Waving electrons

Chemistry


Chemistry - The Central Science

Everything in the world involves chemistry and the application of chemical principles. The air you breathe, the food you eat, and the blood coursing through your veins all involve complicated chemical processes. It involves the changes in the atmosphere, the gasoline your car consumes to move you and your loved ones, and the batteries being charged used to run your iPad. A background in chemistry is essential to many high-paying, challenging careers in health care, technology, consumer industries, environmental management, and  and even business.  Pharmaceuticals, Forensic Science, Food Technology, the Petroleum Industry, Food Technology and Science, the Cosmetics Industry, and the omnipresent polymers that surround your environment.
Our courses meet the general education and physical science requirements for university majors, particularly majors directed towards Pre-medical, Pre-Dental, Pre-Nursing, Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics and Pre-Pharmacy.

 

Beaker holding test tubes and a microchip
Dirac Equation

Course Numbering and Descriptions

Academic Courses

Food Chemistry Courses

Directed Study Courses

Chemistry 060

Chemistry 071

Chemistry 185

Chemistry 101

Chemistry 072*

Chemistry 285

Chemistry 102

Chemistry 073*

Chemistry 385

Chemistry 211

*In the Final Development Phase

 

Chemistry 212

 

 

Chemistry 221

   

 

CHEM 060 INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL CHEMISTRY

5 Units (Lec 3 Hrs / Lab 4 Hrs)

Transfer Credit: CSU (CSUGE Area B1,B3), UC (IGETC Area 5A,5C), C-ID (CHEM 101)

Prerequisite: MATH 115 or MATH 134 or by Appropriate Placement

The student learns chemistry nomenclature of elements and inorganic compounds, concepts in ionic and covalent bonding, atomic structure, molecular geometry, chemical reactions, multi-conceptual problem solving, measurement techniques, stoichiometry and its applications, states of matter and related energy transfers, gas laws, aqueous solution chemistry, quantum basic theory, periodic properties of the elements, colligative properties of solutions, and an introduction to acid base chemistry concepts. This course is a survey of basic chemistry fundamentals with a laboratory component, emphasizing fundamental principles of inorganic and physical chemistry. Quantitative and qualitative laboratory exercises are related to the lecture topics. This course serves as preparation for majoring in chemistry and the life sciences, studies in allied health, and general physical science education, meeting the IGETC and CSU general education requirements for physical science with laboratory.

CHEM 071 INTRODUCTORY FOOD CHEMISTRY

4 Units (Lec 3 Hrs / Lab 4 Hrs) Transfer Credit: CSU, UC

A student learns nomenclature, structure, physical and chemical properties of amino acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. This course is a survey of basic chemistry topics with laboratory, emphasizing fundamental principles of food science. The students will also learn the importance of water and biomolecules to food quality, safety, texture and taste as well as FDA’s role in regulation of food additives and colorants. The laboratory presents the techniques of food analysis, where students learn quantitative measurement of acidity or basicity, isolation, purification, separation, and spectroscopy using modern instruments.

CHEM 101 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I

5 Units (Lec 3 Hrs / Lab 6 Hrs)

Transfer Credit: CSU (CSUGE Area B1,B3), UC (IGETC Area 5A,5C),

C-ID (CHEM 110, CHEM 120 S articulation is for the LACC CHEM 101 and 102 sequence only)

Prerequisite: CHEM 060, MATH 125 or MATH 134

The student learns complex chemistry nomenclature of elements and inorganic compounds, detailed concepts in ionic and covalent bonding, details in atomic structure, in-depth treatment of molecular geometry, in-depth introduction to chemical reactions, rigorous multi-conceptual problem solving, measurement techniques and error analysis, stoichiometry and its complex applications, states of matter and related energy transfers, gas laws and deviations from ideal behavior, quantum theory of the atom, details of periodic properties of the elements, colligative properties of solutions, and an introduction to oxidation and reduction reactions. This course builds upon basic chemistry fundamentals with a laboratory component, emphasizing fundamental principles of inorganic and physical chemistry. Quantitative and qualitative laboratory exercises are related to the lecture topics. This course serves as preparation for majoring in chemistry and the life sciences, or studies in allied health. This is the first semester of a one-year course in chemistry intended for majors in the natural sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, pre-medicine/allied health), mathematics, and engineering.

 

CHEM 102 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II

5 Units (Lec 3 Hrs / Lab 6 Hrs)

Transfer Credit: CSU (CSUGE Area B1,B3), UC (IGETC Area 5A,5C),

C-ID (CHEM 120 S articulation is for the LACC CHEM 101 and 102 sequence only)

Prerequisite: CHEM 101

Advisory: ENGLISH 028, ENGLISH 067 or ENGLISH 031

The student is exposed to introductory chemical kinetics and the basic theories elucidating the governing of reactions rates, general chemical and aqueous solution equilibria, thermodynamics including free energy and entropy, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, descriptive chemistry, and structure and bonding in transition metal complexes, and basic organic chemistry. In the laboratory students apply what is learned in lecture to experiments in reaction kinetics, chemical qualitative analysis, chemical and spectroscopic quantitative analysis, potentiometric titration techniques, and electrochemistry.

 

CHEM 185 DIRECTED STUDY CHEMISTRY

1 Units (Lec 1 Hr) Transfer Credit: CSU Prerequisite: CHEM 102

Students pursue Directed Study in Chemistry on a contract basis under the direction of a supervising instructor. Laboratory and literature research are performed.

 

CHEM 211 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FOR SCIENCE MAJORS I

5 Units (Lec 3 Hrs / Lab 6 Hrs)

Transfer Credit: CSU (CSUGE Area B1,B3), UC (IGETC Area 5A,5C),

C-ID (CHEM 150, CHEM 160 S articulation is for the LACC CHEM 211 and 212 sequence only)

Prerequisite: CHEM 102

In this the first part of a two-course sequence, students learn organic molecular structure, nomenclature, stereochemistry, detailed concepts in formulating reaction mechanisms, a comprehensive treatment of reactive intermediates, and is also introduced to basic reactions and synthetic manipulations of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, ethers, and their derivatives. Mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, and Infrared spectrometry, UV-Vis spectroscopy are also introduced in compound characterization. The student will learn the retrosynthetic approach to synthetic organic chemistry and be expected to design and execute a simple synthetic project. The laboratory presents the techniques of preparation, where students learn isolation and analysis of organic compounds employing standard and modern instrumental methods.

CHEM 212 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FOR SCIENCE MAJORS II

5 Units (Lec 3 Hrs / Lab 6 Hrs)

Transfer Credit: CSU (CSUGE Area B1,B3), UC (IGETC Area 5A,5C),

C-ID (CHEM 160 S articulation is for the LACC CHEM 211 and 212 sequence only)

Prerequisite: CHEM 211

The student will add to their repertoire of functional group manipulation reactions by studying aromatic compounds, amines, heterocycles, carbonyls and their derivatives, carbohydrates, amino acids and proteins, and nucleic acids. More complex reaction mechanisms are introduced along with more complex synthesis problems. The laboratory presents more techniques of preparation, where students will learn isolation and analysis of organic compounds employing modern instrumental analysis.

 

CHEM 221 BIOCHEMISTRY FOR SCIENCE MAJORS

5 Units (Lec 3 Hrs / Lab 6 Hrs)

Transfer Credit: CSU (CSUGE Area B1,B3), UC (IGETC Area 5A,5C) Prerequisite: CHEM 211

Advisory: ENGLISH 028, ENGLISH 067, ENGLISH 031

Students learn the principles of biochemistry, with an emphasis on the structure and function of biomolecules, the role of metabolism in energy production and biosynthesis, and common biochemical laboratory techniques. Topics relate to the chemistry and metabolism of biological compounds. Topics include the structure and function of biomolecules, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and their precursors. The course also presents enzyme catalysis, and the details of the central metabolic pathways (glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, the citric acid cycle, electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation, lipid degradation and biosynthesis, and nitrogen metabolism) including their regulation and integration. Laboratory work includes electrophoresis, chromatography, spectroscopy, and enzyme purification and kinetics. This course prepares students for careers in the physical and biological sciences, pharmacy, medical and dental professions, veterinary and agricultural science, nutrition and food chemistry, and related fields.

CHEM 285 DIRECTED STUDY CHEMISTRY

2 Units (Lec 2 Hrs) Transfer Credit: CSU Prerequisite: CHEM 102

Students pursue Directed Study in Chemistry on a contract basis under the direction of a supervising instructor. Laboratory and literature research are performed.

 

CHEM 385 DIRECTED STUDY CHEMISTRY

3 Units (Lec 3 Hrs) Transfer Credit: CSU Prerequisite: CHEM 102

Students pursue Directed Study in Chemistry on a contract basis under the direction of a supervising instructor. Laboratory and literature research are performed.

 

 

 

Contact Us

Department of Chemistry

Science and Technology Building

Suite 324

Los Angeles City College

855 N Vermont Ave

Los Angeles CA, 90029

Glen Baghdasarian, Ph.D.
Department Chair
Email: @email
Phone: (323) 953-4000 - 2600

Office: SCI 324 B

For the fastest response, please send an email.
To have your prerequisites waived, please contact the Counseling Department.

If a class is open and you are unable to enroll (and already have the correct prerequisites) please email Admissions.