Focus of Chemistry Department
- The research at the Department of Chemistry is oriented towards the field of environmental chemistry. Problems of free radicals, transitional elements and antioxidants (primarily carotenoids) in chemical and biological systems are being solved at the department. The attention is focused on the preparation, theoretical and experimental study of complex compounds containing transitional elements with potential therapeutic effects. The possibilities of elimination of selected anti-nutritional elements of environment using the remediation methods and the monitoring of selected antioxidants (selenium, polyphenols) and options of their supplementation in food sources; the application of HPLC techniques for determination of biologically active substances are being researched as well. The complex analyses of the environmental components include the monitoring of nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides in the air and the examination of selected polluting components of soil and surface water.
- Computer solution of molecular systems structure using the advanced software (Gaussian, Hyperchem, ChemCraft) aimed at the interpretation and prediction of thermodynamic, speed and spectral (IR, UV-VIS, ESR and NMR) properties of molecular complexes important in some areas of their practical application (determination of anti-malarial compounds by formation of EDA complexes, mechanism of activity and design of more effective photo-stabilizers for HALS based synthetic polymers).
- The research in the field of Teaching of chemistry is focused on the methodological aspects and applications of computer-aided teaching of chemistry as a general-education subject at different levels of school system (secondary schools and universities). The ground of research activities is on the introduction of modern technologies and the application of latest scientific knowledge and methodologies in teaching and in performing chemical experiments using the problem, design and experiential learning. The emphasis is on the building of science literacy for all school levels (inquiry based learning of chemistry).