As part of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar Series, Oberlin’s own Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Matthew Elrod will present on the topic “Physical Organic Chemistry on Atmospheric Secondary Organic Aerosol Particles.”
This seminar will be preceded by a light reception at 4:30 p.m. in the David Love Lounge.
Sponorsed by the Luke E. Steiner Lecture Fund.
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Abstract:
It has been recently estimated that nearly nine million lives are lost prematurely each year globally due to the effects of air pollution, which include a class of pollutants known as secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles. In this presentation, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based kinetics data are collected to ascertain the structure-reactivity relationships that rationalize the mechanistic details for how certain carbonyl compounds help to form SOA. Substituent effects are used to rationalize the differing nucleophilic reaction mechanisms and reaction rate constants, and these frameworks serve as a basis for modeling the formation of SOA in the atmosphere.
Open to all members of the public
