Naming Names A Brief Biography of Women Chemists Tami I. Spector University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94117 As children we catch fireflies in jars on hot summer nights, and in the chemistry classroom we learn the secret of their beautiful matins sienal.. the nhenomenon of chemiluminesrence, a mechanism of formation and destruction that \it*ldsan elcctnc blue lieht. In the oreanic chemistw laboratory this process comes to life forstudents when they synthesize luminol and mimic the fireflies mating call. Forty years ago Arda A. Green, winner of the American Chemical Society's Gawan Medal for Service to Chemistry, helped us to understand this fascinating chemistry by isolating and crystallizing the enzyme luciferase, yielding her the mechanism for firefly luminescence and the world of chemistry the wonders of chemiluminescence ( I ) . Yet, who among us, student or teacher, associates this woman with this captivating phenomena?
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Women a s Contributors Like Arda A. Green there have been many women chemists who have made contributions that sienificantlv influence modern science, yet unfortunately they arc fijrgotten in the chemistn rlassroom of to(l;~\:At the Universitv of San Francisco &hen junior-level chemistry students-are asked to provide the names and importance of chemists r cxamples past and present, they are able 10 p r ~ n i d ample from the names ~ssociat(,dwith chem~calformula, llstlng off the accomplishments of such notable scientists a s M; chael Faraday, Henri-Louis Le Chatelier, and Germain Hess. This task becomes significantly more difficult when they are asked to provide the names and accomplishments of women chemists. Beyond Marie Curie and perhaps, if they are biologically oriented, Rosalind Franklin, they often are a t a loss for names. Even Nobel prize-winning women such as Irene Joliot-Curie get lost in the shufile of
technical and conceptual facts and figures. Undoubtedhly, this is because there a r e few women associated with chemical formula; thus, their names do not become part of our chemical language and literature. Women a s Discoverers As chemistry teachers, when we fail to link these women with their discoveries we lose not only a n extremely efficient teaching tool-biography-as the students response to the exercise exemplifies, but also ground-breaking scientists from our collective memories. For example, when students use the Nernst equation to determine electrochemical potentials and the Van der Waals equation to calculate the pressure of a n ideal gas they not only learn the formula through name association, but also they incorporate the importance of these men to the development of electrochemistry and gas theory Likewise, the'name.; of women can be used to ianite student interest and ultimately help them to make s p o r t a n t conceptual connections. f i r example, in the organic chemistry classroom, I have employed Gertrude B. Elions important 1952 synthesis of the substituted purine 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), a drug still used for the treatment of leukemia todav. when introducing the topic of thiols (2).When placed inthis context this molecule sewes as a n example of drue desien that is enlightening to students for i t s synthetic s~mplicityand medical utility. Highlights of Women's Contributions and Discoveries Thus inspired by my students, I have compiled a short biography of renowned women chemists, which is intended to highlight their significant scientific contributions to the world (see table). In addition, the table notes recipients of
Volume 72 Number 5 May 1995
393
Biography of Notable Women Chemists
Female Scientists
Awards
Contributions to Chemistry
control DNA recognition in biological systems. Rachel F. Brown (10)
(1898-1980) Gerty T R. Cori (5,6,11, 12)
Amencan lnstltbre of Chemws lsolaled Nyslal n. Ihe tlrsl antlfungal antfolotc, cbrrent y s e a P oneer Chemlst Award to flgnt ootn h m a n infect on and D ~ l c elm n dtsease Garvan and Nobel
Elucidated the biopathway for the conversion of starch into sugars (The Con cycle). Contributed greatly to the understanding of diabetes and other diseases associated with enzyme deficiencies.
Irene Joliot-Curie (5,11)
Nobel
(190G1958) Marie Curie (5,6,11) (1867-1934)
Syntnes~zedv a alpna-partrle bomoardmenl of Al, B an0 Mg new artlflctal radloacl ve sotopes of P, h, ana S , respect vely
Nobel
D scovereo an0 tsolaled polonl~man0 rao Lm lnvest~galed Ihe phenomenon of rad oan vlty an0 f rst to oetermlne tnal raoloacr # ly emanales from wltn n me atom
Garvan and Nobel
Create0 a rational synthetic metnodology for the oes gn of the OrJg 6-MP tor edkem a, lmJran for prevent on of n dney reect on in lransp ant patents and Acyclov r for Herpes viruses.
(18961957)
Gertrude 6.Elion (5,6, 11, 12)
(191%)
(1903-1984)
Co-discovered and first to isolate vitamin E in pure crystalline form. Investigated the connection between vitamin B deficiency and disease.
Marye Anne Fox (8,13, 14) (1947- )
Developed photochemical and electrochemical techniques for the preparation of photoelectric cells.
Gladys A. Emerson (6,10, 12)
Rosalind E. Franklin (5,6 )
Performed extensive X-ray crystallography on DNA that led
(192GI958)
+n
.-
determination of its double helical structure by J. Watson and F. Crick. Mary L. Good (1,6,8,15,16) (1931- )
Garvan
Characterized important industrial ruthenium metal catalysts using Mossbauer Spectroscopy. Developed methods for the determination of organotins in marine systems.
Arda A. Green (I)
Garvan
FlrsI 10 solate and crysta hze the enzyme JC ferase and to determme tne mechanism of I refly lm nescence.
(1899-1 958) Dorothy C. Hodgkin (5,6,11)
Nobel
(1910- )
Marie Lavoisier (6,10)
Collaborated with her husband. Antoine Lavoisier ~,to develoo the law of conservation of maier and e~t.&lish chemical nomenclature. ~~~
(1758-1836) Kathleen Y Lonsdale (6,10)
(1903-1971)
Pauline 6.Mack (6,12, 18)
Garvan
(176S1858)
Mary L. Petermann (6,12, 19)
(1908-1 976)
394
Journal of Chemical Education
Developed methodology for the measurement of calcium density in the bone of living subjects with X-ray. Investigated the retention of calcium in iiving animals Wrote Conversal~onson Chemrslry. tne most sbccessf.1 Amercan e ementary cnemtstry text of tne early 19th centbry Creolled w In lnf benclng M chael Faraoay to develop n s theorles on electricity and chemical reactions
Jane H. Marcet (6,17)
(18961978)
~~F
Davy Medal of the Royal Society Developed divergent beam X-ray photography and the technique of diffuse X-ray reflection of crystals, both of which contributed greatly to the development of X-ray crystallography.
(1891-1 974)
Ida Noddack (10)
Used novel X-ray crystallography techniques to determine the structure of vitamin 6-12,penicillin, and insulin. Helped to establish the connection of molecular structure to biological function.
Medal of Commendation of the Justus Liebig Association of German Chemists Garvan
Discovered rhenium and the first to conceptualize fission
Developed methodology for the purification of human serum albumin and immunoglobulins. First to isolate animal ribosomes and determine the distinction between ribosomes of cancer cells and healthv cells.
the Garvan medal a n d / o r the Nobel prize. For those scientists who have received neither a Nobel prize or Garvan Medal, an alternate award of recognition is noted where appropriate. By incorporating the accomplishments of women chemists into our curriculum we can broaden the history of chemistry for all students, providing an inclusive place for women in chemistry today. Suggested Reading For those students and teachers interested in increasing their knowledge about women in chemistry, I recommend the following books:
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Women of Science: Righting the Record (31, Women Scientists in America: Struggles and Strategies to 1940 ( 4 ) , Nobel Prize Women in Science (51, and Women in Chemistry and Physics: A Biobibliograhie Sourcebook (6).
For an up-to-date and more comprehensive bibliography of books about women in science see 'Women in Science: A Bibliography, Science 1992,255, 1449.
Literature Cited 1. ONeill, L. D., Ed. The WomnB Bmk of W d d Ramrds and A c h l e w m d s : Anchor Press: New York. 1979. 2. Elion. G.B.; Bur@,E.: Hitchings, G. H. J A m Chem Soc. 1952, 74,411413. 3. KassSimon. G.;Fames, P.; Ed. Women ofSclencc Righting the Record; Indiana University Press: Bloamington. 1990. 4. ~ o s s i t e r M. , w women s e m ~ i s t ain ~ m e r i c o struggles : and Simregles m 1 ~ 0 : Johns H o p b s University Ress: Baltimore, 1982. 5. McGrayne, S.B. Nobel Prize Womm in Science; Birch Lane Ress: New York, 1993. 6. Grinatein. L.S.; Rose, R. K; Rafailovich. M. H., Ed. W m e n in ChemistryondPhysies:A BiohibliographicSoureebuok,Greenwood Press: Conneeticut, 1993. 7. Baum, R. M. Cham. Eng News 1989,67l241.22-25. 8. American Men and Women of Science 1992-1993: R. R. Browker: New Jersey. 1992. 9. Sclenn Dieesf 1985.93181.68. . . 10. Uglow, J. S.,Ed. The Continuum Diclionory of Women'sBiogmphy; The Continuum Publishing Co.: New Ymk, 1989. 11. Wasson, T.,Ed. Nobel Prize Wmnars; H. W. Wilson Co.: New York, 1987. 12. Roscher N. M. J Cham. Educ 1987.64.748-752. 14. For,M.A.;Colspret. KA.:Hurst. J.R.;Saulen, R.L.;Maldonado.R.:Echegoyen,L. J Opg. Chem. lPJ2,57,37283729. Coat. Plasl. Chem. 15. Oood,M.L.:Monaghan,C.P.;Kulkami,VH.:Hoffman,d.FOrg. 1918,39,57&.581. 16. Good, M.L.;Clsusen. C.A. MosabowrEff Method01 1976.10.93-118. 17. Lindee,S.M.lsis 1941.82. G23. 18. h u i s . R. V.. Ed. Biogmphy In&=; H W Wilson Co.:New York, 1953. 19. Louis, R. V. Ed. Biogrophylnd~r;H.W. Wilson Co.: New York, 1968.
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