If a student is interested in completing the American Chemical Society (ACS) certified major in Chemistry, the student must complete the major as described above and typically the following stipulations: completion of both CHM 322 and CHM 351 and a research experience (CHM 390, 490, or summer research). Full details of the requirements should be discussed with the Chair and can be found onlineChemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes and, as such, is essential to the study and understanding of physical, geological and biological phenomena. Because of its place among the sciences, chemistry is inherently interdisciplinary and attracts students to its study from a broad range of related interests.

The chemistry major at Franklin & Marshall College is led by faculty who are committed to helping the student “learn how to learn.” In addition to acquiring an understanding of the basic concepts of chemistry, majors hone the skills necessary for critical and analytical thinking and develop their ability to communicate observations and discoveries through the printed and spoken word.

Through coursework, chemistry majors gain an understanding of transformations and reactions at the atomic, molecular and macromolecular scales, the energetics associated with those changes and the analytical techniques used to study them. By involvement in the ongoing research of chemistry faculty members, students have extraordinary opportunities to study new reactions and properties of matter and to make original contributions to the literature. As a consequence, knowledge gained from coursework is deepened and enriched by the research experience, which immerses the student in the methodology of scientific discovery and the creative process. The confidence and independence engendered by the chemistry major allow students to pursue a wide variety of opportunities beyond graduation.

A major in Chemistry consists of 15 course credits, including at least 10 course credits in chemistry. Required courses are:

CHM 111, 112, 211, 212, 221, 222, 321.

PHY 111, 112; MAT 109, 110.

The chemistry major may be completed with the required courses and the following additional courses:

At least one course selected from CHM 322 or CHM 351.

One credit in Chemistry numbered 410–479.

Two additional course credits in chemistry, or one additional credit in chemistry and one course credit outside chemistry approved by the department. Approved courses outside of chemistry include BIO 305; ENE/GEO 321; PHY 222, 223.

CHM 390 or 490 is encouraged but no more than one such course credit may be applied toward the requirements for the major.

A student interested in an emphasis in biochemistry should complete the major by taking Chemistry of Life (CHM 351) and Biochemical and Biophysical Techniques (CHM 451).

If a student is interested in completing the American Chemical Society (ACS) certified major in Chemistry, the student must complete the major as described above with the following stipulations: completion of both CHM 322 and CHM 351 and a research experience (CHM 390, 490, or summer research). Full details of the requirements should be discussed with the Chair.

A minor in Chemistry requires CHM 111 and 112 plus four additional chemistry credits (including no more than one credit of CHM 390 or 490).

To be considered for Honors in chemistry the student must be nominated by the research mentor on the basis of work done in the CHM 490 and may include research completed during the summer preceding the senior year. Criteria to be met include an unusual commitment of time and effort, results that are publishable and are likely to have been presented at a scientific meeting, independent contributions to the project from the student, a well-written thesis that conforms to departmental guidelines and a successful defense of the project before a faculty committee.

Majors in the Department of Chemistry regularly engage in study abroad as part of their college experience. Over the past decade, students have studied at the following institutions:  University of Otago, New Zealand; University of Strathclyde, Scotland; Trinity College, Ireland; University of Sheffield, England; University of New South Wales, Australia; University of Grenoble, France; Lancaster University, England; Oxford University, England; University of Bristol, England. See the International Programs section of the Catalog for further information.

A list of regularly offered courses follows. Please note the key for the following abbreviations: (A) Arts; (H) Humanities; (S) Social Sciences; (N) Natural Sciences with Laboratory; (LS) Language Studies requirement; (NSP) Natural Science in Perspective; (NW) Non-Western Cultures requirement; (WP) World Perspectives requirement.

111. General Chemistry I: Picturing the Atomic World. (N)
In chemistry, we picture the world around us on both the macroscopic level (the things we see with our eyes) and the microscopic level (in which all matter is made of atoms). The different compositions of atoms result in the various elements, each with their own unique properties. Individual atoms combine to create molecules; the structure of atoms and molecules determines how they function. A variety of models will be used to conceptualize and contrast the behavior of individual atoms and molecules relative to the behaviors we observe in various states of matter. We also introduce and apply chemical equations as a way to describe the rearrangement of atoms in chemical transformations. Students will develop problem-solving skills, effective learning strategies, and mathematical reasoning. Lab work focuses on techniques such as synthesis, purification, separation, and identification of substances and begins to develop critical thinking skills that are crucial for scientific research and inquiry. Students will learn methods for data analysis, presentation of data to support a conclusion, and effective writing to communicate results. Multiple sections offered every Fall with one section offered every Spring. 
Brandt, Morford, Moog, Plass, Van Arman

112. General Chemistry II: Reactions in the Atomic World. (N)
Rearrangement of atoms through chemical reactions drives many of the changes we see around us. Chemical reactions influence biology, geology, and technology; they are central to everything from the functioning of a cell to the weathering of mountainsides to the capacity of solar cells. This course will examine the proportion of starting materials and products in chemical reactions, as described by chemical equilibrium. Quantitative and qualitative models will be developed to understand chemical equilibrium, and these will be applied to crucial facets of chemistry, including ionic precipitation, acid–base, and reduction–oxidation reactions. Models will be introduced to describe rates of reactions through studying kinetics. Students will enhance the problem-solving skills, effective learning strategies, and mathematical reasoning introduced in General Chemistry I. Lab work builds additional qualitative and quantitative skills and focuses on techniques to identify unknown chemicals and to monitor the speed or extent of reactions. Students will work to improve their abilities to make and defend scientific arguments, with a focus on clear and effective visualization of quantitative data. Prerequisite: CHM 111. Multiple sections offered every Spring with one section offered every Fall.
Brewer, Hess, Lionetti, Phillips-Piro, Tasker

211. Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Function of Carbon-Containing Compounds. (N)
Organic chemistry is the study and synthesis of carbon-based compounds. While that might at first sound limited, carbon is the most versatile element in the world around us, central to pharmaceutical drugs, flavors and fragrances, plastics, and life itself (since proteins and DNA are large organic molecules). Building on students’ basic knowledge of structure and reactivity gained in general chemistry, this course takes a qualitative, pattern-driven approach to understanding why organic molecules react in certain ways. Structure is the focus of the first half, understanding how the distribution of electron density leads to reactivity and learning how to visually represent the 3D world of organic molecules in two dimensions. The second half of the course delves into reactions of particular classes of molecules, building towards designing multi-step syntheses—making complex molecules from simple starting materials. Lab work focuses on the fundamentals of purification, spectroscopic analysis and identification of unknown compounds, and performing some of the chemical reactions learned in class, while also initiating the development of independent laboratory decision-making skills. Students will further develop skills in writing lab reports using formal scientific conventions. Prerequisite: CHM 112. Offered every Fall.    
Fenlon, Tasker, Thomsen

212. Organic Chemistry II: Reactivity and Synthesis of Organic Molecules. (N)
Having established fundamental skills to interpret organic structure and reactivity in Organic Chemistry I, this course dives deeper into the vast universe of organic reactions. Particular focus is placed on aromatic chemistry (central to most small-molecule drugs) and on carbonyl chemistry (the fundamental building block of proteins and sugars). Students will draw complex mechanisms to describe how these organic molecules react through a series of intermediates, and will develop their synthetic design skills by incorporating these reactions into longer multi-step syntheses. Organic reactions will also be placed in the context of modern research with reference to the primary chemical literature. Lab work focuses on separation and identification of a series of unknown compounds independently, as well as multi-step synthesis projects. In these projects student independence and decision-making are emphasized. Prerequisite: CHM 211. Offered every Spring.  
Thomsen, Van Arman

221. Chemical Analysis. (N)
Chemical analysis has long played an important role to determine the composition and nature of materials, in order to answer fundamental research questions and solve real-world problems. Its modern importance stems from new applications in and new questions arising from interdisciplinary fields, such as biochemistry, environmental chemistry, forensics, and pharmaceutical analysis. This course introduces fundamental principles of chemical analysis including methods of calibration and considerations of error. Building on previous courses, a more sophisticated approach to solution equilibria will be applied to acid–base theory, complexation reactions, and electrochemistry. This scaffold of fundamental concepts provides a framework from which to build an understanding of the complexities associated with real systems, such as in rivers or cells. Students will investigate the current application of chemical analysis through the primary literature. Lab work that is relevant to modern applications will include instrumental methods and classical experimental techniques with an emphasis on an appropriate statistical interpretation of results. Prerequisite: CHM 112. Offered every Spring.
Morford

222. Inorganic Chemistry: Chemistry Across the Periodic Table. (N)
Technological devices like solar cells, catalysts, and batteries rely on inorganic materials constructed from elements across the whole periodic table; likewise metal-containing cofactors play key roles in biochemical processes like respiration and photosynthesis. We will develop complementary scientific models of geometry, electronic structure, and reactivity to accommodate this range of different elements and diverse applications. Furthermore, we will learn how to decide when it is, and is not, appropriate to apply each of these models, a critical skill due to the broad variations in properties across the periodic table. In particular, we will develop an understanding of electronic structure that will connect the chemistry and geometry of inorganic compounds to technologically important properties such as light absorption and catalysis. Special attention will be paid to two classes of compounds: solid-state materials and transition metal complexes. Such compounds will be synthesized and characterized through a variety of state-of-the art instrumental techniques in the laboratory. The laboratory will include a professional poster session to develop visual communication skills. Prerequisite: CHM 211 or permission of the instructor. Offered every Fall.
Lionetti

321. Thermodynamics and Kinetics. (N)
Why is the boiling point of water raised when salt is dissolved in it? Why can the rate law for a chemical reaction change under differing experimental conditions? Why does the equilibrium constant expression for a chemical reaction have the form that it has? These questions (and many others) will be answered through a more in-depth discussion of thermodynamics and kinetics than undertaken in previous courses. The three laws of thermodynamics, which summarize an enormous body of experimental data and have no known exceptions, will be presented and investigated. These laws will be applied to examine spontaneity, chemical equilibrium, phase equilibrium, phase diagrams, and systems of variable composition. The kinetics and mechanisms of reactions, in addition to theories of reaction rate, will also be explored. In the laboratory, students will work in teams to develop and apply their own experimental protocols focused on the determination of thermodynamic and/or kinetic parameters of chemical and biochemical systems. Prerequisites: CHM 112, MAT 110, PHY 111 (or PHY 111 may be a corequisite with permission of the instructor). Offered every Fall. 
Brewer

322. Quantum Chemistry: Structure, Bonding, and Spectroscopy. (N)
The development of a robust theoretical framework for the structure of atoms and molecules in the twentieth century provides the basis for the advent of much of modern society—from lasers to computers to modern imaging techniques to drug design. This course will provide an introduction to this framework, quantum mechanics, as it applies to chemistry. Quantum mechanics provides the current understanding of atomic structure, molecular bonding, and spectroscopy. The postulates of quantum mechanics will be introduced and utilized to describe the structure of the hydrogen atom and polyelectronic atoms in addition to chemical bonding through molecular orbital theory. The theory behind vibrational and rotational spectroscopy will be developed and used to extract structural parameters such as bond lengths from the spectra of small molecules. The laboratory portion of the course will focus on computational aspects of quantum chemistry. Prerequisites: CHM 222, MAT 110, PHY 112 (or PHY 112 may be a corequisite with permission of the instructor). Offered in Spring of even-numbered years.
Brewer

323. Medicinal Chemistry. (half-course)
The mechanism of action of several classes of drugs. The discovery (e.g., natural products, rational design, combinatorial chemistry), structure-activity relationships, and synthesis of drugs will be covered. The role of the FDA, ethical issues, and economic pressures in relation to drug pricing, approval, and manufacture will be discussed (no lab). Prerequisite: CHM212.
Fenlon

342. Environmental Chemistry.
Chemistry of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and terrestrial environments.  Discussion of the chemical basis underlying environmental processes, including chemical composition, thermodynamic and kinetic controls, photochemical, oxidation and reduction reactions, aquo complexes and acid-base behavior.  Use of scientific literature to investigate current topics pertaining to environmental chemistry.  Prerequisite: CHM112 and one of the following: CHM221, CHM212, GEO226, GEO326, BIO220, BIO323 
Morford

351. Chemistry of Life. (N)
This course will explore the structures and functions of biological molecules including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. The chemical transformations performed by enzymes, the cellular machines that create and break down molecules, will be explored in terms of intermolecular forces, reaction mechanisms, kinetics, and structure. Students will explore the molecular underpinnings of a disease through scientific writing of a short literature report that will include work on visual design of figures. The goal of the laboratory is for students to carry out novel experiments focused on protein biochemistry—creating and purifying recombinant versions of a protein of interest, determining their activity and attempting to solve their crystal structures. Prerequisite: CHM 212. Offered every Fall.
Brandt

370–379. Topics in Chemistry.
Study of specialized areas of chemistry.
Staff

390. Directed Study in Chemical Research.
Students collaborate with a faculty member to work on a chemical research project, typically over the course of a single semester. Throughout this experience students will engage with the associated chemical literature and will assist with designing, executing, and interpreting experiments. This experience concludes with a written research paper. Interested students should discuss potential projects with chemistry faculty members. Permission of instructor and chairperson required. A student may only use one credit earned from CHM 390 or CHM 490 to satisfy a major requirement.
Staff

412. Materials Chemistry.
Students will apply and integrate their prior chemistry knowledge to explore the relationships between the properties of technological devices and their component materials through reading recent scientific papers. This capstone course is designed to help students transition out of formal education and prepare them for the next step in their careers. Students will practice identifying and quickly learning new concepts as needed. Not only will students develop original research ideas, they will learn to communicate their ideas in compelling and convincing ways to different audiences. The course will provide practice in communication skills such as oral presentation and visual design. Open only to senior Chemistry majors. Prerequisites: CHM 212, CHM 222, CHM 32., Prerequisite or corequisite: CHM 221.  Offered Spring 2023.  
Plass 

451. Biochemical and Biophysical Techniques.
Students will apply and integrate their prior chemistry and biochemistry knowledge to explore biological systems through reading recent scientific papers. This capstone course is designed to help students transition out of formal education and prepare them for the next step in their careers. The capabilities and limitations of modern experimental tools will be a theme throughout. Students will practice identifying and quickly learning new concepts as needed. Not only will students develop original research ideas, they will learn to communicate their ideas in compelling and convincing ways to different audiences. The course will provide practice in communication skills such as oral presentation and visual design. Open to senior Chemistry and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology majors and offered every Spring. Prerequisites: CHM 321, CHM 212 and either CHM 351 or BIO 334.
Phillips-Piro

490. Independent Study  in Chemical Research.
Students collaborate with a faculty member for two consecutive semesters to address an open-ended chemical research project, developing crucial professional and intellectual skills. Students read and analyze the relevant chemical literature, and in collaboration with the faculty advisor devise a series of experiments to address the research question. Students carry out necessary experiments by learning the research techniques appropriate to the work. Finally, students interpret and represent data to address the original question and convey their results through oral presentations and written reports. Interested students should discuss potential projects with chemistry faculty members. One course credit earned each semester. Permission of instructor and chairperson required. A student may only use one credit earned from CHM 390 or CHM 490 to satisfy a major requirement.
Staff

• Total Synthesis of Natural Products.