College of Wooster Chemistry

943 College Mall · Wooster, OH 44691 · Phone 330-263-2418 · chemistry@wooster.edu

Facilities

Ground Level | First Floor | Second Floor | Third Floor | Instrumentation

Severance Hall, located on College Mall, was built in 1902 using salvageable bricks from Old Main to make the cores of the walls. The building was named in honor of one of the leading benefactors of the College, Louis H. Severance of Cleveland. At first the building was used for instruction in both chemistry and physics, but later it came to be used only for chemistry instruction. The building underwent its first complete renovation in 1960.

In 1998-99, the original 28,000 square foot Severance Hall was fully renovated and enlarged with a 14,000 square foot addition. The addition provides an additional entrance that allows on-grade access for the physically impaired. The addition houses the largest teaching spaces, a new elevator, and the major mechanical systems that serve the entire facility.

Ground Level

The large Lecture Hall is used for general chemistry lectures and courses for non-science majors. The room has ninety-three auditorium-style seats and features state-of-the-art audiovisual facilities, a lecture bench suitable for chemistry demonstrations, and a stepped floor to assure good sight lines for all seats. This level also houses the Williams Analytical and Biochemical Laboratory, the Stockroom, two rooms for chemical instrumentation, and the 400 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer.

The connecting corridor between the Chemistry Department in Severance Hall and the Biology Department in Mateer Hall features a study lounge that looks out on a landscaped area. The lounge/corridor combination facilitates the increasingly close relationship between the two disciplines of biology and chemistry.

First Floor

The seminar room seats eighteen and has a beautiful view of the campus. The room is used for small science classes, science seminars, informal meetings of the science faculty, and Independent Study (I.S.) oral examinations, as well as First-Year Seminar.

The two general chemistry laboratories, separated by a brick and glass partition composed of the wall of the original structure, has space for a total of 68 students. General Chemistry is the introductory course required of all chemistry, biology, and geology majors.

A 48-seat classroom provides a setting for interactive class work as well as lecture. Like the Lecture Hall on the Ground Level, this classroom, and an identical one on the second floor, has state-of-the-art audiovisual facilities, a lecture/demonstration bench, and a stepped floor.

The Computer Classroom accommodates a dozen desktop computers and has seating for 24 students. Students in Organic Chemistry use the lab for viewing molecular structures and calculating chemical properties. Students in other courses also use these computers for conducting data analysis and preparing laboratory reports.

Second Floor

The Organic Chemistry laboratory has a unique floor plan to accommodate the 14 fume hoods necessary for proper air handling, while allowing unobstructed sight lines in the room. Each fume hood is six feet wide and is able to accommodate two students. This laboratory has set new standards for state-of-the-art organic chemistry facilities.

The Synthesis Laboratory is the realization of a new concept for us. This laboratory contains specialized equipment that permits organic and inorganic synthesis experiments requiring an inert atmosphere.

The I.S. laboratory and its associated desk room on this floor accommodates eight people. The laboratory has fume hoods and specialized equipment for analytical chemistry and biochemistry.

The Computer Graphics Laboratory houses several sophisticated workstations and a number of other high-end personal computers. The equipment is used for viewing molecular structures in three dimensions, especially large biological molecules such as proteins and DNA.

Third Floor

On average, there are twenty-five senior Chemistry majors per year, and our goal has been to provide excellent work space for all of these majors. In addition to the I.S. laboratory on the Second Floor, there are two eight-person I.S. laboratories on the Third Floor of Severance Hall. Skylights provide natural lighting on this floor. The computer room on this floor has several high-end workstations for seniors doing research in computational chemistry. There is additional desk space for seniors whose research does not require extensive hood space. Senior chemistry majors also have access to the carrel space in the Science Library. Two small instrument rooms and a cold room are also located on the third floor.

Instrumentation

The major instrument holdings in the Department of Chemistry are listed below.

Updated: August 24, 2007