ISOTOPICS
The Cleveland Section of the American Chemical Society
Volume 86
Issue 8
On Deck:
January 19, 2011
Sterle’s Slovenian Country House
Past Chair’s Night
Speaker: TBD
November 2010
November Meeting Notice
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Strosacker Hall, Baldwin-Wallace College
4:30 pm
5:30 pm
6:30 pm
7:30 pm
Executive Committee Meeting
Social Hour
Dinner
Presentation
Not Just a Pretty Face: Today’s Functional Coatings
Cleveland ACS Officers
Chair:
Dr. Mekki Bayachou
Department of Chemistry
Cleveland State University
Phone: 216-875-9716
m.bayachou@csuohio.edu
Chair-Elect:
John Protasiewicz
Department of Chemistry
Case Western Reserve Univ.
Phone: 216-368-5060
protasiewicz@case.edu
Treasurer:
Theresa Nawalaniec
Michael Schwartz Library
Cleveland State University
Phone: 216-687-3504
t.nawalaniec@csuohio.edu
Secretary:
Alice McFarland
mcfarlands1@earthlink.net
Cleveland Section Web Site:
http://www.csuohio.edu/sciences
/dept/cleveland_acs/
Morgan Sibbald, PhD, Sherwin-Williams Company
Paints and coatings are generally known for serving two key functions:
decoration and protection. We rely on these coatings to add color and
character to our homes, to the cars we drive, and to many other surfaces in
the world around us. At the same time, these coatings are protecting these
surfaces from a variety of environmental hazards, including water, UV
light, and biological growth (mold and mildew). What more can coatings
do for us? Recent advances in materials and technology integration have
enabled a new generation of coatings which are described as functional or
―smart‖ coatings. Functional coatings may clean themselves, may heal
themselves from damage, or may pro-actively make our indoor spaces more
comfortable or more livable. This presentation will describe the basic
chemistries and materials of coatings formulations and will highlight
several examples of functional coatings that are improving the way we live.
DINNER RESERVATIONS REQUIRED:
Please RSVP by
contacting John Protasiewicz, by phone at 216-368-5060 or by e-mail at
protasiewicz@case.edu by 5 pm on Friday, November 12. (For phone
reservations, please clearly spell your last name and leave a return phone
number). Cost of the dinner is $20 for members & guests, $5 for students,
and $10 for retirees/unemployed. Checks made out to ―Cleveland ACS‖ are
greatly appreciated. Dinner will include Salad Bar, Soup of the Day, Roast
Beef, Herb Baked Chicken, Pasta Primavera, Au Gratin Potatoes,
Vegetables of the Day, Assorted Rolls and Muffins, Coffee, Tea, Pop, and
Dessert Buffet.
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Isotopics November 2010
Directions to Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin-Wallace College
Strosacker Hall
120 East Grand Street
Berea, OH 44017
American Chemical Society Cleveland Section
Exit I-80 at I-71, US 42
Take I-71 north approximately 2 miles to the
Bagley Rd. exit , #235
Left onto E. Bagley Rd.
Left onto Tressel St.
Right onto E. Grand St.
Immediate left into Union parking lot
From West (via I-80)
Take I-80 (Ohio Turnpike) to I-71 north at
Strongsville
Take I-71 north approximately 2 miles to the
Bagley Rd. exit, #235
Left onto E. Bagley Rd.
Left onto Tressel St.
Right onto E. Grand St.
Immediate left into Union parking lot
From South (via I-77, or I-71)
From North (via I-71)
I-71 south toward Columbus
Exit I-71 south at Bagley Rd., Exit 235
Right onto E. Bagley Rd.
Left onto Tressel St.
Right onto E. Grand St.
Immediate left into Union parking lot *** ROAD
CLOSING UPDATE *** Please note that during
2010 sections of both Front Street and Eastland
Road will be closed north of Bagley Road.
From East (via I-90)
I-90 west to I-271 south
Take Exit 27 to 480 west to I-71 south
Exit I-71 south at Bagley Rd., Exit 235
Right onto E. Bagley Rd.
Left onto Tressel St.
Right onto E. Grand St.
Immediate left into Union parking lot
From East (via I-80 or I-76)
I-80 or I-76 west to I-80 (Ohio Turnpike) west
I-77 north to Rt. 18 Medina
Take Rt. 18 west to I-71 north
Exit I-71 north at Bagley Rd., Exit 235
Left onto E. Bagley Rd.
Left onto Tressel St.
Right onto E. Grand St.
Immediate left into Union parking lot
Speaker Bio
Morgan Sibbald is a technology scout for The
Sherwin-Williams Company, a global developer,
manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of paints
and coatings. He is responsible for developing
partnerships with business, academic, and
government resources in order to accelerate
Sherwin-Williams’ product development. This
includes leading a government contracting
program to leverage federal and state funding that
aligns with strategic interests. He has also been a
champion for ―green chemistry‖ and developing
programs that support sustainability. He joined
Sherwin-Williams in 2005 as an R&D manager
for
longer-term
technology
development
initiatives.
Morgan received his PhD in Analytical Chemistry
from Iowa State University (Ames, IA) and his
bachelor’s degree in chemistry from James
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Isotopics November 2010
Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA). Prior to
Sherwin-Williams, he worked for The Goodyear
Tire & Rubber Company, Chemical Division, in
both technical and management roles.
At
Goodyear, he had R&D responsibilities in diverse
product areas including tire elastomers, food
grade polymers, latex foam, asphalt modifiers,
and adhesives.
Selected from ACS Discoveries!
Toward a new generation of superplastics
Macromolecules
Scientists are reporting an in-depth validation of
the discovery of the world’s first mass producible,
low-cost, organoclays for plastics. The powdered
material, made from natural clay, would be a
safer, more environmentally friendly replacement
for the compound widely used to make plastics
nanocomposites. A report on the research appears
in ACS’ Macromolecules, a bi-weekly journal.
Miriam Rafailovich and colleagues focused on a
new organoclay developed and patented by a team
of scientists headed by David Abecassis. The
scientists explain that so-called quaternary aminetreated organoclays have been pioneering
nanoparticles in the field of plastics
nanotechnology. Just small amounts of the
substances make plastics flame retardant,
stronger, and more resistant to damage from
ultraviolet light and chemicals. They also allow
plastics to be mixed together into hybrid materials
from plastics that otherwise would not exist.
However, quaternary amine organoclays are
difficult to produce because of the health and
environmental risks associated with quaternary
amines, as well as the need to manufacture them
in small batches. These and other disadvantages,
including high cost, limit use of the materials.
The new organoclay uses resorcinol diphenyl
phosphate (which is normally a flame retardant),
to achieve mass producible organoclays which
can be made in continuous processing. In addition
these organoclays are cheaper, generate less dust,
and are thermostable to much higher temperatures
(beyond 600 degrees Fahrenheit). This clay has
also been proven to be superior for flame
retardance applications. In addition, unlike most
American Chemical Society Cleveland Section
quaternary amine based organoclays, it works well
in styrene plastics, one of the most widely used
kinds of plastic.
Nobel Prizes in 2010 Involve Chemicals
By Leopold May
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2010 was for
palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic
synthesis. It was awarded jointly to Richard F.
Heck, 79, who is retired from the University of
Delaware and living in the Philippines, Akira
Suzuki, 80, Professor Emeritus of Hokkaido
University in Sapporo, Japan, and Ei-Ichi Negishi,
75, Professor of Purdue University for more
efficient ways of linking carbon atoms together to
build the complex molecules. Cross couplings
involve reaction between two chemically distinct
partners allowing control over both halves of the
resulting molecule Cross coupling reactions often
involve aryl, alkenyl, or alkyl halides or
pseudohalides as one reaction partner with a much
greater variety in the other reaction partner. This
cross-coupling has vastly improved the
possibilities for creating complex molecules, for
example, natural products. One reaction is the
Suzuki–Miyaura cross coupling of 1-aryltriazenes
and boronic acids catalyzed by the polymersupported Pd–NHC catalyst.
For another chemical composed only of carbons,
graphene, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded
to two Russian-born scientists, Andre Geim, 51, a
Dutch national and Konstantin Novoselov, 36, a
dual citizen of Great Britain and Russia. They
first worked together in the Netherlands before
moving to the University of Manchester, Great
Britain, where they reported isolating graphene in
2004. By applying Scotch tape to graphite, they
pulled off thin flakes that consist of one, several,
or many layers of graphene. To locate the rare onelayer flakes, they deposited the layers on a silicon
dioxide substrate of just the right thickness. When
they shone light on the substrate, they were able to
distinguish the one-layered graphene by its
interference fringes. Graphene may find use as a
sensor for gases and should find many applications
in the electronic industry.
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Isotopics November 2010
Really Old CRC Handbook Available
On-Line
By David W. Ball
Recently, David
Strecker of Rockwell
Automation, Inc., gave his deceased father's old
CRC Handbook to me. The Handbook was the
13th edition, and it copyright date is 1928. I was
rather taken aback when I realized what Dave had
given me. Can you imagine the amount of
progress that has been made in chemistry and
physics since that edition was published? Most of
quantum mechanics, semiconductors, lasers,
materials, several elements, the list goes on. With
the help of the Cleveland State University Library
(especially Theresa Nawalaneic and Joanne
Cornelius), the entire book was scanned and
digitized and is now available for anyone to
download and view. It can be found at
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/clevelandstatedr/docDet
ail.action?docID=10416285 or by going to
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/clevelandstatedr/home.a
ction and searching for ―handbook of chemistry‖.
No one is under any impression that the data in
this CRC Handbook is the best currently
available. However, it represents a snapshot of
the state of physical science over 80 years ago,
and so is a fascinating historical document. Any
interested party is welcome to look it up and
peruse its pages and relive some history. The
periodic table of the time is particular interesting
and bears viewing, as this was before the f block
was recognized as a separate section of the
periodic table.
Also, in case anyone is interested: Back then, the
owner’s name could be embossed on the cover.
This particular CRC Handbook was originally the
property of one Maurice A. Knight, who was a
rather successful chemical businessman in
northeast Ohio. His company specialized in
corrosion-resistant construction materials. The
Knight Company has since been bought out by the
Koch Chemical Technology Group and lives on as
Koch Knight LLC. Knight’s home in Akron is an
estate of some renown and located across from the
Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens. Even better known
may be Knight’s father, Charles M. Knight, chair
American Chemical Society Cleveland Section
of the Chemistry Department of Buchtel College,
which eventually became the University of Akron
and after whom UAkron’s chemistry building is
named. There’s more to the history of this
particular volume than the information between its
covers!
Many thanks to Dave Strecker for his kind and
thoughtful donation, and to Theresa Nawalaniec
and Joanne Cornelius of the CSU Michael
Schwartz Library for arranging for its digitization
and posting on-line. Enjoy, all!
Call for Nomination: The Morley Medal
The Cleveland Section annually sponsors a
regional award, which consists of the Morley
Medal and an honorarium of $2,000. The next
presentation of the Morley Medal will take place
at the meeting of the Cleveland Section ACS in
May 2010. The award is presented at a banquet, at
which time the recipient will deliver the Edward
W. Morley Lecture for that year. Travel expenses
for the medalist and spouse will be provided.
The purpose of the award is to recognize
significant contributions to chemistry through
achievements in research, teaching, engineering,
research administration and public service,
outstanding service to humanity, or to industrial
progress.
The area of eligibility includes those parts of the
United States and Canada within about 250 miles
of Cleveland. The contributions for which the
award is given should have been made by the
awardee when a resident of this area, or if a major
contribution was made elsewhere, the nominee
should have continued to make contributions
while a resident of this area. Nominations may be
made by any member of the American Chemical
Society, The Chemical Society or the Chemical
Institute of Canada.
Nominations for the Morley Medal should include
a letter of nomination and curriculum vitae
including the candidate's education, professional
experience & activities, awards & honors, offices
held and specifics on significant contributions.
Page 5
Isotopics November 2010
The letter of nomination should highlight these
significant contributions. A representative list of
references to the candidate's more important
contributions, an evaluation of the significance of
these achievements, and a listing of the nominee's
most significant publications and patents are also
appropriate. Strong seconding letters are
suggested. The specific reference for every
publication or patent is neither required nor
encouraged. Electronic submissions are preferred.
American Chemical Society Cleveland Section
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
Ph: 216-433-5032
E-mail: kenneth.w.street@nasa.gov
Deadline for receipt of nominations is
December 10, 2010. Send nomination and
supporting material to:
Dr. Kenneth Street
Chair, Cleveland Section Awards Committee
NASA-GRC
MS 23-2
November Historical Events in Chemistry
By Leopold May
The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
Nov. 3, 1921
American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists was founded on this date.
Nov. 9, 1994
Three atoms of element 110 were created at GSI in Darmstadt, Germany on this day.
Nov. 15, 1953
Stanley L. Miller published a paper ―A production of amino acids under possible primitive
Earth conditions‖ in Science, 1953, 117, 528-529 describing an experiment in which he
added together methane, ammonia, water, and hydrogen and subjected the mixture to a
high-frequency spark for a week, which produced milligram quantities of glycine, alanine,
and other amino acids.
Nov. 25, 1960
Fifty years ago on this date, the first atomic reactor for research and development began
operation at Richland, Washington.
Nov. 30, 1948
Chlorotetracycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, was isolated by B. M. Duggar, American
Cyanamid Corporation, on this date.
Page 6
Isotopics November 2010
American Chemical Society Cleveland Section
Chemistry is for the Birds - 10
By Dwight Chasar
In previous discussions I talked about the pigments based upon melanins, carotenes, and porphyrins that
contribute to the various colors in birds. More recent research has shown that other chemical structures
also contribute to specific bird body parts or specific species. It has been shown that chemical variations
on pterins (I) and purines (II) contribute to yellow, orange and red in some bird irises. They can differ in
oxidation states around the ring atoms and have various organic groups attached about the parent ring
structure. These compounds are deposited into chromatophores in the avian iris in the crystalline form
and thus serve as reflective platelets. When both structures are deposited together, they brighten the
colors. Examples are the yellow irises of owls and the red irises of pigeons.
O
O
N
HN
H2N
N
H2N
H
N
N
HN
N
O
HN
N
N
H
N
N
I
II
A more recent discovery has been of a new class of pigments called psittacofulvins (III) which contribute
to the yellows, oranges and reds of the feathers of South American parrots like the scarlet macaw. They
absorb light maximally at shorter wavelengths than do the carotenoids. It appears that these compounds
are made directly at the feather from fatty acids which means that the fatty acid needs to be reduced to
form the aldehyde functional group and oxidized to form the complete conjugated double bond structure.
The chemical name is derived from the scientific taxonomic family name for parrots—Psittacidae.
n=1-4
H3C
O
n
III
H
Chemistry Humor
Submitted by Daniel Scheiman
Two guys were taking chemistry at the University of Massachusetts. They did pretty well on all the
quizzes, midterms and exams and had a solid "A" going into the final. They were so confident that the
weekend before finals they decided to go out and party. They had a great time, however, they were hung
over the next day and didn't make it to the final on time. After the final, they met with the professor to
explain why they were late. They told him that they "had a flat tire" on their way to school. They didn't
have a spare and couldn't get help for a long time, that's why they were late in getting to campus. The
professor thought it over and told them they could make up the final the next day. The two guys were
relieved. The next day the professor placed them in separate rooms and handed them the test booklet.
They looked at the first problem which was worth 5 points. It was a simple question involving molarity
calculations. "Cool" they thought." This is gonna be easy". They answered the question and turned the
page. They were not prepared, however, for what they saw on the next page. It said: (95 points) Which
tire?
http://www.angelfire.com/md2/chmfunpage/index.html
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Isotopics November 2010
American Chemical Society Cleveland Section
ISOTOPICS STAFF
Editor:
Daniel Tyson
Day-Glo Color Corporation
Phone: 216-391-7384
daniel_s_tyson@yahoo.com
Business and Advertising:
Alice McFarland
mcfarlands1@earthlink.net
Associate Editor
Dwight Chasar
dwight.chasar@yahoo.com
Associate Editor
Richard L. Middaugh
Phone: 440-785-0293
rlmiddaugh@ameritech.net
Associate Editor
Dr. Lily Ng
Cleveland State University
Phone: 216-687-2467
l.ng@csuohio.edu
Associate Editor
Daniel Scheiman
QSC/NASA GRC
Phone: 216-433-3223
daniel.a.scheiman@nasa.gov
Associate Editor
Meenakshi Hardi
Phone: 440-941-6467
minaxie@gmail.com
Isotopics is looking to highlight local chemistry professionals, companies, teachers, research groups, students,
events, and more. If you have an idea for an Isotopics article, please contact the editor. Isotopics is also looking
for local members to join our staff. Time commitments for staff members are minimal (a few hours a year!) and
your contributions will be invaluable to our local section. If you are interested in joining Isotopics, please
contact the editor.