Atoms, Molecules, and Reactions

This upper-division chemistry program offers advanced studies in chemistry to prepare students for graduate studies or careers in chemistry. Based on the theme "what do chemists do?," our classroom studies will be connected with the applications chemists encounter in their everyday work.

In the fall we will study topics in quantum mechanics and descriptive inorganic chemistry. We will study simple quantum mechanical systems, apply them to solve chemical problems, and investigate how they can be adapted for more complex systems. In inorganic chemistry, we will explore atomic structure, bonding models, molecular symmetry, group theory and its applications, molecular orbital theory, and acid-base chemistry.

In winter quarter we will continue our studies in quantum mechanics to include more complex systems and investigate the use of spectroscopy to validate the quantum mechanical theories. Inorganic chemistry topics will include the study of coordination compounds and the solid state. In addition, we will begin our study of thermodynamics by exploring the laws that lay the foundation in this field of study.

The spring quarter will find us doing in-depth investigations of the spectrometric methods including a detailed analysis of the high-resolution spectra of molecules. We will continue our studies in thermodynamics with topics in chemical equilibria, kinetics, and statistical mechanics.

Students' understanding of the material in all areas will be assessed throughout the year using homework assignments, closed-book exams, and primary literature based assignments. 

During the fall quarter in the 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. Additionally students will learn library search methods and how to use Zotero as a bibliography management tool. In the winter and spring quarters students will engage in a research projects, working either with a chemistry professor (strongly encouraged) or by developing their own research project. The results of these projects will be presented at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium of the Puget Sound Section of the American Chemical Society and at the annual Evergreen Science Carnival & Research Exposition.

Please note that part-time options (less than 16 credits) are available in all three quarters.