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Newsletter of the Central Wisconsin Section - American Chemical Society Volume 29•No 4•May 5, 2005

the AlembicChair's Corner

Happy May Everyone!Though winter is trying its

hardest to hold on, it appears thatspring is really here. The grass isgreening, the flowers are up, andthe trees are starting to leaf out.We’ve su rv ived anotherWisconsin winter.

I’m sorry I missed all of youat the April meeting, but therewas a small medical crisis in myfamily. Everything worked outok. I’m told we had goodattendance with an interestingpresentation from Dr. Pavlath.Thanks to all that attended.

The Chemistry Olympiad forhigh school chemistry studentswas hosted on April 26th byProfessor Laura Cole. Thisconsists of a three part examadministered by the student’steachers. Students are tested withmultiple choice questions, freeresponse questions, and a labpractical. The top students in thenational exam may then progresson to international competition.

Our May meeting next weekwill be our annual awards banquetin Marshfield. More about themeeting and our speaker, Dr.

Frank Settle, can be found later inthe newsletter. We will berecognizing this year’s sectionaward winners in the followingareas:

Outstanding Service Awardrecognizing outstanding service tothe Central Wisconsin Sectiongoes to Professor Laura Cole ofUWSP. Laura has been an activemember of our chapter since 1995and has hosted the ChemistryOlympiad for the past eight years.She is also the current chair electand will assume the section chairin 2006.

High School Chemistry SeniorAward to recognize and encouragehigh school students who havedemonstrated a high degree of self-discipline and motivation in thepursuit of the science ofChemistry is awarded to thewinner of this year ChemistryOlympiad, Shea Chyou ofMarshfield High School. Shea’steacher is Susan Harrington.

P lease jo in me incongratulating all of our awardwinners at our meeting on May11th.Steve

ACS - CWSMini-Directory

ChairSteve Nieland612 West Fulton StreetWaupaca, WI 54981phone (715) 258-5525(office)email snieland@fmspecialty.com

Chair-ElectLaura Cole

Secretary - TreasurerTip Randall

CouncilorC. Marvin Lang

Alternate CouncilorDave Lewis

Newsletter EditorTom ZamisDept. of Chemistry, UW-SP,Stevens Point WI 54481phone (715) 346-3258(office)email tzamis@uwsp.edu

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AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY - CENTRAL WISCONSIN SECTIONANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET AND SPOUSE'S NIGHT

Wednesday, May 11, 2005Belvedere Supper ClubM329 State Highway 97

Marshfield, WI6:00 Dinner, Banquet Room

7:30 - 9:00 Speaker &Awards Presentations

The Chemistry of Nuclear WeaponsDr. Frank A. Settle

Washington & Lee UniversityDepartment of Chemistry

Lexington, VA 24450

Abstract and Bio:

Did you ever wonder about the role of chemistry and chemicalengineering in the development of nuclear weapons? How did the discoveryof nuclear fission by two German chemists in 1939 lead to Hiroshima, theresulting arms race, and current proliferation of nuclear weapons?

For 28 years Dr. Frank Settle was professor of chemistry at Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA.During this time he received several awards for teaching and undergraduate research in analytical chemistry.Since that time he has been a consultant to the Department of Energy and a program officer at the NationalScience Foundation. He currently directs the Alsos Digital Library for Nuclear Issues (http://alsos.wlu.edu)and directs interdisciplinary courses on the nuclear age and weapons of mass destruction at Washington andLee University. He is the recipient of the 2005 ACS Analytical Division’s Calvin Giddings Award forexcellence in education.

Dr. Settle will provide a fascinating glimpse into the chemistry and history of the exciting periodthat encompassed the development of the first nuclear weapons. His presentation, designed for a generalaudience, illustrates the interactions among chemists, physicists, engineers, the military, and governmentofficials required to produce the first atomic bombs.

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The meeting will be at the Belvedere Supper Club. Directions from Marshfield: Take Central Ave north(Central Ave turns into Hwy 97). After passing Walmart/Applebees/Menards, Belvedere is about 5 miles north(not exactly sure about the distance) on the left (west) side of the highway. Dinner reservations should be madeby contacting Dana Haagenson at (715)389-6526 or email dhaagens@uwc.edu before noon onTuesday, May 10.

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ACS - Central Wisconsin Section 2005 Meeting ScheduleDATE LOCATION SPEAKER TOPIC HOST

WednesdayApril 13

WisconsinRapids

Attila Pavlath Alternate Energy Sources: Fromthe Sun to the Depth of the Earth

Dave Thiel

WednesdayMay 11

Marshfield Frank A. Settle The Chemistry of NuclearWeaponsAwards Banquet

DanaHaagenson

October 12 Stoltz - Tentative Medical Practice during the CivilWar

TuesdayNovember 8

David F. Wiemer Herbal Products: They're Naturalbut Are They Safe?

ACS-CWS Web Pagewww.uwsp.edu/chemistry/acscws/

Up-to-date information about section activitiesincluding the Alembic and meeting notices.Also visit www.chemistry.org for latest chem news.

Molecules of the Month

b - E s t r a d i o l is an estrogen, or femalehormone. It may have neuroprotective effects forParkinson's disease patients; however, the mechanismof neuroprotection is unclear. A recent studysuggests that age-related decreases in the brain'ssensitivity to estrogens may be linked with certainmenopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.

Niacin (also known as vitamin B-3, helps thedigestive system, skin, and nerves to work properly;and it assists in converting food to energy. Niacin-rich foods include dairy products, poultry, fish, leanmeats, nuts, and eggs. Legumes and enriched breadsand cereals also supply some niacin.

2005 Chemistry Olympiad Reportby Laura Cole

Eight schools and 173 students participated in the2005 ACS-CWS Local Chemistry Olympiad. TheLocal Chemistry Olympiad consists of a multiplechoice exam provided by the CWS and given by thestudents’ teachers. The top 10 students qualified toparticipate in the National Chemistry OlympiadExamination on April 16 at UWSP. The NationalExam consists of three parts: multiple choice,problem-solving and explanations, and a laboratoryportion where the students design and then carry outan experiment. After the national exam is taken andgraded, the top 20 students in the nation are invitedto attend a study camp at the Air Force Academy.Then the top 3 or 4 of those students attend theInternational Chemistry Olympiad.

The schools that participated were: D.C. Everest,Lake Holcombe, Marshfield, Marshfield Columbus,Necedah, Eau Claire North, Wausau East and WausauWest. The top 10 student qualifiers were: JonathonBrzezinski and Brock Janikowski, D. C. Everest;Laura Bagley, Eau Claire North; Shea Chyou andPeter Nelson, Marshfield High School; Andrew Breu,Marshfield Columbus; Erin Bond and BenjaminStrick, Wausau East; Andrew Hogue and Dilan VanRyn, Wausau West High School.

Today in Chemical History - May 4* Louis J. Thenard, born 1777, researcher on chlorineand alkali metals; discovered hydrogen peroxide,potassium, sodium peroxides, and Thenard's blue (usedin coloring porcelain); showed caustic soda and potashcontained hydrogen and oxygen.* Arthur A. Blanchard, born 1876, researcher on metalcarbonyls and other inorganic compounds.