Course Level:
Third Year
Academic Year:
2017/2018
Instructor: Gregory Dake, A341
Outline
Importance of chemistry in society. Detailed case studies drawn from modern
chemistry: human health, energy, commodity chemicals, materials, green
chemistry, agriculture. [3-0-0; 3 50 min lectures per week]”
Syllabus
- Toxicology and Chemophobia.
- How does the field of toxicology define “toxicity”? Fears and realities of
pesticides, synthetic compounds etc. in food and environment. Realities of
relative risk. Case studies. (2.5 lectures)
Readings: “Ranking Possible Carcinogenic Hazards” by Ames, Magaw, Gold Science 1987, 236,
271-280.; “Nature’s chemicals and synthetic chemicals: Comparative toxicology” Ames, Profet,
Gold Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1990, 87, 7782-7786; “Dietary pesticides (99.99% all natural)”
Ames, Profet, Gold Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1990, 87, 7777-7781. “Putting the Safety of
Organic Food Into Perspective” Magkos, Arvaniti, Zampelas* Nutrition Research Reviews 2003,
16, 211.
- How does the field of toxicology define “toxicity”? Fears and realities of
- Top 20 Industrial Chemicals. Feeding the World. Building the World.
- Sulfuric acid production and use. Phosphoric acid production and use. Lime.
Cements. Haber-Bosch process. Chlor-alkali process. Economic aspects. Peak
Phosphorus. (2.5 lectures)
- Sulfuric acid production and use. Phosphoric acid production and use. Lime.
- Energy.
- Petroleum production and upgrading. Cracking processes-thermal and catalytic.
Catalytic reforming processes. Octane number. Methanol to Gasoline Process.
Methanol as Alternate Fuel. Batteries-Concept and Design. Fuel Cells. Solar
Electric Power. The Futility of Biomass and Biofuels for Energy Use. Food
Production The Water Splitting Reaction. (6 lectures)
- Petroleum production and upgrading. Cracking processes-thermal and catalytic.
- Modern Materials.
- Polymers in Society. Use of Cracking Products as Industrial Starting Materials.
Definitions. Molecular structure and polymer properties. LDPE. HDPE. PP.
Polyoxiranes. PVC. PVA. PVB. Polyacrylates. Polybutadienes. Nylons. Polyesters.
Green/Environmentally Friendly Marketing. Production Practices. Recyclables.
Biodegradability. Performance. (7 lectures)
- Polymers in Society. Use of Cracking Products as Industrial Starting Materials.
- Fragrances and Flavor Chemistry.
- Fragrances (natural). Perfumes. Design of novel fragrances. Industrial Synthesis
of Menthol as an Example of Enantioselective Catalysis. Sensory Compounds:
Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Salty, Hot, Tingle. Cooking Reactions, Maillard, Amadori
Rearrangement, Strecker degradation, caramelization, beer flavor chemistry.
Chemistry of Chocolate (5 lectures)
- Fragrances (natural). Perfumes. Design of novel fragrances. Industrial Synthesis
- Antibiotic Resistance and Medicinal Chemistry.
- Advent of MRSA. Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance. Penicillins. Cipro.
Vancomycin. Augmentin. Scientific Challenge of Discovery of Novel Antibiotics.
Broader discussion of medicinal chemistry process, from lead compound to
preclinical trials to FDA approval (4-5 lectures)
- Advent of MRSA. Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance. Penicillins. Cipro.
- Green Chemistry Reactions.
- Definitions. Case Studies of Industrial and Academic Examples of Legitimate and
Hyped Green Chemistry Reactions (3 lectures)
Assessments: three one-hour examinations; out-of-class assignments when
appropriate
Students also have a required, semester long library research project on a
chemistry/society topic that incorporates individual blind peer review, teamwork
training and team-based blind peer review. This culminates in a poster session at
term end.
- Definitions. Case Studies of Industrial and Academic Examples of Legitimate and