Department of Chemistry

Department of Chemistry was founded in 1943 as ”The Institut of General Chemistry” and the education and research activities progressed under the supervision and the pioneer contribution of foreign professors. The department later established the academic crew of chemistry departments of Middle East Technical University, Ege University, Hacettepe University, Dicle University, Fırat University and Selçuk University. The Major Scientific Branches of the Department are, Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Education
The department admits approximately 60 undergraduate student every year. Besides compulsory theoretical, applied, and laboratory courses, elective courses about the technological and scientific research methods are also offered in the Undergraduate Chemistry Curriculum. The Curriculum has been organized to give the basic Chemistry courses in the first three years period and offers a program of choice in one of the Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry fields during the fourth year. This new organisation has been put into application at the beginning of the 1998-1999 academic year. In this way, the students find the opportunity of gaining the basic Chemistry knowledge and skills and improving themselves to evaluate and solve the scientific problems in their future professional areas of their choice. In order to complete the Undergraduate Curriculum they should participate in summer training programs during two months at the chemical companies. The Department of Chemistry also offers graduate education at the current scientific and technological level, which is supported by the necessary environment, materials and equipment’s available at the Department.

Working Fields of Chemistry
Chemistry, two investigate the structures of matters and produce new compounds for human benefits, made the first synthesis of many consumables such as medicine, fertilizer, synthetic fiber, porcelain, etc. Chemists can be employed in the food, medicine, glass, soap, oil, detergent, beverage, iron and steel producing companies of either private or state organizations at research, development, and/or quality control departments. They can also work at the scientific research centers at hospital laboratories. Chemists, who have Pedagogy Certificate can be employed as chemistry teachers at high schools.

Scientific Research
Research activities are financially supported by Ankara University Research Fund, The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBITAK), NATO, etc., in the areas of synthesis, characterization and technological usage of new inorganic, organic, organometallic, and polymeric compounds. The main research subjects are; reaction kinetics and thermodynamics of nonaqueous media, environmental chemistry, electrochemistry corrosion, synthetic fiber chemistry, electropolymerization, enzyme kinetics, surface chemistry and adsorption, high technology ceramics, and fuel chemistry.