Elective Courses

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 2-4-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 311 / Co-Req: None

Overview of molecular mechanics, semiempirical and quantum mechanical approaches, basic theory and algorithms behind common computational chemistry methods. Emphasis will be placed on molecular modeling and its applications to interpret physicochemical properties of chemical systems. Implementation of selected software to solve chemical and numerical problems.

Laboratory: Projects dealing with energy minimization, conformational analysis, reaction mechanisms, spectroscopic analysis and others topics for selected chemical systems.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 311 / Co-Req: None

Determination of kinetic order and rate constants, catalysis, isotope effects, medium effects, fast reactions, chemical interpretations of the transition state, structure-reactivity relationships, methodology of mechanistic organic/inorganic chemistry, reactive intermediates, kinetics of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 102 or CHEM 111 / Co-Req: None

Environmental chemistry in global perspective, chemistry of earth’s atmosphere, chemistry of urban and indoor atmospheres, global climate, chemistry of the hydrosphere, aquatic systems, water pollution, wastewater analysis and treatment chemistry, environmental chemistry of colloids and surfaces, microbiological processes, solid wastes, organic biocides.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 201 and CHEM 335 / Co-Req: None

The role of transition metals in homogeneous catalysis, important catalytic processes such as alkylation, carbonylation, oxidation-oxygenation, hydrogenation, etc., homogeneously catalyzed industrial processes such as Oxo and Wacker processes, fundamentals of heterogeneous catalysis, catalyst production and applications, shape selective catalysts, role of environmental catalysis in green chemistry, electro-, photo-, and phase transfer catalysis, most important catalytic processes operating in Saudi Arabia and worldwide.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 0-0-0 / Pre-Req: Permission of the Instructor / Co-Req: None

State-of-the-art topics in Chemistry.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 204 / Co-Req: None

Chemical bonding and structure, stereochemical principles, conformational and steric effects, methods of mechanistic study, nucleophilic substitution, polar addition and elimination, carbanions, carbonyl compounds, aromatic substitution, concerted reactions, other interesting reaction types.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 204 / Co-Req: None

Organic reaction types, less common functional groups, reaction mechanisms, basic synthetic methods, retrosynthesis and selected total synthesis of natural products.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 204 / Co-Req: None

Identification and structural analysis of organic compounds by nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. Introduction to instrumentation, sample handling and basic theory of each technique with emphasis on their practical applications for structure determination.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 311 / Co-Req: None

General review of wave mechanics in relation to molecular systems, vibrational and rotational energies of molecules, absorption and emission of radiation, molecular symmetry and group theory, electronic spectra of diatomic and polyatomic molecules.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 311 / Co-Req: None

A study of the fundamental photochemical and photophysical processes which follow absorption of radiation by molecules and the techniques used to study these processes.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 311 / Co-Req: None

Transition from classical mechanics to quantum mechanics, review of quantum mechanical postulates, the hydrogen atom, angular momentum, perturbation theory, chemical bonding, molecular structures and symmetries, atomic spectra and atomic structure, molecular rotations and vibrations.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 321 or CHEM 324 / Co-Req: None

Introduction to quality assurance in the analytical chemistry laboratory, principles of valid analytical measurements (VAM), different approaches to ensure quality of analytical measurement results, quality control measures such as control charts, use of certified reference materials and inter-laboratory trials. Measurement uncertainty, method validation, metrological traceability, accreditations to good laboratory practice (e.g. ISO 17025 and OECD).

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 321 or CHEM 324 / Co-Req: None

Separation techniques used in various analytical applications, separation techniques principles, operation, design, problems, optimization and interpretation. Modern techniques to be covered include gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, ion chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and two-dimensional separation methods. Recent developments in chromatographic techniques and applications of analytical separations in oil industry, petrochemicals, biomedical, food and environmental chemistry.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 335 / Co-Req: None

Introduction, symmetry elements and symmetry operations, introduction to groups, symmetry point groups, class structure, representations and character tables, chemical applications of symmetry, bonding and spectral interpretation from group theory.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: NA / Pre-Req: Senior Standing. Cannot be taken for credit with CHEM 537 / Co-Req: None

Basic concept of polymer chemistry, fundamental bases for understanding the principles associated with the polymerization reactions using a number of traditional and contemporary polymerization techniques (step-growth polymerization, radical polymerization, ionic polymerization, ring-opening polymerization, polymerization by transition metal catalysts) with an emphasis on the mechanisms, kinetics, stereochemistry, structure, structure-property relationships and resulting properties of polymers.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 0-4-1 / Pre-Req: None / Co-Req: CHEM 451

Practical experience in polymer chemistry, synthesis of polymers, kinetics and mechanisms of polymerization reactions, structural analysis, characterization and properties of polymers.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 311 / Co-Req: None

Electrochemical corrosion processes and variables, anodic and cathodic corrosion, corrosion acceleration versus passivation, electrochemical thermodynamics: the Gibbs function, electrochemical reactions and equilibrium potentials, kinetics of electrode processes, electrochemical corrosion-rate measurements, localized corrosion, corrosion protection, inhibition and materials selection.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 335 / Co-Req: None

A study of inorganic chemicals and products with emphasis on industrial processes. The focus is on sulfur and sulfuric acid, ammonia and its derivatives, cement, glasses, ceramics, electrolytic processes, chlor-alkali industries, phosphorous industries, fertilizer chemicals and metallurgical processes.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 201 / Co-Req: None

A study of the organic chemicals and products derived mainly from sources other than petroleum. Special emphasis is on oils and fats, pharmaceuticals, agrochemical, fermentation products, surface coatings, explosives, detergents, and pollution and waste management.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-0 / Pre-Req: CHEM 451 or CHE 463 / Co-Req: None

Polymer characterization and analysis using various qualitative and quantitative analytical instruments. Principles, applications, and limitations of the classical analytical techniques required for analysis and characterizing of different kinds of polymers.‎ Analysis of molecular weight, mechanical properties, thermal properties, in addition to spectral analysis. Interpretation of data collected using different techniques of polymer analysis.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 201 / Co-Req: None

This course deals with the raw materials, natural gas, associated gases and crude oils and their physical and chemical properties, composition, and processing. The course explains, through the chemistry of petrochemical reactions, the transformation of natural gas, associated gases, crude oil and further processing of paraffins, olefins and aromatics to petrochemicals. Petrochemical industry has grown enormously in Saudi Arabia.

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 3-0-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 311 / Co-Req: None

This course describes absorption and resonance spectroscopy and interaction between electromagnetic radiation and catalysts. Overview of characterization methods of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. Literature studies of cases from homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Introduction to the mechanistic studies of some catalytic reactions..

Level: Undergraduate / Credit: 0-12-3 / Pre-Req: CHEM 488 and ENGL 214 / Co-Req: None

Students interested in continuing their chemistry research can take this course under the supervision of faculty members. A thorough literature survey and a greater degree of independent thinking and creativity, and a mastery of a set of laboratory skills are the hallmarks of this course. Submission of a final report as well as an oral presentation relating to the outcome of the research work is required at the end of this course.