AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY CALIFORNIA SECTIONVOLUME LXXII NUMBER 1 JANUARY 2011

CHAIR’S MESSAGE (B.BALAZS) PAGE 3JANUARY SECTION MEETING PAGE 4CAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FESTIVAL PAGE 4THE FIRST CHEMISTS (W. MOTZER) PAGE 5JANUARY CHEMICAL ANNIVERSARIES (L.MAY) PAGE 6DECEMBER MEETING REPORT PAGE 9SECTION OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES PAGE 10,11WCC SEPTEMBER MEETING REPORT PAGE 12BUSINESS DIRECTORY PAGE 14,15INDEX OF ADVERTISERS PAGE 15

Table of Contents

JANUARY 2011 2

3 THE VORTEX

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MAGAZINE OF THE CALIFORNIA SECTION, AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS:Evaldo Kothny

William Motzer

EDITORIAL STAFF:Glenn FullerEvaldo KothnyAlex Madonik

Bryan Balazs

THE VORTEX

Volume LXXII Jamuary 2011 Number 1

Published monthly except July & August by the California Section, American ChemicalSociety. Opinions expressed by the editors or contributors to THE VORTEX do not necessarilyreflect the official position of the Section. The publisher reserves the right to reject copysubmitted. Subscription included in $13 annual dues payment. Nonmember subscription $15.

Chair’s Message Bryan Balazs

(continued on page 7)

Having first chaired theCalifornia Section in1998, I enthusiasticallylook forward to “havinganother go at it,” whileat the same time beingextremely proud of theadvances we’ve accom-

plished over this period. We have evolvedfrom the practice of roughly one section meet-ing per month to an ambitious model of nu-merous events planned each month by ourmultiple committees, from well-attended Sci-ence Cafes, highly successful Women Chem-ists Committee quarterly meetings, numerousFamily Science Night, National ChemistryWeek and Chemists Celebrate Earth Day eventsper year, and a nascent Chico subsection withits own meetings and events, all while con-tinuing our tradition of offering a monthly tech-nical talk. Our events have also broadened in scope toinclude visits to wineries and distilleries, dis-cussions on topics such as coral reefs and artconservation, joint meetings with the SantaClara Valley Section, and involvement withother organizations such as Bay Area sciencefairs, the American Institute of Chemical En-

gineers (AIChE), and the National Organiza-tion for the Professional Advancement ofBlack Chemists and Chemical Engineers(NOBCChE). In looking back at our activi-ties in 2010, the list approaches almost 40events offered to our members. Quite im-pressive! Despite the current economic challenges, theCalifornia Section is very fortunate to be ableto maintain our section office, staffed fivedays per week by the capable Julie Mason.We also have had great success in sustainingone of the ACS’ most successful local sectionproject SEED programs and, since the Edu-cational Grant’s inception in 1995, we haveawarded almost $140,000 in these grants toequipment-starved high school science class-rooms and labs. To further recognize excel-lence in teaching, we have also augmented ourlong-standing Petersen Award with additionalawards for high school and community col-lege teachers. Our aim is to organize events and activitiesthat support our members and the profes-sion of chemistry, but it’s time to take a stepback and ask our broader membership, “Arewe doing the right thing?” I ask for yourhelp: Please let me know your thoughts onwhether we have the right mix of activities, or

Cal Science & Engineering Festival

NEW DATE & LOCATION:Sunday, January 23, 2011 11:00am to 3:00pmSutardja Dai Hall at UC Berkeley

Explore the wonders of science with free, fun activities for the whole family. It's allabout science in action! You'll put solar power to the test, get hands-on with ancientfossils, turn cellulose into fuel, make your own earthquake, journey to the stars—andmore! Also featuring a live performance by the acclaimed Banana Slug String Band!The Cal Science & Engineering Festival is hosted by Science@Cal, an initiative of theUC Berkeley Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. Learn more by visiting thewebsite,.science@cal.berkeley.edu.

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Speaker: Matthew G. Heberger, P.E.Title: California Water: Crisis or Crossroads?Date: Wednesday, January 19thTime: Networking: 6:00-6:30 PM, Dinner: 6:30-7:30 PM, Talk:7:30-8:30 p.m., withtime for questions.Place: Washington Inn 495 10th Street, OaklandPrice: Buffet: Dinner: $33 (no charge for attending only the presentation)

Note that the Washington Inn is easily accessible by the 12 Street Oakland City CenterBART station, and street parking is free after 6:00 p.m.

Reservations:RSVP by Friday, January 12th to the Section office by e-mail atoffice@calacs.org or call (510) 351-9922.

January California Section Meeting

Abstract:Water has become one of California's mostpolarizing issues, pitting North vs. South,farms vs. cities, and Democrat vs. Republi-can. Recent news is dominated by storiesof drought, shortages, and pollution. Shouldthe state spend billions on new dams and aPeripheral Canal? What can be done to re-verse the collapse of once-vibrant salmonfisheries? Join Pacific Institute researchhydrologist Matthew Heberger in a discus-sion on how insecurity over our most vitalresource poses threats to our health, envi-ronment, and economy - and how we needto change the way we think about, use, andmanage water in the 21st century.

Matthew Heberger is a research associatewith the Pacific Institute in Oakland, Cali-

Biography:

fornia. He has spent the last 13 years work-ing on water issues as a consulting engineer,in water policy in Washington DC, and as ahygiene and sanitation educator in West Af-rica. He’s currently researching issues relatedto water supply and water quality, water-energy connections, and the impacts of cli-mate change on water resources. Matthewholds a B.S. in Agricultural and BiologicalEngineering from Cornell University and anM.S. in Water Resources Engineering fromTufts University in Boston and is a licensedprofessional engineer. The Pacific Instituteis a non-profit, nonpartisan research insti-tute that works to advance environmentalprotection, economic development, and so-cial equity. See http://www.pacinst.org/

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Dr. Uschi Simonis

(continued on page 8)

The First Chem-ists (Part 2) Bill Motzer In the December 2010Vortex, I described thecharacteristics of Egyp-tian blue (EB), which ischemically known ascalcium copper silicate

(CaCuSi4O10 or CaO·CuO·4SiO2). EB wasa pigment manufactured and used by theancient Egyptians for about 3,000 years; itis considered by many archeologists andchemists to be the first synthetic pigment.To the ancient Egyptians - blue (which inancient Egyptian is “irtyu”) was the colorof the heavens or the dominion of the gods,and also the color of water - revered becauseof the annual Nile floods brought life givingsilts into the Nile valley. The ancient Egyp-tians also favored dark blue semi-preciousstones such as azurite (ancient Egyptianname “tefer”) and lapis lazuli (ancient Egyp-tian name “khesbedj”). These stones werehighly prized, so much so, that they wereimported at great cost across the Sinai Desertfor jewelry and inlays.Egyptian Blue Manufacture What is intriguing about EB’s manufacture

was its compositional consistency over atleast three millennia. (Were the ancient Egyp-tians also the first chemical engineers?) Re-cent chemical analyses of EB from archeo-logical objects suggests a manufacturing pro-cess that included a multi-phase or a step-like approach by first mixing and then grind-ing its raw mineral components and then heat-ing the mixture. The raw materials were ei-ther quartz sand or perhaps crushed quartz-ite pebbles (SiO2), a copper mineral such asmalachite [Cu2CO3(OH)2] or bronze (cop-per-tin alloy) filings, calcium carbonate(CaCO3), and a small amount of an alkali suchas natron (a sodium bicarbonate mixture - seebelow). Depending on the degree to whichEB was ground and subsequently heated, thecolor could vary from a rich, dark blue (for acoarse grind) to a pale, ethereal blue (for avery fine grind).Heating of the mixture ranged between 800and 1000°C for several hours (depending onthe amount of alkali used). The result wasEB (synthetic cuprorivaite), carbon dioxideand water vapor. In its final state, EB con-sisted of rectangular blue crystals mixed to-gether with unreacted quartz and some glass.From the analysis of EB samples from Egypt

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January Historical Events InChemistry Leopold MayJanuary 2, 1889Roger Adams, a researcher in organic chemi-cal synthesis, was born on this date. He di-rected doctoral theses of 184 students.January 4, 1891Henry H. Dow prepared bromine from brineon this date.January 7, 1794Eihardt Mitscherlich who did research oncrystalline structure, catalysis, and benzeneand its derivatives, was born on this date. Healso discovered isomorphism.January 9, 1868Sören P. L. Sörensen, who was born on thisdate, is lnown as the “Father of pH”, Heconducted research on proteins, amino ac-ids, and enzymes.January 10, 1923Chemical and Engineering News was startedon this day as the bimonthly News Editionof Industrial and Engineering News. It waschanged to CEN in 1942 and became weeklyon January 6, 1947.January 11, 1875Frederick M. Becket, an inventor in electro-chemistry and electrometallurgy, was born.He received more than one hundred patentscovering a wide range of electric furnaces andchemical products, notably ferro-alloys, cal-cium carbide, and special chromium steels.January 12, 1912 Konrad E. Bloch, whowaas born on this date, was a researcher oncholesterol and fatty acid metabolism. Heshared the Nobel Prize in Physiology andMedicine in 1964 with Feodor Lynen fortheir discoveries concerning the mechanismand regulation of the cholesterol and fattyacid metabolism.January 13, 1780Pierre J. Robiquet, who discovered aspar-agine with Nicolas-Louis Vauquelin, wasborn. He also measured the codeine contentof opium.January 14, 1851Ludwig Claisen, who developed reactionssuch as the condensation of esters and therearrangement of allyl vinyl ethers, was born.January 15, 1784Henry Cavendish presented the quantitative

composition of water before Royal Soci-ety on this date.January 17, 1706Benjamin Franklin, who was born on thisdate, was a researcher of electricity; an in-ventor, a statesman, and described marshgas to Priestley.January 18, 1861Hans Goldschmidt, who discovered thealumino-thermite process (GoldschmidtProcess) in 1893 and patented it in 1895,was born on this date. He was interested inproducing very pure metals by avoidingthe use of carbon in smelting but realizedits value in welding.January 22, 1936Alan J. Heeger, who was born on this date,shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000with Alan G. MacDiarmid and HidakiShirakawa for their discovery and develop-ment of conductive polymers.January 23, 1929John C. Polanyi shared the Nobel Prize inChemistry with Dudley R. Hershbach andYuan T. Lee for their contributions con-cerning the dynamics of chemical elemen-tary processes. He was born on this dateand is a researcher using infrared chemilu-minescence to follow excited reaction prod-ucts.January 26, 1881Claude S. Hudson, who did research in thechemistry of sugars, was born on this date.January 27, 1865 August F. Kekulé pre-sented his benzene structure to SociétéChimique, Paris on his date.January 28, 1843 Henry C. Bolton, whowas a writer and bibliographer of the his-tory of chemistry was born. He studied theaction of organic acids on minerals.January 31, 1881 Irving Langmuir, whowas born on this day, did research on sur-face chemistry for which he received theNobel Prize in 1932 for his discoveries andinvestigations in surface chemistry. He in-troduced gas-filled tungsten lamps and theuse of atomic hydrogen blowpipe for weld-ing. He and Gilbert N. Lewis evolved theelectronic theory.

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(Continued from page 3)whether we should be engaged in other eventsor services for our members. Examples ofthings that we have done in the past, butperhaps should reinvigorate, are technicalshort courses, connections to ACS Techni-cal Divisions, career assistance, connectionsto other professional or civic organizations,recognition of the scientific achievements oflocal chemists, or other science or educationactivities. Your voice matters to me, and Iwould appreciate hearing your thoughts

about the direction that the California Sec-tion should be headed. My personal goal as Chair is to continuethe growth in our section that I’ve observedover the past decade. I’m always open toyour thoughts including criticisms. You canreach me at 925-423-5403, or at bb@llnl.gov. Best Wishes for 2011, the International Yearof Chemistry!

Dr Wally Yokoyama presiding at the November Section meeting with speaker Dr J. BruceGerman at the USDA Western Regional Albany Research Laboratories.

(continued from page 5)

JANUARY 2011 8

and elsewhere, it has been determined thatthe weight percentage of the materials usedto obtain EB in antiquity usually ranged from:60 to 70% silica (SiO2)7 to15% calcium oxide (CaO)10 to 20% copper(II) oxide (CuO)To obtain theoretical cuprorivaite, whereonly blue crystals occur, with no excess ofunreacted quartz or glass formation, the fol-lowing percentages would have been required:64% silica15% calcium oxide21% copper oxideMaterial Sources Silica is the main component of EB, andalthough it is ubiquitous in desert sand dunesthere are no known historical records thatquartz sand found adjacent to EB manufac-turing sites were used. Investigations by Dr.Jakcsh and his colleague’s (see Part 1) foundtitaniferous magnetite [Fe(Fe,Ti)2O4] crys-tals in EB. This mineral is common in Egyp-tian desert sand and in EB samples collectedfrom the tomb of Sabni who served as a crowngovernor for the territory of Aswan underPharaoh Pepi II (6th dynasty: 2246-2152BCE). Its presence in EB suggests that quartzsand, rather than flint or chert, was the silicasource. Calcium oxide was most likely not addedon its own in the first manufactured EB andmay have been accidently introduced as animpurity in quartz sand and alkali. Howeverat some point in time, craftsmen involved inEB manufacture realized the importance ofadding lime to the mixture. Its source wasmost likely from the abundant limestone(CaCO3)that occurs in the Nile Valley. Copper, the first metal to be mined by theancient Egyptians and may have been de-rived from oxidized copper ores (such asmalachite) that contained 10 to 12% copper.It was first worked cold because the firstminers could not obtain the necessary heatto melt and cast the produced copper drop-lets. Later, as shown by crucibles found atthe mines, extraction included some furtherrefining and casing of ingots. Also used in EBproduction were filings from copper ingots,

or from bronze scrap and other alloys. TheWadi Maghara region may have been an earlycopper source but some experts claim that itdid not contain sufficient quantities of ore.Traces of copper workings occur at Buhenand ore in the eastern desert became avail-able during the Middle Kingdom. The SinaiDesert copper mines may have been the re-sult of the first major ancient Egyptian for-eign forays resulting in expansion of the Egyp-tian Empire into southern Canaan. In the Old Kingdom (2600-2480 BCE),very little evidence exists for the types andsources of copper ore used in EB manufac-ture. During the New Kingdom (~1570 BCE)the use of bronze in EB became more wide-spread. This has been determined from vary-ing trace amounts of tin, arsenic, and/or leadfound in analyzed EB. These trace elementsare not common to the region’s oxidized cop-per ore. It has been suggested that bronzescrap was used during the Late Bronze Agebecause readily available copper ore reserveshad been depleted requiring importation. Natron occurs as mixture of sodium car-bonate decahydrate (Na2CO3· 10H2O, a typeof soda ash) and about 17% sodium bicar-bonate (also called nahcolite or baking soda,NaHCO3); it also contains small amounts ofsodium chloride (halite) and sodium sulfate.Natron forms under extreme evaporativeconditions around salt lakes rich in sodiumcarbonate, common in many desert environ-ments. In Egypt it is found in the Wadi ElNatrun, in Chad along the shores of LakeChad, and in Ethiopia’s Showa Province. In Part 3, I’ll discuss other aspects of an-cient Egyptian chemistry: they may havealso been the first pharmacologists and theyalso manufactured perfumes and scents. Onefinal thought: black (ancient Egyptian name“kem”) was another color revered by theancient Egyptians for the life-giving silt leftbehind by the annual Nile flooding and itwas the ancient Egyptian name for theircountry (The “Kemet” or black land), whichultimately gave us the term chemistry. Be-cause the rest of the ancient world reveredand did not understand their chemical skills,did this also give rise to the term: “the blackarts?”

THE VORTEX

Past Chair Paul Vartainian and the Section Office Manager, Julie Mason

©Alex Madinik

©Alex Madonik

9

December Meeting Report James Postma gave his talk “Electric Car:Murder Victim, Suicide or Still a Gleam in itsParents’ Eyes?” at Chico State at the meet-ing of the Northern California Subsection ofthe American Chemical Society. The title hasa connection to the 1990’s. documentarymade about the General Motors electric car,the EV-1. The film suggested the EV-1 was amurder victim done in because GM did notwant to compete with its own gasoline ver-sion. But Postma said the EV-1 had prob-lems that soon would have caused it to fail(suicide). The conclusion: An electric carthat will meet public expectations is still agleam in the designers eyes. A major prob-lem of electric cars is that batteries with along life, are safe and relatively inexpensiveare not yet available. General Motors will introduce a so calledelectric car, the Volt. But Postma says it’sreally a hybrid, not a true electric car, be-cause it depends on a small gasoline engineto recharge the battery. When he thinks about the potential for elec-tric cars, Postma is most interested in fuel

There are fuel cells that run on natural gasand are used to generate electricity. Buttoday’s fuel cells contain dangerous liquidsand safety is an issue. “We are stuck withcars having a limited range and using expen-sive batteries,” Postma seems to be optimis-tic, and suggests that we just need a chemistor two for fuel cell breakthrough. A link to the report written by LarryMitchell staff writer for The Chico Enter-prise-Record is http://www.chicoer.com/ci_16803820? source=email cells.

JANUARY 2011 10

California Section Officers 2011

Office Name Phone E-mailChair Dr. Bryan Balazs (925) 423-5403 balazs1@llnl.govChair-Elect Dr. James Postma (530) 898-5259 jpostma@csuchico.eduImmediate Past-Chair Dr. Paul Vartanian (510) 763-0195pfvartanian@gmail.comSecretary Dr. Michael Cheng (510) 242-2588 mtch@chevron.comTreasurer Dr. Igor Sobolev (925) 376-6402 i.sobolev@worldnet.att.netDirector Dr. Attila Pavlath (510) 559-5620 apavlath@pw.usda.govDirector Dr. Don MacLean (510) 705-6761 donald.maclean@bayer.comMember-at-large Dr. Rollie Myers (510) 642-2832 myers@cchem.berkeley.eduMember-at-large Linda Wraxall 510-236-8468 lindaw5601@gmail.com

Chico Subsection RepresentativesDr. James Postma (530) 898-5259 jpostma@csuchico.eduDr. Donald Alger (530) 894-2452 dalger@csuchico.eduCalifornia Section Councilors and Alternate Councilors

Councilors, Terms Expire at End of 2012Dr. Eileen Nottoli (415) 273-7481 enottoli@allenmatkins.comDr. Lee Latimer (650) 877-7664 lee.latimer@elan.comAlternate Councilors, Terms Expire at End of 2012Dr. Donald MacLean (510) 705-6761 donald.maclean@bayer.comCouncilors, Terms Expire at End of 2013Dr. Bryan Balazs (925) 423-5403 balazs1@llnl.govDr. Elaine Yamaguchi (510) 242-4932 esya@chevron.comDr. Paul Vartanian ((510) 763-0195 pfvartanian@gmail.comAlternate Councilors, Terms Expire at End of 2013Dr. Rollie Myers (510) 642-2832 myers@cchem.berkeley.eduDr. James Postma (530) 898-5259 postma@csuchico.eduCouncilors, Terms Expire at End of 2011Dr. Mark Frishberg (707) 322-3035 mfrishberg@sereslabs.comDr. Sheila Kanodia (415) 844-5744 ext.2014 sushila.kanodia@gmail.comDr. Alex Madonik (510) 872-0528 madonika@comcast.netAlternate Councilors, Terms Expire at End of 2011Dr. Neal Byington (415) 844-5744 ext.2002 neal@byington.orgDr. Michael Cheng (510) 242-2588 mtch@chevron.com

The California Section looks forward to a new year with an ambitious list of innovativeprograms and events. Listed below and on our website, calacs.org, is a listing of the SectionOfficers and the Chairs of the various committees. The success of the section activitiesdepends on Volenteers. Consider stepping forward and being an active part of the Section.Call Byran, Section Chair or any of the committee Chairs. Please note that there are alsoseveral specific committee openings Reseource for Education, Chair Vortex, Assitant Editor Website Webmaster Senior Chemists, Chair

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Board of Trustees:Alex Mihailovski, Chair alexmet@pacbell.netIgor Sobolev, Treasurer (925) 376-6402 i.sobolev@worldnet.att.netBryan Balazs (925) 423-5403 balazs1@llnl.govLarry Wiebe (925) 229-4557 wiebela@comcast.netWilliam Kuo (925) 422-2251 kuo2@llnl.govAdvisor to the Trustees: Gary Martin, CFP g_martin@ml.com

Budget: Dr.Bryan Balazs (925) 423-5403 balazs1@llnl.govLong Range Planning: Co-Chair Dr. Paul Vartanian ((510)763-0195pfvartanian@gmail.com & Co-ChairDr. James Postma (530)898-5259 jpostma@csuchico.eduNominations & Elections: Dr. Paul Vartanian (510)763-0195 pfvartanian@gmail.comSection Handbook: Glenn Fuller (510) 527-4412 glennfull@aol.comAnnual Report: Dr. Paul Vartanian ((510) 763-0195 pfvartanian@gmail.comAwards: Donald MacLean donald.maclean@bayer.comEducationUndergraduate Education: Steven Bachofer bachofer@stmarys-ca.eduChemistry Olympiad: Allen Verstuyft AWVE@chevron.comEducational Grants: Bryan Balazs (925) 423-5403 balazs1@llnl.govHS Chemistry Teachers: Eileen Nottoli 415 273 7481 enottoli@allenmatkins.comResource for Educators: OpenStudent Affiliates: Sam Markowitz (510)642-2922 markowit@cchem.berkeley.eduGovernment Affairs: Marinda Wu (925) 254-1620 marindawu@gmail.comPrograms/Meetings: Dr.Bryan Balazs (925) 423-5403 balazs1@llnl.govMonthly Meetings: Paul Vartanian pfvartanian@gmail.comRegional Meetings: Lee Latimer (650) 877-7664 lhlatimer@mindspring.comSymposia: Lee Latimer (650) 877-7664 lhlatimer@mindspring.comNational Meeting: Paul Vartanian pfvartanian@gmail.comMember AffairsEmployment & Career Asst.: Linda Wraxall (510) 236-8468 lindaw5601@aol.comEmployment & Career Asst.: Marinda Wu (925) 254-1620 marindawu@gmail.comMembership: Lee Latimer (650) 877-7664 lhlatimer@mindspring.comProfessional Relations:Minority Affairs Sheila Kanodia (415) 844-5744 x2014 sushila.kanodia@gmail.comPublic Outreach Public Relations & Comm: Lisa Aguirre 310-848-9614lisa.d.aguirre@gmail.comVortex & Website: Editor Lou Rigali 510 368 9933 qpfans@qpfans.com Assistant Editor open webmaster openNational Chemistry Week: Alex Madonik (510) 872-0528 madonika@comcast.netNational Chemistry Week: Margareta Sequin (415) 405-0315 msequin@sfsu.eduProject SEED: Elaine Yamaguchi Contact Section OfficeInternational Outreach: Igor Sobolev (925) 376-6402 i.sobolev@worldnet.att.netSenior Chemists openWomen ChemistsTrudy Lionel (415) 552-1707 tlionelsf@gmail.comMargareta Sequin msequin@sfsu.eduMarinda Wu 925-212-8273 marindawu@gmail.comYounger Chemist Committee:Chair Lily Lew (415) 846-3553 lily_lew@yahoo.comInternational Year of Chemistry:Chair Dr. Attila Pavlath 510-559-5620 apavlath@pw.usda.gov

Section Committees

The Women’s Chemists Committee hosteda seminar on Saturday, September 26, atMills College. The title of the seminar was“Three Toxic Surprises in Everyday Life”,presented by Caroline Cox. Caroline is theResearch Director for the Center for Envi-ronmental Health (CEH) in Oakland, Cali-fornia. The case studies explored were: theproposed eradication of the light brown applemoth in California, the use of lead in purses,handbags and wallets, and pesticide residuesin fruits and vegetables. Each presentationdemonstrated how people can be unknow-ingly exposed to a range of potentially toxicchemicals through seemingly benign activi-ties. For eradicating the moth, the California De-partment of Food and Agriculture is propos-ing to spray an encapsulated pheromone-permethrin mixture over parts of California.There is substantial opposition to the pro-posal for various reasons including concernthat permethrin is a suspected carcinogen andthe supposedly inert ingredients in the mix-ture may not be inert to humans and wildlife.Lead in consumer goods has been in the newsfrequently in the past year. Caroline’s CEHorganization has successfully lobbied retail-ers to take more responsibility in removingthese hazardous products from their stores.

In 2007 a study showed that over 75% ofthe produce tested contained pesticide resi-due. Many of the pesticides are mutagenicand have reproductive effects in humans.In all three case studies, the speaker identi-fied possible options to the toxins used.Chemists can contribute to creating saferproducts and practices in each of these ar-eas. The seminar was attended by approxi-mately 45 people, several of whom are stu-dents in organic chemistry at Diablo ValleyCollege. Caroline brought a portable XRFscanner to test handbags and wallets forlead, with surprising results. The WCC isgrateful to have speakers of this caliber whocan engage a diverse audience.

September WCC Meeting Report

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An under-reported group in the Section isThe Womens Chemist Committe (WCC)Over the years the Chairs and members ofthis committee have organized outstandingevents and programs. Please note that at-tendance at any of their events are open toall. Look to both the Section website andThe Vortex for information to upcomingevents. Thanks to Alex Madonik for docu-menting with picture some of the meet-ings.

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BUSINESS DIRECTORY

INDEX OF ADVERTISERSRecruitment 15ACS Vortex 9 &15Bay Bioanalytical Lab. Inc BPBuchi Corp. 14EMD 14Huffman Labs 15MassVac BPNew Era Enterprises, Inc 15NuMega Resonance Labs 15Robertson Microlit 7UC Berkeley 2Vacuubrand 2

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