Brief Course Descriptions
30.101 : An introduction to the fundamental principles of chemistry. The main topics to be
covered are atomic and molecular structure at the level of dot structures and VSEPR
geometries, the periodic table, stoichiometry and the balancing of chemical equations, the
gas laws, the law of mass action and chemical equilibrium, acids and bases, and elementary
chemical thermodynamics.
30.102 : Continuation of 030.101 emphasizing chemical kinetics, chemical
bonding. Topics: energy levels and wavefunctions for particle-in-a-box and hydrogen atom
and approximate wavefunctions for molecules including introduction to hybrid orbitals.
30.103 : Applied Equilibrium and Reactivity w/Lab Prerequisite: 030.101, 030.102, 030.105,
and 030.106 or 4 or 5 on the AP exam. Chemical equilibrium, reactivity and bonding will be
covered. These topics will be explored through the use of laboratory experiments and
problem solving, and the use of these principles in current research areas will be discussed.
030.105-106: First-year chemistry laboratories. Students will develop laboratory skills and
learn about topics that complement the lectures.
30.204 : Chemical Structure and Bonding with Laboratory. Prerequisite: 030.103 or a 5 on
the AP exam. An introduction to the synthesis, structure, and reactivity of materials and
inorganic compounds. Modern approaches to chemical bonding, including molecular orbital,
ligand field, and crystal field theories, will be applied to understanding the physical and
chemical properties of inorganic materials. Other topics to be discussed include magnetic
properties, electronic spectra, magnetic resonance spectra, and reaction kinetics. The
integrated laboratory will cover synthetic, measurement, and calculation methods of
inorganic chemistry, and include hands-on exposure to state of the art materials research.
30.205 : Introduction to Organic Chemistry. Prerequisite; 030.102 or 030.103 or
equivalent. Concepts taught in CHEM 205 include bonding, molecular orbital theory, valence
bond theory, hybridization, Lewis acids and bases, isomers, functional groups and their
reactivity, organic reaction mechanisms, electrophiles, nucleophiles, electrophilic addition
reactions, nucleophilic substitutions, elimination reactions, stereochemistry, and aromaticity.
The chemistry of alkenes, alkynes, alkyl halides, dienes, aromatic molecules, alcohols, and
ethers is covered.
30.206 : Prerequisite: 030.205. A continuation of 030.205. Carbonyl compounds, their
chemistry and utility are the first major topic. With carbonyl group group, the course has a
greater emphasis on synthesis, synthetic approaches, and organic mechanisms. Other
topics include the synthesis and reactions of amines, synthetic polymers, and pericyclic
reactions. The structure and organic chemistry of biomolecules is introduced during the last
part of the course. Topics that are potentially covered include carbohydrates, amino acids,
and nucleic acids.
030.212: Advanced Organic Chemistry. Prerequisite: 030.205 with a B+ or higher. Second
semester undergraduate organic chemistry from an advanced and rigorous prospective.
Enrollment limited to, and highly recommended for, students who have done well in the first
semester (AS.030.205). Topics include 2D NMR, synthesis with a stress on modern
methods, chiral molecules, and mechanistic analysis. Students will be required to access