‘MODERN  CHEMISTS' TOOLKIT TO INVESTIGATE AND ELUCIDATE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE', by Dr Barbara Odell

Dr Odell will spotlight three principal analytical tools used to determine molecular structure efficiently and safely.  

This event is hosted by the u3a Science Network.   

Our world is chemically based, from the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat to chemicals as diverse and complex as the constituents in our cells such as peptides, proteins such as enzymes, polynucleotides such as DNA and RNA to pharmaceuticals, detergents, cosmetics, polymers, peptides, paints, petrol and even pollutants.  There is therefore the great need to discover the precise constituents and molecular structures of chemicals. This talk will spotlight three principal analytical tools: X-ray Crystallography, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy, and Mass Spectrometry (MS) to determine molecular structure efficiently and safely, which lies at the heart of most of the chemical analysis performed in today's modern chemical laboratories.  These techniques are now fundamental to the on-going success of all areas of chemistry and biology in order to fully understand the world we live in.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Dr Barbara Odell BSc PhD FRSC is currently Science Adviser to the u3a.  Barbara studied chemistry at the University of Sussex followed by post-doctoral studies at the University of Leeds.  Her career as a scientist has been multifaceted comprising many aspects of chemistry, ranging from organometallic and inorganic chemistry, organic, biochemistry, physicochemical, molecular computer modelling, analytical, X-ray crystallography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.  She has had an extensive career in various industries including pharmaceuticasl, oil, crop protection and speciality chemicals.  Finally she re-entered academic life at the University of Oxford as the NMR Spectroscopy Service Manager in the Chemistry Research Laboratory.  During her career she has published over 80 research publications as a research chemist.

This event is free but it's essential to register in advance. See here .