; vitamins, hormones.
Three hours lecture and three laboratory.
Credit:
4 Credits/semester
411-412
Chemistry -Chemistry Project
Pre-requisite: Chemistry 204, 312 and 407
An
exercise in the methods used in scientific investigations.
Topics be of great variety. Literature survey will be
done at the beginning of the project and reading and
consultation of references throughout. The student will
be given a choice from a list of project titles, which
will be available at the beginning of the term. Admission
to this course requires approval of a Project Advisor
and the Department Chairman. Two 3-hours labs, with
consultation with Advisor once a week.
Credit:
2 credits/semester
