Frank Sherwood Rowland Passes Away

The great American chemist Frank Sherwood Rowland(84) passes away. Each and every individuals in this world has their own duty to fulfill before death. The most important contribution of this great chemist is his findings on ozone layer depletion. He was the first person who predicted the existance of a hole in ozone layer. This accelerated the growth of atmospheric chemistry. What might had happen if we were unaware of that 'hole'. Oh God! Cant even imagine that. So Frank Sherry, let me ask you one thing, were you a special messenger of God?

Memories are like Copper Sulphate

Have you ever seen copper sulphate? I think, probably its one of the handsome chemicals. The most encountered form of copper sulphate is its pentahydrate form( CuSO4.5H2O) which is having intense blue colour.What happens if this CuSO4.5H2O is heated? It will lose the water of hydration and will become anhydrous copper sulphate having pale green or grey-white colour. Now the real magic is when anhydrous copper sulphate again become blue colour if some water is sprinkled on it......................,........... Memories are also like this. Just like copper sulphate change its colour with temperature,memories will become pale after years. It can't outlive the passage of time. But will these memories get its true colour again? I should like to chronicle the incident behind this post. One of my high school friends called me today after two years gap.What to say? I was taken to that dream world of memories. My friend's lovely voice acted as the water of hydration. My school days' memories got back its intense 'blue colour'.!! Don't you have a similiar experience? We are all living in a hectic world. All of us are busy with our own business. When you are enjoying with your 'present' friends, you may not be recollecting the faces of your old friends. But i am sure that those nostalgic feelings will come to you once. Memories are unexpected visitors. They come without informing and enter your heart without knocking. Gradually your memories will be changed to an intense 'blue colour'.

Asima Chatterjee, God's Gift to Chemistry

'Natural intelligence' is one among the nine types of intelligence. One who is having natural intelligence will form an interference pattern with the wavelength of nature. Great photographers,poets etc. are having this type of intelligence. When dealing with natural intelligence, what comes to mind is the name of a great Indian chemist Asima Chatterjee. Asima was one of the god's favourite creation. When she was sent to the earth, God revealed her the mystery of this cosmos. On 23'rd september 1917, Asima was born at Kolkata in West Bengal. Phytomedicine was her favourite area. Phytomedicine is mostly associated with the study of chemical compounds that is naturally found in plants. Do you know that Taxol, one of the effective cancer drugs is extracted from plants. Asima dedicated her whole life for the study of chemical compounds found in herbs and plant. She fell in love with nature. Asima's contribution to the development of anti-epilleptical and anti-malarial drugs is really great. She got a wonderful opportunity to study under the guidance of P.C Ray,another great Indian chemist. I should like to compare it with Harriet Brooks' opportunity to work under Rutherford. Asima Chatterjee was the first Indian woman who got a doctorate in science. In this occasion of International Womens Day lets chalk the name of this great woman in our heart.

International Women's Day

Margaret Thatcher once said, "If you want something said,ask a man; If you want something done,ask a woman." Whole over the world, eighth march is celebrated as international women's day. In this context, its very essential to appreciate the most outstanding women in chemistry. I should like to introduce seven great women in chemistry from tomorrow ownwards. So friends wait for the daily posts. And one task for you, can you guess the names of those seven stars..?