Department Chemistry and Biochemistry

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Villanova University offers masters and bachelors degrees, including an American Chemical Society accredited degree program for undergraduates.  Our faculty actively conduct research in diverse areas such as environmental chemistry, protein biochemistry, fuel cell research, and computational chemistry. We recognize that undergraduate research provides a unique opportunity to work closely alongside a faculty mentor, gaining an experience that extends far beyond typical classroom learning, and we encourage all undergraduates to participate in undergraduate research.

Programs

Courses

CHM 1000: Profesl Development Sem

Professional development course for Chemistry and Biochemistry juniors and seniors. Visiting speakers and in-class workshops expose students to available career paths and research areas, build their professional network, and develop related skills, e.g., communication and personal statement writing.

Last Offered
Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Effective Term
202420

CHM 1002: First Year Prof Devlp Seminar

Professional development course for first year Chemistry majors focusing on information access skills, communication skills, and abilities to discuss ethical situations. Visiting speakers and in-class workshops expose students to available career paths and research areas and build their professional networks.

Prerequisites
Last Offered
Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Summer 2024, Spring 2024
Effective Term
202420

CHM 1103: General Chemistry Lab I

Qualitative and quantitative laboratory experiments which include: the reactions of metals with water; the collection and plotting of data; acid-base titrations; oxidation-reduction titrations; the use of the pH meter and the determination of acid-base titration curves; the use of the spectrophotometer. Coreqs. CHM 1131 or CHM 1151

Prerequisites
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024
Effective Term
199520

CHM 1104: General Chemistry Lab II

Students will be required to identify all metal ions present in an unknown solution. Quantitative titrations of sodium carbonate and the total hardness of water. Synthesis of inorganic compounds and determination of the formula of a transition metal complex ion using spectroscopic methods. Corequisites: CHM 1152 or CHM 1156 (Note: Engineering students are waived from this lab.)

Prerequisites

CHM 1103 and (CHM 1151 or CHM 1611)

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites
Last Offered
Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Summer 2024, Spring 2024
Effective Term
199520

CHM 1107: General Chemistry Lab: Nursing

Qualitative and quantitative laboratory experiments which include: chemical identification testing, molecular modeling, coordination compound synthesis, reaction kinetics and equilibrium, acid-base titrations, and gas laws Coreq. CHM 1131.

Corequisites

CHM 1131

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019
Effective Term
200020

CHM 1108: General Chemistry Lab II

Chemistry of organic and biochemical compounds with an emphasis on the identification and chemical reactivities of functional groups. Students will be required to separate and identify various organic and biochemical compounds. Open to health affiliation students.

Prerequisites

CHM 1131 and (CHM 1103 or CHM 1107)

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 1134

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020
Effective Term
199520

CHM 1131: General Chemistry I

Fundamental laws and theories of chemistry: atomic theory, chemical bonding, chemical kinetics and chemical equilibrium, gases, liquids, solids, solutions, stoichiometry, acid-base theories, electrochemical concepts, and an introduction to nuclear chemistry will be included. Open to health affiliation students.

Corequisites

CHM 1107

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019
Effective Term
199520

CHM 1135: General, Organic & BioChem

General, Organic and Biological Chemistry concepts foundational to understanding cellular processes. i.e., measurements, atomic structure, nuclear chemistry, chemical bonding, nomenclature and properties of organic functional groups, chemical reactions, solutions, equilibrium, acids and bases, pH, buffers, and structures and functions of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.

Corequisites

CHM 1105

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Effective Term
202420

CHM 1151: General Chemistry I

Basic concepts of chemistry covering the following topics: stoichiometry, redox reactions; properties of gases; thermochemistry; descriptive presentation of atomic orbitals; molecular structure and bonding; chemical trends in the periodic table; properties of bulk matter; colligative properties of solutions.

Corequisites

CHM 1103

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024
Effective Term
199520

CHM 1152: General Chemistry II

Continuation of CHM 1151. Introduction to chemical kinetics and equilibrium; the chemistry of acids and bases; buffers and titrations; complex ions and solubility; factors that drive chemical reactions; electrochemistry; nuclear chemistry.

Prerequisites

CHM 1151 :D- or CHM 1611 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 1104

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Summer 2024, Spring 2024
Effective Term
199520

CHM 1156: General Chemistry II for Egr

Continuation of CHM 1151. Introduction to chemical kinetics and equilibrium; the chemistry of acids and bases; buffers and titrations; complex ions and solubility; factors that drive chemical reactions; electrochemistry; introduction to organic chemistry.

Prerequisites

CHM 1151 :D- and CHM 1103 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Last Offered
Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018
Effective Term
200510

CHM 1301: Inorganic Chemistry Lab I

Selected experiments to illustrate fundamental laboratory techniques and skills. Qualitative and quantitative measurements, synthesis and characterization of inorganic complexes, literature searching and computer usage. Emphasis on modern research applications of metals and main group elements.

Corequisites

CHM 1311

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Effective Term
200120

CHM 1311: Inorganic Chemistry I

Fundamental principles in inorganic chemistry stressing relationships among structure, bonding, and reactivity. Properties of matter, periodic trends, acid/base reactions, redox reactions,and bonding in transition metal complexes.

Corequisites

CHM 1301

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Effective Term
200120

CHM 1502: Quant Anal Lab

Laboratory experiments to complement CHM 1512 covering the following: gravimetric analysis, acid-base titrations (weak acid; mixed acid), compleximetric titration and redox reactions.

Prerequisites

CHM 1301 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 1512

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
Effective Term
200120

CHM 1512: Quantitative Analysis

Chemical analysis, with emphasis upon statistical methods, acid-base properties, pH, equilibrium expressions, complexation equilibria, solubility properties, redox potentials, electrolysis, and electrochemical cells.

Prerequisites

CHM 1311 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 1502

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
Effective Term
200120

CHM 1611: Gen'l Chem l for BIOC Majors

Basic concepts of chemistry covering the following topics: stoichiometry, redox reactions; properties of gases; thermochemistry; descriptive presentation of atomic orbitals; molecular structure and bonding; chemical trends in the periodic table; properties of bulk matter; colligative properties of solutions.

Corequisites

CHM 1103

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Effective Term
202220

CHM 2201: Organic Chemistry Lab I

Practical experience in techniques used for separation, purification, and isolation of synthetic as well as naturally occurring organic compounds. Semi-micro and micro scale experiments. Crystallization, distillation, extraction, and chromatography are introduced.

Corequisites

CHM 2211

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024
Effective Term
199520

CHM 2202: Organic Chemistry Lab II

Further training in laboratory techniques used in organic chemistry, including those introduced in CHM 2201, and utilization of such techniques in representative types of organic reactions. Semi-micro and micro scale experiments.

Prerequisites

CHM 2211

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 2212

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Summer 2024, Spring 2024
Effective Term
199520

CHM 2211: Organic Chemistry I

Fundamental principles of organic chemistry stressing the relation of structure and reactivity. Structure and bonding; stereochemistry; acids, and bases; electrophilic addition, elimination and nucleophilic substitution.

Prerequisites

(CHM 1151 and CHM 1152) or (CHM 1151 and CHM 1156) or (CHM 1611 and CHM 1152)

Corequisites

CHM 2201

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024
Effective Term
199520

CHM 2212: Organic Chemistry II

Continuation of CHM 2211. Carbonyl group reactions, aromatic chemistry, spectroscopy and special topics such as heterocycles, carbohydrates and nucleosides, amino acids and proteins, lipids, radicals, rearrangements, polymers and photochemistry.

Prerequisites

CHM 2211 :D- and CHM 2201 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 2202

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Summer 2024, Spring 2024
Effective Term
199520

CHM 3201: Organic Chemistry Lab I

Provides practical experience in the principal techniques utilized for the purification, separation, identification, and synthesis of organic compounds on the micro scale. Open to Chemistry majors.

Prerequisites

CHM 1502 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 3211

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Effective Term
199520

CHM 3202: Organic Chemistry Lab II

The semi-micro techniques include distillation, recrystallization, extraction, sublimation, and chromatography. Synthesis of representative organic compounds. An introduction to research in organic chemistry, introduction to qualitative organic analysis and practical use of infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies.

Prerequisites

(CHM 3211 and CHM 3201)

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 3212

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
Effective Term
199520

CHM 3211: Organic Chemistry I

Fundamental principles of organic chemistry stressing the relation of structure and reactivity from a physical-chemical viewpoint. Structure and bonding; stereochemistry; acids and bases; electrophilic addition reactions of alkenes, alkynes, and dienes; nucleophilic substitution reactions at saturated carbon atoms and elimination reactions leading to alkenes or alkynes. Open to chemistry majors.

Prerequisites

CHM 1512 :D- and CHM 1502 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 3201

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Effective Term
199520

CHM 3212: Organic Chemistry II

Addition and substitution reactions of carbonyl compounds, electrophilic and nucleophilic aromatic substitutions, radical and concerted reactions, heterocyclic compounds and polymer chemistry. Spectroscopic methods of analysis including nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopies and mass spectrometry. Introduction to multi-step organic synthesis. Open to chemistry majors.

Prerequisites

CHM 3211 :D- and CHM 3201 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 3202

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
Effective Term
199520

CHM 3301: Inorganic Chem Lab II

This laboratory course emphasizes preparative techniques of inorganic compounds. Instrumental methods of structure elucidation are included.

Prerequisites

(CHM 2212 :D- or CHM 3212 :D-) and (CHM 2202 :D- or CHM 3202 :D-)

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 3311

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Effective Term
200120

CHM 3311: Inorganic Chem II

The second course in the sequence on principles of inorganic chemistry with emphasis on bonding, structure and reactivity. Application of these principles to problems in acid-base, coordination, organometallic, bioinorganic and materials chemistry.

Prerequisites

(CHM 2212 :D- or CHM 3212 :D-) and (CHM 2202 :D- or CHM 3202 :D-)

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 3301

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Effective Term
200320

CHM 3404: Physical Chem Lab I

Experiments on chemical kinetics and optical spectroscopic methods including fluorescence, un-visible, infrared and Raman spectroscopy as well as conductance, viscosity, and numerical analysis of data.

Prerequisites

(CHM 2212 :D- or CHM 3212 :D-) and (CHM 2202 :D- or CHM 3202 :D-)

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 3412

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
Effective Term
202210

CHM 3405: Physical Chem Lab II

Experiments centered on chemical thermodynamics including calorimetry and phase equilibria, emphasizing data treatment, including error analysis curve fitting, and related topics.

Prerequisites

CHM 3412 :D- and CHM 3404

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 3413

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023
Effective Term
202120

CHM 3412: Quantum Chemistry

This course will present an introduction to quantum mechanics and its implications including molecular orbital theory, electronic structure, and molecular spectroscopy.

Prerequisites

MAT 1505 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 3404

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
Effective Term
202120

CHM 3416: Physical Chem for Engineers

Chemical kinetics, electrochemistry, and the structure and properties of materials, including atomic structure, solid and liquid state chemistry, surface and colloid chemistry, and transport properties.

Prerequisites
Corequisites
Last Offered
Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
Effective Term
200220

CHM 3501: Instrumental Analysis Lab

Laboratory techniques to obtain quantitative information about the composition of unknown samples, including potentiometric titration, spectrophotometry, chromatography, kinetic analysis, anodic stipping voltammetry, spectrofluorometry and atomic absorption spectrometry. Designed to complement CHM 3511 lecture.

Prerequisites

CHM 1152 :D- or CHM 1512 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 3511

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Effective Term
200120

CHM 3511: Instrumental Analysis

The utilization of instruments covering the following topics: analog and digital signals, absorption and emission of light by molecules and atoms, chromatography (HPLC, GC) and detection, use of enzymes and antibodies, radioactivity, and chemometrics.

Prerequisites

CHM 1152 :D- or CHM 1512 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 3501

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Effective Term
200120

CHM 4222: Organic Struct Analysis

The currently most useful spectroscopic methods for the structural determination of molecular systems, including: NMR (2D and 2D), mass spectrometry, infrared and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopies.

Prerequisites

CHM 3212 or CHM 2212

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites
Last Offered
Spring 2021, Fall 2018, Spring 2013, Spring 2011
Effective Term
199520

CHM 4229: Organic Reactions & Synthesis

Survey of organic reactions with emphasis on modern synthetic methods and their applications to the synthesis of complex organic compounds. Enolates, carbonyl condensation reactions, functional group interconversions, electrophilic addition reactions, reductions, organometallic reagents, concerted reations, oxidations. Synthetic strategies including retrosynthetic analysis in the context of specific examples of multi-step synthesis from recent literature.

Prerequisites

CHM 3212 or CHM 2212

Prerequisite Courses
Last Offered
Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Fall 2013
Effective Term
201410

CHM 4517: Environmental Chemistry

Apply key concepts in chemistry to global scales by examining chemical systems within Earth's lithosphere hydrosphere and atmosphere. Examine and discuss natural processes as well as anthropogenic impacts like climate change and environmental contamination using central scientific literature.

Prerequisites

CHM 2211 or CHM 3211

Prerequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019
Effective Term
202010

CHM 4601: Survey Biochemistry Lab

An introduction to laboratory techniques in biochemistry; enzyme kinetics, column chromatography, electrophoresis, standard biochemical assays and interpretation of data.

Prerequisites

CHM 2202 :D- or CHM 3202 :D- and CHM 4611 :Y :D- or CHM 4610 :Y :D- or CHM 3202 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites

CHM 4611

Corequisite Courses
Last Offered
Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020
Effective Term
200730

CHM 4611: Survey of Biochemistry

A terminal, one semester survey of biochemistry; carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes, vitamins & hormones; consideration of their utilization & metabolism in living systems.

Prerequisites

CHM 2212 :D- or CHM 3212 :D-

Prerequisite Courses
Last Offered
Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Effective Term
200730

CHM 4622: Biochemistry II:Metabolism

A study of the metabolism of biomolecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and nucleotides, including the integration, regulation and control of intermediary metabolism. Emphasized are the hormonal regulation of pathways and metabolic disease.

Prerequisites

CHM 4621

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisites
Last Offered
Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
Effective Term
200730

CHM 4665: Enzymes

Structural and mechanistic aspects of enzymes. Topics include chemical catalysis, steady state and pre-steady state kinetics, mechanisms, and biological relevance of specific enzyme systems.

Prerequisites

CHM 4621 or CHM 4611

Prerequisite Courses
Last Offered
Spring 2022, Fall 2019, Spring 2017, Fall 2013
Effective Term
201330

CHM 4710: Safety Culture in the Sci Com

Introduction to the principles and practices of laboratory safety; understanding, recognizing, and communicating laboratory chemical, physical and biological hazards; risk assessment and management of hazards; laboratory accident prevention and safe use of emergency equipment.

Last Offered
Spring 2022, Fall 2020
Effective Term
202120

CHM 4800: Research

Student participation in independent research under faculty supervision, frequent conferences with advisor, on literature search, theoretical and experimental, research.

Last Offered
Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Effective Term
202230

CHM 4801: Research I

Student participation in independent research under faculty supervision, frequent conferences with advisor on literature search, theoretical and experimental research.

Last Offered
Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Summer 2024
Effective Term
199520

CHM 4851: Thesis Research I

Directed research with a Chemistry or Biochemistry faculty mentor that culminates in a written thesis and seminar presentation. Part I of a two-semester sequence with CHM4852. Permission of participating faculty member required. A written interim report is required at the end of the semester.

Last Offered
Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Effective Term
201230

CHM 4852: Thesis Research II

Continuation of CHM4851 - Thesis Research I. Directed research with a Chemistry or Biochemistry faculty mentor that culminates in a written thesis and seminar presenation. Permission of participating faculty member required.

Last Offered
Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Effective Term
201230

MSE 2300: CHM:Alchemy, Artisanship& Chm

This course examines introductory chemistry topics in a modern and historical light including how the current knowledge of chemistry is owed to Greek philosophers, Islamic healers, Western artisans, monks, and the alchemists. The laboratory recreates chemistry-related activities of the past (e.g., soap and dye-making).

Last Offered
Spring 2025, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2019
Effective Term
201410

MSE 2301: CHM:Water

The course explores the chemistry of water including its unique structure and properties, water pollution, water treatment, and its role in biochemistry, climate, renewable energy, and global economic and political policies. The laboratory introduces sampling methods and common quality measurements (e.g., dissolved oxygen and pH).

Last Offered
Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023
Effective Term
201410

MSE 2303: CHM:The Science of Art

This course provides an understanding of artistic media related to technological advances throughout the centuries. Creating, viewing, and understanding, authenticating, and conserving works of art will be explored. The laboratory provides practice and an appreciation of the advances in artistic media throughout history.

Last Offered
Summer 2025, Summer 2024, Summer 2023, Summer 2022
Effective Term
201410

MSE 2305: Perspective on Plastic

Polymers surround our everyday existence from the clothes we wear to the plastic packaging we use to polymers in wood. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we will study polymer lifecycles to help inform and shape responsible plastic use.

Last Offered
Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019
Effective Term
202120

MSE 2306: CHM:The Chemistry of Food

The chemical and biochemical properties of food - sugars, fats, proteins, and mixtures - will be explored. The chemical reactions that occur during food preparation and cooking, and the science behind food preparation will be examined in depth.

Last Offered
Spring 2025, Spring 2024
Effective Term
202430