The Speaker:
Dr. James F. O'Brien
Professor of CHEMISTRY
Southwest Missouri State University
B.S. Villanova University (1964)
Ph.D. - University of Minnesota (1968)
Postdoctoral Fellow, Los Almos Scientific
Laboratory (1968 - 69)
Faculty of SMSU (1969 - present)
E-mail: jfo555f@smsu.edu
Research Interests - Computational Chemistry
The properties of metal complexes, including organometallic
species, can be profitably investigated by theoretical calculations.
A number of computational packages are available with which to
carry out such studies at SMSU. These calculations are of two
general types: molecular orbital calculations and molecular mechanics
calculations. Both are used as we try to understand the structure,
electronic properties, and chemical reactivity of metal containing
species. Students learn how to do such theoretical calculations,
and, more importantly, how to interpret the results.
Recent Publications
O'Brien, J. F. and D. T. Haworth, "Organometallic Computational
Exercise: Semiempirical Molecular Orbital Calculations on (C6H6)Cr(CO)3
and (B3N3H6)Cr(CO)3," J. Chem. Educ., 2001, 78,
134.
O'Brien, J. J. and J. F. O'Brien, "The Laporte Selection
Rule in Electronic Absorption Spectroscopy," J. Coll.
Sci. Teach., 1999, 29, 138-140.
A Promising Basketball Player
Dr. O'Brien played basketball at Malvern and Villanova. At
Villanova his greatest basketball accomplishment was holding future
New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley to 28 points. He is proud that
Villanova retired his number 54, - right after Howard Porter finished
wearing it. He had a pro career of eight games, and a pro shooting
percentage of 80%. Unfortunately he took only 5 shots. His goal
for retirement is getting back in shape and trying out for the
U. S. Olympic basketball team.
The Talk:
The origin of the phrase "Mad as a Hatter" is due
to the incidence of odd behavior on the part of workers in the
early felt hat industry. Their odd behavior, or "madness",
was the result of mercury poisoning contracted on the job.
This presentation will discuss the recent mercury analyses done
on the hair of Isaac Newton; the deterioration of the great mind
of Michael Faraday; the bizarre behavior of Boston Corbett, the
man who shot John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln;
and the possibility that mercury poisoning affected the behavior
of other famous people such as King Charles II of England, the
author William Makepeace Thackeray, and a number of famous artists,
such as Rubens, Renoir, Dufy, and Klee.
"Mad" women in History have been more difficult to locate.
One eminent female whose health was affected by chemical exposure
was Clare Boothe Luce. Her health problems while serving as U.S.
Ambassador to Italy in the 1950's will be discussed.
Directions:
The March meeting will be held at Peking Buffet in the
Collegetown Shopping Center, which is at Delsea Drive (Rt 47)
& Heston Rd. Glassboro, NJ. Call (856) 881-4055 for additional
directions.
Social Hour: 5:30-6:30 PM
Dinner: 6:30 PM
Talk: 7:30 PM
Dinner selection: Chinese buffet
Cost: $10 members and guests, $5 students
Reservations by Monday March 11, 2002
Lori Stephans (856) 256-4500 ext. 3551 or 'stephans@rowan.edu'
Michael Casner (856) 384-7048 or 'casnerm@jmusa.com'
Thomas Colacot (856) 384-7185 or 'colactj@jmusa.com'
Peter Mlynek (856) 787-0770 or 'pdmlynek@yahoo.com'
Guenter Niessen (856) 423-6300 or 'gniessen@emscience.com'