Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

In the Laboratory edited by

Featured Molecules

William F. Coleman Wellesley College Wellesley, MA 02481

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons February Featured Molecules The featured molecules for the month of February are a number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) discussed in the article “Fluorescence, Absorption, and Excitation Spectra of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as a Tool for Quantitative Analysis” found on pages 242–245. PAHs are ubiquitous in air, soils, and water as a result of both direct and indirect emissions. PAHs are discharged into the environment as byproducts of the combustion of fossil fuels

used for transportation and generation of electricity. Other sources of PAH emissions include industrial processes, biomass burning, waste incineration, oil spills, and cigarette smoke. Fully manipulable (Chime) versions of these and other molecules are available at the Only@JCE Online Web site: http://www.JCE.DivCHED.org/JCEWWW/Features/ MonthlyMolecules/2004/Feb/

benzo[a]anthracene

benzo[k]fluoranthene benzo[a]pyrene

phenanthrene chrysene

www.JCE.DivCHED.org

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Vol. 81 No. 2 February 2004

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Journal of Chemical Education

245