Investigating, understanding and (maybe!) controlling how molecules interact

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Investigating, understanding and (maybe!)
controlling how molecules interact
The crazy research aims of a Physical Organic
Chemist
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I am a Post doctoral Research
Chemist
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I am a Post doctoral Research
Chemist

• I am a doctor
• I know nothing about sick people!
• To become a Dr. you do a second degree (but you
  get paid to do it!)
• Doing a Ph.D teaches you to do research

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I am a Post doctoral Research
Chemist

• I am a doctor
• I know nothing about sick people!
• To become a Dr. you do a second degree (but you
  get paid to do it!)
• Doing a Ph.D teaches you to do research

• I try to understand why and how molecules do
  things
• I plan experiments to test ideas and collect
  information (good and bad!)
• I try to apply the information I find
• Talk to other scientists

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I am a Post doctoral Research
Chemist

• I am interested in molecules and how they
  interact with each other
• But so are many physicists and biologists
• research is why you are interested and what you
  do with it!

• I am a doctor
• I know nothing about sick people!
• To become a Dr. you do a second degree (but you
  get paid to do it!)
• Doing a Ph.D teaches you to do research

• I try to understand why and how molecules do
  things
• I plan experiments to test ideas and collect
  information (good and bad!)
• I try to apply the information I find
• Talk to other scientists

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I am interested in how solvents affect molecules
and reactions

• Normally you need to dissolve reactants to
• make them mix
• remove / provide heat
• slow other reactions down

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I am interested in how solvents affect molecules
and reactions

• Normally you need to dissolve reactants to
• make them mix
• remove / provide heat
• slow other reactions down

People think
But in reality
solvent
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I am interested in how solvents affect molecules
and reactions
e.g. a single dye molecule in a range of solvents
Can affect everything! Colour, product,
stability
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X
Most solvents evaporate easily
X
easy to breathe in
X
extremely flammable
X
difficult to contain and toxic
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IONIC LIQUIDS are liquid salts and can be used as
solvents!
Normal solvent Molecule
Ionic liquid Ions
Do not evaporate - GREEN SOLVENTS Dissolve lots
of things Many different ionic liquids I have
been investigating how ionic liquids affect
things dissolved in them to see if they can
replace normal solvents
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Ionic liquids are just beginning to be used by
industry!
Use ionic liquids to make a process more
efficient !
Green Chemistry can make you money!
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Controlling solubility and solvent effects for
Harry Potter!
Solvent with iodine
Water with Cromium
Ionic liquid with iodine
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Controlling solubility and solvent effects for
Harry Potter!
Solvent with iodine
Water with Cromium
Ionic liquid with iodine