Objectives: Students and professors, often with students and faculty from other disciplines, engage in a discussion of the principles of the "central science" and the role that chemists and chemistry play in understanding our world and in bettering our lives. The Chemistry Department provides an opportunity to work to solve problems and extend the boundaries of knowledge through laboratory research supported by an impressive array of the most modern instrumentation. Students have the opportunity to major in an American Chemical Society-accredited program while benefiting from the broader liberal arts environment. We also sponsor a very active chapter of ACS Student Affiliates (chemistry club) which is active both on and off campus to take chemistry beyond the college classroom.

Facilities:

The Chemistry Department, in Johnson Hall of Science, houses a complete line-up of modern chemical instrumentation required to provide laboratory and research experiences representative of the way in which Chemistry is done as we enter a new century.

Chemistry Department Major Research Instrumentation (with year of acquisition)

Innovative Technology Inc. Glovebox with nitrogen atmosphere, connected to PureSolv liquid solvent storage accessory.

Jobin Yvon Fluoromax 3 Fluorescence Spectrometer (2005) with Hi-Tech Scientific SFA-20 Rapid Kinetics Stopped-Flow Accessory (2007)

DNA Engine Opticon® 2 Two-Color Real-Time PCR Detection System (2007)

3 VWR Melting Point Apparatus (2007)

Centaurus FT-IR Microscope with MCT-A detector, Transmission / Reflection modes, Si ATR slide (August 2007)

3 Heidolph LABORATA-4000 Rotary Evaporators (2007)

30 Notebook computers & stands for use in laboratory classes (2007)

Nicolet 4700 FT-Infrared Spectrometer (2005)

PerkinElmer AAnalyst 800 Flame and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (2005)

Upgrades for the Perkin Elmer LS50B Luminescence Spectrometer (2005)

Aurora MW 500 Microwave Digestion System

Perkin Elmer FIMS400 - Flow Injection Mercury System Model 400 (2005)

Jasco V-570 UV/VIS/NIR Spectrophotometer (2004)

Biotage Flash Chromatograph w/UV detection and fraction coll. (2003)

Agilent 6890/5973 Capillary Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (2002)

ThermoSep HPLC with dual channel UV/VIS absorption detectors (2001)

Oceanoptics Chem 2000 photodiode array UV/VIX Spectrophotometer (2001)

Chromex Wizard Raman Spectrometer (2001)

Vernier Software and Data Acquisitions Probes (2000) and updates.

JEOL Eclipse+ 300 MHz Full Broadband Probe NMR Spectrometer (2000 plus upgrades since)

Perkin Elmer 394B electrochemical trace analyzer with 303A SDME (2001)

Fisher Universal Microplate Spectrophotometer (2001)

Varian Caryl UV/VIS Spectrometer

Luzchem Photoreactor (2001)

Hewlett-Packard 6890 Capillary Gas Chromatograph-Flame Ionization Detector (1998)

These instruments enhance our fluorescence and ultraviolet spectrophotometers, and full complement of chromatographic capabilities. Outstanding computer facilites include numerous PC's for data acquisition, molecular modeling, and report writing.

Professors:

The chemistry faculty numbers six plus one faculty person shared with the biology department, and is supported by instrument, stockroom and laboratory specialists. Their fields of interest range from environmental chemistry to the synthesis of pharmaceutical substances/medicinal chemistry, to the development of experiments that can make use of the specialized analytical instrumentation in the department. Beyond their specializations, the faculty contribute to the world of scholarship through their pursuit of such interests as developing curricula for teaching undergraduate science and the ecological impact of various forms of solid waste disposal. Collectively, they pride themselves in being mentors as well as professors, believing that mutual learning takes place not only in the classroom and laboratory but also in one-on-one conversations in any setting.

Careers:

A degree in chemistry opens many doors. St. Lawrence chemistry alumni have advanced to graduate programs from Harvard to Illinois to Stanford and many places in between, as well as the nation's leading medical and dental schools. They have also filled entry-level research positions in government and industry, as well as corporate sales and management spots. Chemistry today is more than test tubes and beakers. Let us show you how we can help you understand the world of the present and the future.

For more information, continue on to the Curriculum page! You might wish to check out the links below also.