I. Background
i
The Department of Chemistry is one of the departments in the
College of Natural Science, Jimma University. It was first
established as a unit under basic sciences program in 1983, and
subsequently grew into a full-fledged Department of Chemistry in
2002 offering a four-year B. Sc program in chemistry. In 2003 new
Brochure
curriculum has been established and the department of chemistry
under the faculty of education offering three years B. Ed program in
chemistry. In 2007 the Department launched master program in
chemistry. This was a turning point in the history of the Department
and a significant step towards fulfilling the Country’s needs for
high-level qualified Chemists.
Chemistry, being the oldest and a multidimensional discipline and
nucleus of many interdisciplinary subjects, has the repute and
distinction of being the backbone of both the scientific knowledge
and
experimental
ventures, since antiquity. Obviously,
the
expansion of such a multidimensional discipline will improve the
performance of the University, which is aspiring to become the best
leading university in the continent for producing competent
professionals responsive to societal needs and aims at addressing
the human resources need of the country.
At present, the Department runs three years Bachelor of Science
(B.Sc), and two years Master of Science (M.Sc) programs in four
major areas of chemistry. These are Analytical Chemistry,
Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical chemistry.
In addition the department is offering applied chemistry courses
such as Biochemistry, Industrial Chemistry, and Environmental
Chemistry.
Contact Address
The Department of Chemistry under the College of natural Science
Jimma University
Department of Chemistry
P.O. Box:-378
Tel. +251-471 11 12 52
Fax +251-471 11 22 14
e-mail:-chem@ju.edu.et
training not only to the students of three years graduate program
has been imparting subject related knowledge and practical
but also to the students of many other disciplines and programs
such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Technology,
Nursing, Environmental Health Sciences and Public Health where
Chemistry and the discipline work as contingent to each other.
Currently there are about 56 staff members, 340 under graduate
and 20 graduate students.
II. Programs
A) Regular undergraduate
 Degree nomenclature- BSc (Applied
chemistry)
 Duration:- 3 Years (6 Semesters)

Course Profile- See the following table
B) Regular graduate
III. Staff (Academic, supportive and administrative)
 Degree nomenclature- MSc (in Analytic,
Inorganic, organic and Physical chemistry)
 Duration:- 2 Years (4 Semesters)

Course Profile- See the following table
Year I Semester I
Course Code Course Title
Cr. Hr.
Chem551
Chem561
Chem571
Chem581
3
2
2
3
10
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I
Advanced Analytical Chemistry I
Quantum Chemistry
Advanced Organic Chemistry
Total
Year I Semester II
Course Code Course Title
Cr. Hr.
Chem552
Chem562
Chem572
Chem58
Chem542
Chem592
Chem594
2
3
2
2
2
1
1
13
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II
Advanced Analytical Chemistry II
Chemical Kinetics
Physical Organic Chemistry
Advanced Practical Chemistry
Resear. Method. and Scientific Writing
Seminar I
Total
Courses for Analytical Chemistry Specialization
Chem661
Chemometrics, Data Proc. & Valid.
Chem663
Selected Topics in Anal. Chemistry
Chem695
Seminar II
Chem693
DTTP Research
Total
Courses for Inorganic Chemistry Specialization
Chem651
Inorganic Chemistry III
Chem653
Selected Topics in Inorganic Chemistry
Chem695
Seminar II
Chem693
DTTP Research
Total
Courses for Organic Chemistry Specialization
Chem681
Selected Topic in Organic Chemistry
Chem683
Organic Polymers
Chem695
Seminar II
Chem693
DTTP Research
Total
Courses for Physical Chemistry Specialization
Statistical Mechanics and
Chem671
Electrochemistry
Chem673
Selected Topics in Physical Chemistry
Chem695
Seminar II
Chem693
DTTP Research
Total
2
2
1
3
8
2
2
1
3
8
2
2
1
3
8
2
2
1
3
8
A
C
A
D
E
M
I
C
A
D
M
I
S
R.
A
S
T
A
F
F
S
T
A
F
F
Academic Rank
No
Professor
Assoc. Professor
Assist. Professor
Lecturer
1
2
3
20
Assist. Lecturer
Grad. Assistant
Techn. Assistant
Total
2
3
5
36
Job description
No
Secretary
Office girl
Lab. attendant
Store manager
Comp. lab attendant
1
1
16
1
1
Total
Remark
7 PhD candidates, 3
are on study leave.
2 MSc candidates
V. Selected Publications
 Mengistu W/Tinsay and Khalid Siraj*, (2011), “Kinetics and
Mechanism of Oxidation of Glycolic Acid by
Hexamethylenetetramine-Bromine in Glacial Acetic Acid
medium”, Euro. J. Sci. Res., 49(1), 49-60.
 Lemma Teshome, Khalid Siraj* and Tesfaye Refera Soreta,
(XXXX),“Electrochemical Determination of Lead Using
Bismuth Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode”, Russ. J.
Electrochem.,
Remark
20
IV. Facillities/Infrustructures
 Lecture rooms
 For undergraduate students-----------------3
 For graduate students -----------------------1
 Laboratories
 For undergraduate study--------------------6
 Research lab.---------------------------------1
 ICT room for PG students------------------------1
 Chemical store---------------------------------------1
 Major instruments
 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer-(NOVAA
300) AnalytiKjena
 Termogravimetric analyzer( SDTA85)METTLER TOLEDO*
 Gas Chromatography (CP- 3800) -VARIAN*
 Gas Chromatography/Mass spectrometry
VARIAN- 3900, Saturn 2100D*
 HPLC (DLC-20 )-Isocratic Liquid *
 Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer
 Rota vapor (LABOROTA 4000) –Heidolph
fitted with Chiller
 Furnace (2000366)*
 Spectrophotometer (double beam)-(UNICAM UV 300)*
 Spectrophotometer (single beam) (6300)-JENWAY
 Colorimeter (6051)-JENWAY *
 Fluorimeter (6200)-JENWAY *
 Electro analyzer (CV-50W BAS) *
 Polari meter
 Refractometer
 Ice maker
 Calorimeter
 Getahun T., Reneela P. and Aman D. (2012). Isolation and
characterization of natural products from Helinus mystachnus
(Rhamnaceae). J. Chem. Pharmacl Res. 4:1756-1762
 Shimeles A., Birhanu D. and Tesfaye R.(2012).
Electrochemical determination of hydrogen peroxide at glassy
carbon electrode modified with palladium nanoparticles J.
Serb. Chem. Soc. 77 (0) 1–19
 Mulugeta T., Legesse A., Yinebeb T., Diriba M. and Shiferaw
D.(2013). Isolation of Compounds from acetone extract of
Root Wood of Moringa stenopetala and Evaluation
ofAntibacterial Activities. Res. J. Med. Plants. (In Press )
 Habtamu G., Legesse A., Yinebeb T., Asrat H. (2012).
Isolation of Crotepoxide from berries of Croton Macrostachyus
and evaluation of its Anti-Leishmanial activity. J.
Pharmacogn. and Phytochem. 1; 15-25
 Sileshi W., Legesse A., Yinebeb T., Diriba M. and Tadesse
B.(2013).Evaluation of Antibacterial Activities of Compounds
Isolated From Sida rhombifolia Linn. (Malvaceae)Nat Prod
Chem
Res.
2012,
XX:
XX(In
Press)
http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/npcr.1000101
 Banchiwossen B., Legesse A.,Yinebeb T. and Asrat H.(2013).
Evaluation of antileishmanial activities of triglycerides isolated
from roots of Moringa stenopetala. Med. Chem. Res. 22; (In
Press DOI 10.1007/s00044-013-0467-x)
 Legesse Adane, Asmamaw Abejie. Assessment of laboratory
chemicals’ risk perception among undergraduate students
majoring chemistry and biology: A case study at Jimma
University, Southwestern Ethiopia. World Appl. Sci. J.
(Accepted for publication).
 Legesse Adane, Antehun Admas. Relevance and Safety of
Chemistry Laboratory Experiments
from Students’
Perspective: A Case Study at Jimma University, Southwestern
Ethiopia: Educational Research. 2011, 2(12), 1749-1758.