Wellesley Courses Button
Topics Button
Resources Button
Student Exhibit Button
Non-Wellesley Courses Button
Home Button
 

Chem 103: Chemistry and Art
 

Spring 2002

Class Meetings:Tuesday and Friday, 9:50-11:00 AM, SC 270
Thursday (occasionally) 12:30-1:20 PM, SC 270

Laboratory: Thursday, 1:30-5:00 PM, SC 216

Instructor: Margaret V. Merritt
Office, Science Center 262; Lab, Science Center, 233
Telephone, x3016
Office Hours (tentative): Monday, 9-10 AM; Friday, 11-12 AM, or by appointment

Textbooks:
- Atkins, Peter W. (1995) The Periodic Kingdom. New York:Basic Books
-Orna, Mary Virginia & Goodstein, Madeline P. (1998) Chemistry and Artists Colors, 2nd edition. New Rochelle, NY
-Dempsey, David (1995) The History and Technology of Papermaking. Northhampton, MA: Smith College Museum of Art
-Two Course Reading Packets
-Chemistry 103 Laboratory manual

Other Supplies to be purchased prior to first lab:
Ruled Lab Notebook (Bookstore)
Safety Glasses (Science Center Stockroom on first floor).

The course has been designed to introduce chemistry to non-science students as they develop an understanding of artists’ materials, the science underlying art, and the chemical interactions of the environment with art objects. Student work will consist of readings, thinking, several short papers, weekly laboratory work, a laboratory/studio project, and a final portfolio based on expansion and revision of selected in-term work.

Assessment:
The course grade will be based on these course components (approximate weight)
Weekly Lab work and reports (11 weeks) 35%
Four Short Papers and Quiz 35%
Final Lab/Studio Project 10%
Final Portfolio 15%
Class Participation 5%

Chemistry is a hierarchical subject. Students must, therefore, be consistent in their efforts in the course: To do well during the ninth week of the semester requires mastery of material introduced at an earlier date. None of the many assignments and labs is particularly difficult or time-consuming; each leads to the next topic in the course. Consequently, the instructor expects students to complete coursework in a timely fashion. Except for illness or serious personal emergencies, no late work will be accepted. Students should notify the instructor in advance of any expected class absences.

back to top

Syllabus and Tentative Schedule

Week

Date/Day

Topics

Reading Assignments*

1

Jan 29 (T)


Jan 31(Th)

Feb 1 (F)

Introductions
Microscopic view of atoms and ions
Lab: Spectroscopy of Atoms
Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

-1-A, chap 2, pp. 43-60; R2.1-R2.7
Exercises, R2.17: 1-14
-Atkins 1 and 2

2

Feb 5 (T)

Feb 7 (Th)


Feb 8 (F)

Structure of atoms and Periodic Table
Lab: Eight Solutions: Chemical Reactions

Molecules

-Atkins 3, 6, and 9
-1-A, Chap 2, pp. 60-73; R2.8-16 and A2.15-19, 32-41
-(Orna, pp. 177-220)

3

Feb 12 (T)
Feb14 (Th)
Feb 15 (F)

Atomic Portraits and Photography
Lab: Light-induced chemistry: Photographs in Davis Museum

-10-D., pp. 29-41.
-Orna: Chapter 20, pp. 331-354

4

Feb 19 (T)

Feb 21(Th)


Feb 22 (F)
Feb 26 (T)

Monday Schedule, No Class
Portrait, Assignment 1 due. Lab: Reactions of Copper
Chemical Reactions
Bronzes and other sculptures

- 2-A, chap 3, pp.75-102;
Exercises: R3.1-4; 9-15.

 
-11-E., pp. 168-183.

5

Feb 27 (W) Feb 28 (Th)

Mar 1 (F)

Mar 5 (T)

Davis Museum Etchings Lab: Electrochemical Jewelry Making
Electrochemical Reactions
Introduction to painting


- 3-B. Chap 10, pp.258-287


-14-H, pp. 1-25

6

Mar 7 (Th)



Mar 8 (F)
Mar 12 (T)

Portrait of copper, Assignment 2 due
Lab: Making and Characterizing Paint 1
Pigments and painting
Chemistry of Fresco Painting

-Orna, chap 18, pp. 281-301
15-I, read entire article
-Video on Fresco making
-Lab on Fresco Making

7

Mar 15 (Th) Mar 16 (F)

Lab: Fresco Painting 1
Conservation of Fresco Paintings


-13-G, read entire article

 

Mar 16-24

Spring Break

 

7 & 8

Mar 26 (T)
Mar 28 (Th)
Mar 28 (F)

Apr 2 (T)

Acid Base Chemistry
Lab: Fresco Paintings 2
More acid base chemistry

Light and color;
Acidity and Fresco, Assignment 3 due

-7-C, pp.185-201; Video: Restoration of Sistine Chapel
-Orna, chap 9 &10

9

Apr 4 (Th)
Apr 5 (F)

Apr 9 (T)

Lab: Light and Color
Introduction to Blues in Davis Museum
Analysis of Paints and Pigments

-Orna 11 and 12: (Taft and Mayer, Chap 5); (Taft and Mayer, Chap 8)
Video: Physics and Fine Art

10

Apr 11 (Th)

Apr 12 (F)

Apr 15 (T)

Characterization of Paints and Pigments
Infrared Identification of Pigments
The Blues of Davis Museum, Assignment 4 due
Introduction to Organic Chemistry



-12-F, read entire article



-4-B. selections from pp.164-189

11

Apr 18 (Th)
Apr 19 (F)

Lab: Papermaking; Properties of Paper Chemistry of Paper
Proposals for Student Project due

Dempsey
-8-C, pp. 411-425

12

Apr 23 (T)
Apr 25 (Th)
Apr 26 (F)

Deacidification of Paper
Lab: Student Projects
Dyes

TBA

-Orna, chap 17

13

Apr 30 (T)
May 1 (W)
May 2 (Th) May 3(F)

May 7 (T)

Textiles and dyeing
Ruhlman Conference
Lab: Student Projects
Quiz on organic chemistry of art
Student Presentations

- TBA

 

May 13

May 20

Lab Project Due (End of Reading Period)
Final Portfolio Due (End of Exams)

 


*The names refer to the authors of the course texts; whereas, the number-letter code refers to specific material in the course reading packet. TBA = to be assigned. Additional readings and videos will be assigned throughout the semester. Course material is on reserve in the Science Library.

Course Texts
Atkins = Atkins, Peter W. (1995) The Periodic Kingdom. New York: Basic Books
Orna = Orna, Mary Virginia & Goodstein, Madeline P. (1998) Chemistry and Artists Colors, 2nd edition. New Rochelle, NY
Dempsey = Dempsey, David (1995) The History and Technology of Papermaking. Northhampton, MA: Smith College Museum of Art

Course Reading Packet

  1. Munowitz, Michael (2000) Principles of chemistry. New York: WW Norton & Co.
    1-A. Chapter 2, Atoms and Molecules, pp. 43-73 and R2.1-R2.22.
    2-A. Chapters 3, Prototypical Reactions, pp. 75-102 and R3.1-R3.21.
  2. Snyder, Carl H. (1995) The extraordinary chemistry of ordinary things (2nd Edition), New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Other editions are on reserve in the Science Library.
    3-B. From chap. 10, Oxidation and Reduction, pp. 258-287.
    4-B. From chap. 7, Introduction to Organic Chemistry, pp. 164-189.
    5-B. From chap. 12, Soaps and Detergents, pp. 323-340.
    6-B. From chapter 14, p. Energy, Food, Fats and Oils, 403-412.
  3. Hill, John H. & Kolb, Doris, K. (2001) Chemistry for changing times, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Earlier editions are on reserve in the Science Library.
    7-C. From chapter 7, Acids and Bases, pp.185-201.
    8-C. chapter 15, Biochemistry, pp. 411-425.
    9-C. Chapter 10, Polymers, pp. 266-291
  4. From Emsley, John (1998) Molecules at an exhibition, Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press
    10-D. Gallery 2, pp. 29-58.
  5. Lambert, Joseph B (1997) Traces of the past, Reading, MA: Addison Wesley.
    11-E. From Chapter 7, pp.168-183.
  6. From Derrick, Michele R., Stulik, Dusan, & Landry, James. M. (1999) Infrared Spectroscopy in Conservation Science, Marina del Rey, CA: Getty Conservation Institute.
    12-F. Case study, pp. 134-152.
  7. Cather, Sharon, Editor (1991) The conservation of wall paintings, Proceedings of symposium, July 13-16, 1987, Marina del Rey, CA: Getty Conservation Institute.

    13-G. Matteini, Mauro, Assessment of Florentine methods of wall painting. Conservation based on the use of mineral treatments (1991), pp. 137-148.

  8. Taft, Stanley & Mayer, James W. (2000) The science of paintings. New York: Springer-Verlag, New York. 14-H. Chapters 1-2, pp. 1-25.
  9. Friedstein, Harriet B. (1981) A Short History of the Chemistry of Painting, Journal of Chemical Education, 58: 291-294. 15-I.

back to top

Assessment:

The course grade will be based on the following components

Approx. %

Weekly Lab work and reports (11 weeks)
Graded weekly, generally due no later than Monday noon

35%

Four Short Assignments/Papers and Quiz
Portrait of a salt, Assignment 1 due Feb 21
Portrait of copper, Assignment 2 due March 7
Acidity and Fresco, Assignment 3 due April 2
The Blues of Davis Museum, Assignment 4 due April 15
Quiz on organic chemistry of art on May 3

35%

Final Lab/Studio Project (Two lab periods)
Proposals for Student Project due on April 19
Lab Project due on May 13 (end of reading period)

10%

Final Portfolio
Revisions of selected in-term work (two)
Lab notebook
Six pieces of "chemical artwork" from semester
Paper, showing connections between pieces and chemistry
-Final Portfolio Due on May 20

15%

Class Participation

5%

Special sessions/opportunities
*Chemistry Seminar by Richard Newman,
Research Scientist, Boston MFA
Photographs in Davis Museum on Feb 15
*Etchings in Davis Museum on Feb 27 (W, 5-7)
Introduction to Blues in Davis Museum on April 5

*outside of regular scheduled class meetings,
optional but strongly recommended

 

back to top
 

 

  • Professor Margaret Merritt, Wellesley College Chemistry Department
  • Created by: Leslie Chang '04 & Jerina Hajno '04
  • Page Created: July 23, 2001
  • Last Modified: January 29, 2002
  • Page Expires: August 31, 2002