Why Should I Take Honors College Chemistry?
1. Earn college credit for two semesters of chemistry (CHM 151 and 152); these transfer to
most universities nationwide (guaranteed at any Arizona university). This will save you
$$$ over tuition costs at a university. You will also have an experienced instructor whose
primary job is to help you learn chemistry, not conduct research.
2. You get the chance to learn how to use computers in powerful ways:
a. Collect data in labs with a variety of probes that are interfaced to computers:
temperature & pressure sensors, colorimeters, pH probes.
b. Use Logger Pro to plot data and determine mathematical relationships between the
variables you are studying in the lab.
c. Use powerful simulation software to visualize processes that occur at the atomic
level.
3. Develop the skills that will get you through chemistry courses at the university whether
you choose to:
a. use these credits to waive your science requirement for majors in non-science fields
(business, political science, psychology, etc)
b. repeat the course with the background and skills that should allow you to earn an
“easy A”.
Do you know someone whose life was saved by:
* the injection of epinephrine after a bee sting?
* an airbag?
* tempered glass, which doesn't shatter on impact?
Then you need to thank a chemist.
Chemists are the unsung heroes in the sciences. Their work is often behind the scenes and
not always understood by the general public. And the media doesn't help with its
portrayals of "mad" scientists destroying the earth, not to mention "Beaker," the Muppet
who regularly blows up his lab.
Chemistry is used as a pre-requisite course for a host of majors and careers. These include:
Biochemistry - the study of the structure, composition, and chemical reactions of substances
in living systems. Biochemistry emerged as a separate discipline when scientists
combined biology with organic, inorganic, or physical chemistry and began to study such
topics as how living things obtain energy from food, the chemical basis of heredity, and
what fundamental changes occur in disease. Biochemistry includes the sciences of
molecular biology; immunochemistry; neurochemistry; and bioinorganic, bioorganic, and
biophysical chemistry.
Chemical engineering - Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, math, and
physics to the design and operation of large-scale chemical manufacturing processes.
They translate processes developed in the lab into practical applications for the
production of products such as plastics, medicines, detergents, and fuels; design plants to
maximize productivity and minimize costs; and evaluate plant operations for performance
and product quality.
Environmental chemistry - The fate of chemicals in the environment and their effects are
matters of increasing concern to specialists in environmental management. "Fate"
involves studying where chemicals show up in streams, rivers, and air. Such pollution
contains molecules that have not been removed in water treatment plants, caught by the
filters in industrial smokestacks, disposed of properly, or successfully sealed in
containers. Industry also has grown more interested in finding ways to solve waste
problems. Many solutions involve making industrial processes more efficient, which cuts
costs. In addition, environmental chemists study the effects of chemicals other than
pollutants on the environment.
Forensic chemistry - A forensic chemist is a professional chemist who analyzes evidence that
is brought in from crime scenes and reaches a conclusion based on tests run on that piece
of evidence. A forensic chemist's job is to identify and characterize the evidence as part
of the larger process of solving a crime. Forensic chemists rarely conduct any
investigative work; they handle the evidence collected from the crime scene. Evidence
may include hair samples, paint chips, glass fragments, or blood stains. Understanding
the evidence requires tools from many disciplines, including chemistry, biology,
materials science, and genetics. The prevalence of DNA analysis is making knowledge of
genetics increasingly important in this field. piece of a forensic chemist's job. Some
employers require their forensic chemists to go through several months of mock
courtroom testimony training along with their regular training. Forensic chemists must be
able to give an impartial explanation to the jury that will assist in a final judgment—
forensic chemists analyze the evidence but do not determine the verdict.
Materials science is an applied science concerned with the relationship between the structure
and properties of materials. Chemists who work in the field study how different
combinations of molecules and materials result in different properties. They use this
knowledge to synthesize new materials with special properties. Eduardo Kamenetzky, a
senior research scientist at Cytec Industries, explains, "The central concept of materials
science is relating the microstructure of a material to the properties you want it to have.
By working with the microstructure, you can tailor the central properties of that
material."
Medicinal chemistry is the application of chemical research techniques to the synthesis of
pharmaceuticals. During the early stages of medicinal chemistry development, scientists
were primarily concerned with the isolation of medicinal agents found in plants. Today,
scientists in this field are also equally concerned with the creation of new synthetic drug
compounds. Medicinal chemistry is almost always geared toward drug discovery and
development.
Polymer chemistry - Chemists develop polymers so they can be used to make ingredients for
products with unique physical and chemical properties. They manipulate large, complex
molecules and capitalize on the connections between their molecular structure and the
properties that make them useful. Polymer products can be lightweight, hard, strong, and
flexible and have special thermal, electrical, and optical characteristics; they include
products from the fiber, communication, packaging, and transportation industries.