Undergraduate Courses 2018-19

This course concentrates on the basic scientific principles in cosmetic science. Various topics with emphasis on molecular approach related to cosmetic products' formulation and proper uses of cosmetic products will be covered. Major topics include definition of cosmetics, make-up cosmetics, skin-care cosmetics, hair-care cosmetics, vehicles of cosmetic products, surfactants, colorants, alpha hydroxyl acids & beta hydroxyl acids, anti-oxidants and sunscreens, skin-whitening agents, hydrating substances / moisturizers, antiperspirants & deodorants and botanical ingredients.

This course is intended for students with very little to no chemistry background. The basic ideas and principles of chemistry will be explained through many examples of everyday life. The course will focus on developing a chemical understanding of the materials and processes that surround us in the world. Many relevant topics will be discussed such as the air, air pollution, global warming, ozone depletion, metals and their uses, minerals and gems, fire and fuels, color and light, food and drinks, household chemical products, polymers and drugs.

This course provides a broad background in molecular science with emphasis on relevance to contemporary issues in society, commerce and the environment.

This course is an introduction to fundamental principles of chemistry for students who have learnt the basic knowledge of chemistry in high school. Topics include atomic structure and periodicity, chemical bonding and molecular structure, basic properties of gases, liquids and solids, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, and basic organic and biological molecules.

This course targets at students who have acquired more advanced knowledge in fundamental Chemistry in high school. Key topics include atomic structure and periodicity, bonding theories, chemical energy, and properties of gases, liquids and solids. Other topics such as chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium and organic molecules will be briefly reviewed.

This course is designed for students who have taken General Chemistry I and want to continue to expand their chemistry knowledge. It will cover topics related to stoichiometry and chemical reactions, properties of aqueous solutions, acids and bases, thermodynamics and equilibrium, electrochemistry, general aspects in chemistry of the main-group elements, and introduction to transition metal elements and coordination compounds.

This course is the laboratory class designed for students who enrolled in CHEM 1010 or CHEM 1020. With laboratory experience acquired in this course, students will be able to relate the physical and chemical principles and theories in practice. Experiments on topics such as chemical energetic and chemical equilibrium will be included. Graded P or F.

This course is the laboratory class designed for students who enrolled in CHEM 1030. Students will perform experiments based on the theory they learned in courses. By conducting experiments independently, students are able to experience the whole process, from pre-lab and studying Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), to using suitable labwares, experimental techniques and data treatment. Experiments on topics such as electrochemical series and acid-base reaction will be included.

This is the first part of the organic chemistry course series designed for students taking a major/minor in chemistry/life science under the four-year degree. Topics covered include: structure and bonding; regio-, geometric, and stereoisomerism; polar and radical reactions of alkenes and alkynes; substitution and elimination reactions; synthesis and reactions of alcohols and epoxides.

Various classes of organic compounds, emphasizing organic chemical reactions and mechanisms of major functionalities and their importance in the area of biological chemistry. For engineering students under the four-year degrees who prefer to learn organic chemistry in a single term.

This is the laboratory course designed for students who enrolled in CHEM 2110 and CHEM 2111. Students will perform a series of organic experiments related to the theory learnt in courses. Students will be trained to perform a wide range of basic organic laboratory techniques, operate chemical instruments in laboratory, relate the physical and chemical principles and theory in practice and develop their data interpretation and analyzing skills. Experiments of topics such as esterification and Williamson ether synthesis will be included. For students in the programs under the four-year degree that designate the course as a required course/specified elective.

This is the laboratory course designed for non-CHEM students who enrolled in CHEM 2110 or CHEM 2111. Students will perform a series of organic experiments related to the theories learnt in the related lecture courses. Students will be trained to practice a wide range of fundamental organic laboratory techniques, operate chemical instruments, relate the physical and chemical principles and theory in practice, and develop their data interpretation and analytical skills. For non-CHEM students in programs that designate this course as required course/specified elective only.

This course is designed for students who have taken CHEM 1030 under the four-year degree. Key topics include atomic structure, molecular structure and bonding, structures of simple solids, physical techniques in inorganic chemistry, molecular symmetry, acids and bases, introduction to coordination chemistry, electronic structures and spectra of coordination compounds. For students in the programs under the four-year degree that designate the course as required course/specified elective, or students with approval from the instructor.

This course is the laboratory course designed for students who enrolled in CHEM 2210. Students will perform a series of inorganic experiments related to the theory learnt in courses. Students will be trained to perform a wide range of basic inorganic laboratory techniques, operate chemical instruments in laboratory, relate the physical and chemical principles and theory in practice and develop their data interpretation and analyzing skills. Experiments of the preparation of different metal complexes and organometallic compounds will be included. For CHEM students under the four-year degree only.

Fundamental and practical aspects of chemical analysis, including titrimetric, electrical and spectroscopic methods, analytical separations by GLC and HPLC.

Fundamental and practical aspects of chemical analysis, including titrimetric, electrical, optical and mass spectroscopic methods, analytical separations by chromatography. For students in the programs under the four-year degree that designate this course as required course/specified elective only.

This is the laboratory course corresponding to the lecture courses of CHEM 2310 and CHEM 2311. Experiments covered in this course will be closely connected with the topics covered in the lecture courses, including Beer's law, calibration principle, and some basic simple instrumental techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry, Gas Chromatography, etc. For students in the programs under the four-year degree that designate this course as required course/specified elective.

This is the laboratory course corresponding to the lecture courses of CHEM 2310 and CHEM 2311. Experiments covered in this course will be closely connected with the topics covered in the lecture courses, including calibration principle, and some basic optical and chromatographic instrumental techniques. For non-CHEM students in programs that designate this course as required course/specified elective only.

This course covers mathematical and numerical methods for solving typical complex problems found in undergraduate-level physical chemistry courses. Topics include differential and multivariate calculus, linear algebra, matrices, vectors, Fourier series and transformations, and probability and statistics. For CHEM students under the four-year degree or students with instructor’s approval.

The course consists of three parts. The first part covers the mathematical background, multivariable calculus and basic probability. The second part teaches the equilibrium thermodynamics, covering the laws of thermodynamics and thermodynamics functions, with applications to various problems in phase equilibrium, chemical and electrochemical equilibrium. The third part teaches the equilibrium statistical thermodynamics, covering the Boltzmann distribution, the statistical ensembles and partition functions and their relations to thermodynamics functions. For CHEM and ENVS students under the four-year degree or students with instructor's approval.

This is the laboratory course corresponding to the lecture course CHEM 2410. The topics of experiments covered in the laboratory course will be related to those taught in the lecture course, such as thermodynamics, etc. For CHEM students under the four-year degree only.

The course covers many major advances, historical developments and contemporary applications of critical concepts in Chemistry. These may range from atomic theory and identification and arrangement of the elements to modern problems such as CO2 and global warming; pollution and environmental clean-up. Unlike other Chemistry courses it will focus on the background to our knowledge, on what experimental evidence our current theories are based, and how old ones were overturned or modified. For science students in their third or fourth year of study under the four-year degree only. Other students with the prerequisites may seek instructor's approval for enrollment in the course.

Continuation of CHEM 2110. Dienes, resonance and aromaticity; electrophilic aromatic substitution and nucleophilic aromatic substitution; benzylic and allylic reactivity; the chemistry of carbonyl compounds and carboxylic acid derivatives; the chemistry of amines; pericyclic reactions.

Mechanism of inorganic reactions, organometallic and bioinorganic chemistry, catalysis.

Continuation of CHEM 2310. Topics covered include electrochemistry, mass spectrometry and separation sciences.

Basic quantum theory, atomic and molecular structure, equilibrium statistical thermodynamics.

This is the laboratory course corresponding to the lecture courses CHEM 3120 and CHEM 3220. The topics of experiments covered in the laboratory course will be related to those taught in the lecture courses, such as electrophilic aromatic substitution and coordination chemistry, etc. For CHEM students under the four-year degree only.

This is the laboratory course corresponding to the lecture courses CHEM 3320 and CHEM 3420. The topics of experiments covered in the laboratory course will be related to those taught in the lecture courses, such as quantum chemistry, chemical instrumental analysis, etc. For CHEM students under the four-year degree only.

Instrumental methods in characterization of molecular properties.

This course provides students with an opportunity to gain work experience in the chemistry field. Students will undertake training and supervised internships in our collaborating organizations/units. Credits assigned for each offering may be different depending on the total workload hours required. For CHEM students with instructor’s approval only. Graded P or F.

For Chemistry undergraduate students only. Each student is required to carry out a literature search on a selected topic under the supervision of a faculty member. He/she will submit a written report and give an oral presentation at the end of the semester. Graded P or F.

Use of modern ID- and 2D-NMR, IR, and Mass Spectrometric techniques for structure determination of organic molecules; theory of each technique with emphasis on development of problem-solving techniques.

This course will introduce the fundamental chemical principles underlying the structure, properties, and functions of biologically important molecules. Using the chemical concepts of bonding, structure, and structure-reactivity relationships developed in organic chemistry, this course will cover topics on the stereochemistry, structural diversity, physicochemical properties, and reactivity of amino acids, peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids to understand the molecular basis of their biological functions. Another major topic of this course is the preparation of these important biological molecules for understanding of their functions and exploitation of their biotechnological and medicinal values, using available organic chemistry methods.

This course will introduce the chemistry principles underlying the drug-target interaction and the development of drugs. One of its major topics is the molecular basis of the interaction of medicinal compounds with various biomolecules and the effect of their structure on their therapeutic activities. In addition, this course will discuss the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics properties of therapeutic agents and how these properties are related to their chemical structure. Moreover, another focus of this course is the chemical strategies to discover and optimize lead compounds that can eventually develop into agents of therapeutic values. For CHEM students and students with instructor's approval only.

Provides further training in the multistep organic synthesis of natural and unnatural products, and will focus on the retrosynthetic analysis, control of stereochemistry, carbonyl group chemistry, and pericyclic reactions with a brief coverage on new synthetic methodologies for efficient synthesis of compound libraries. A prerequisite for students wishing to take CHEM 5110/5120 as part of their undergraduate program.

This course provides hands-on experience for students in the biomolecular chemistry option. It focuses on synthesis of molecules of biological relevance, such as small-molecule drugs, peptides, and DNA. For CHEM students under the four-year degree only. Students with minor in CHEM may seek instructor’s approval for enrollment in the course.

This course provides hands-on experience for students in the biomolecular chemistry option. It focuses on characterization of biologically relevant molecules, mainly nucleic acids and proteins. For CHEM students under the four-year degree only. Students with minor in CHEM may seek instructor’s approval for enrollment in the course.

Structure and bonding in solids; metals, semiconductors and dielectrics; crystal chemistry of ceramics, silicate minerals and zeolites; electrical, optical and magnetic properties of solids; fullerene chemistry; introduction to x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, etc.

Liquid crystals, light emitters, conductive polymers, photoconductors, nanostructured materials and devices, optical information storage, chromism.

This course will introduce a selected series of materials characterization methods with an emphasis on the characterization methods of nanomaterials, especially chemically processed nanomaterials. The characterization methods will include electron spectroscopies, electron microscopies, scanning probe microscopies, and optical, thermal, mechanical, scattering and diffraction methods. The course will provide a balanced mix of physical principles, application considerations, and practical examples of the characterization methods. For CHEM students and students with instructor's approval only

Selected advanced topics in inorganic chemistry including spectroscopy (multinuclear NMR, IR and UV/visible), solid state chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry and catalysis.

This is a laboratory course for students to gain hands-on experiences in the preparation of modern materials. Students will have the opportunity to practice the synthesis of materials such as organic polymers, nanoparticles and solid materials. For CHEM students under the four-year degree only. Students with minor in CHEM may seek instructor’s approval for enrollment in the course.

This is a laboratory course for students to gain hands-on experiences in the characterization of modern materials. The characterization techniques include thermal analysis, gel permeation chromatography, viscosity, FT-IR, fluorescence spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction. For CHEM students under the four-year degree only. Students with minor in CHEM may seek instructor’s approval for enrollment in the course.

Chemical phenomena in the hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere; their interaction with the biosphere; origin and treatment of pollutants and hazardous waste; environmental monitoring and analysis.

Topics covered include fundamentals of sampling issues, sample pretreatment techniques, water Analysis of major and trace constituents; determination of inorganic and organic gas pollutants, Atmospheric analysis of particulate matter, determination of soil pollutants, environmental control standards, chemometrics in environmental analysis. For students with major or minor in Chemistry and in Environmental Science only.

This course aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the working principles in separating substances by chemical and physical techniques. Topics in this course include: sample preparation for chromatographic analysis; instrumentation for gas and liquid chromatography; mass spectrometry, and etc. Applications of various separation techniques for forensic, environmental, biological, pharmaceutical, food and drink analyses are provided as illustrating examples.

Topics covered include fundamentals of optical microscopic techniques, protein analysis, enzymatic bioassays; DNA techniques and biomicrofluidic techniques.

This is a laboratory course for students to gain hands-on experience in collecting and handling environmental samples. Experiments covered in this course will be related to collection, preparation and chemical analysis of various environmental samples. Students should seek instructor’s approval prior to enrollment in the course.

This is a laboratory course for students to gain hands-on experiences in operation of the modern instruments. The instruments include liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, ion chromatography, mass spectrometer, etc. Students should seek instructor’s approval prior to enrollment in the course.

This course covers the applications of physical chemistry in biological science and emphasizes the capability in using the fundamental knowledge in physical chemistry to solve the latest research problems in the interdisciplinary areas. Topics include molecular interpretations of the laws of thermodynamics, free energy and physical equilibria in membranes, photochemistry and photobiology, enzyme kinetics, binding and conformation transitions, spectroscopy of biomolecular structures and interactions.

Symmetry principle and group theory, molecular spectroscopy, advanced topics in molecular orbital theory and bonding, chemical kinetics.

This course provides hands-on experience for students in the pure chemistry option. It emphasizes on the advanced lab techniques such as the setup for air sensitive reaction and use of vacuum line. Experiment of different areas like metal catalyzed cross coupling, regiospecific synthesis and preparation of a mimic model of natural catalyst will be included. For CHEM students under the four-year degree only. Students with minor in CHEM may seek instructor’s approval for enrollment in the course.

This course is designed for chemistry major students who are enrolling in Pure Chemistry option. It provides students hands-on experience in the operation of different instruments including High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) for characterization of organic products. For CHEM students under the four-year degree only. Students with minor in CHEM may seek instructor’s approval for enrollment in the course.

Bonding, structure and reactivity of organometallic compounds, ligand substitution, oxidative addition, reductive elimination reactions, insertions and reactions of coordinated ligands, applications to catalytic processes and organic synthesis.

Solar Cells are considered as one of the most promising renewable energy technologies. Conventional solar cells are based on inorganic materials such as silicon. In the past decade, however, several new solar cell technologies based on organic materials are emerging as promising alternatives to conventional solar cells. This is an exciting and highly interdisciplinary area involving Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, and Electronic Engineering. The study on organic solar cells provides an excellent platform for Science and Engineering students to learn about how to do research in a multidisciplinary environment. Another key focus of this course is to improve students' communication and interview skills through in-class presentations and group discussions on cutting-edge technologies.

Students do original research in accordance with their ability and background, and under the supervision of a faculty. The final course grade is determined based on an oral presentation and a written report to be submitted to a judging committee, which includes the faculty supervisor plus at least one other faculty. Enrollment in the course requires approval of the faculty supervisor.

Offered every semester and Summer. Students do original research in accordance with their ability and background and under the supervision of a faculty. The final course grade is determined based on an oral presentation and a written thesis to be submitted to a judging committee, which includes the faculty supervisor plus at least one other faculty. The thesis should include the results of the original research carried out in CHEM 4680.

Under the supervision of a faculty member or teaching staff, students will complete a capstone project which requires the integration of the chemical knowledge learnt from their previous courses. The project can be delivered through the format of literature review, research, or practical study. A written report and an oral presentation are required to document their learning experiences. For CHEM students under the four-year degree only. Students should seek instructor's approval prior to enrollment in the course.

Students will carry out a research project in one of the Chemistry research laboratories under the supervision of a faculty member. This research-based course provides students an opportunity to integrate and apply their chemical knowledge learnt in regular lecture and laboratory courses. At the end of the course, students are required to submit a written report and deliver an oral presentation to document their learning experiences. For CHEM students only. Students should seek instructor's approval prior to enrollment in the course.

Continuation of research project started in CHEM 4691 and to be conducted under the supervision of a faculty member/teaching staff. A written report and oral presentation are required to document their learning experiences. Students should seek instructor's approval prior to enrollment in the course.