Literature Clted 1. Bodnor, G.M.J.Chem.Edue 1980,57,177. 2. Fernsnda-Prini, R.. J. Chem Educ. 1982.59.550. 3. Brice, L. K J Chsm.Educ. 1983.60, 387. 4. Tleptow, R. S., J. Chem. Edue. 1984.61.499. 5. Ostwald, W. Outlines of Canera1 Chemistry. 2nd 4.:Maemillan: London. 1895,p 318. 8. Walker, J. Introdvetion to Physical Chemistry; Macmillan: London, 1899. 7. sentsr, G. Ouflinas of Physical Chami8try:Methue": London, 19(19. 8. Bieeloar, S. L.Theorelieol and Physirol Chamlslry: The Century Co: Near York, 1914.
Willlam 0. Jensen
University of Cincinnati Cincinnati. OH 45221
series on the basis of "2 implies an assumed geometry for the complexes if the actual geometries are not known (frequently the situation which applies). This more appropriate approach to the interpretation of the electronic spectra of V02+ complexes should be presented to students since i t permits some "hands on" crystal field theory if desired and is also suggestive of additional or alternate experiments with oxovanadium(1V) compounds (2,4). Literature Cited
Women and the PhD To the Editor:
John R. Wasson
Unlike Alfred E. Hall IJ. Chem. Educ.. 1985.. 62.. 4061. ,, I was very surprised a t the extremely low numbers of women compared to men who obtained a PhD in chemistry after obtaining a baccalaureate degree in chemistry a t a PhD granting de~artment.Hall's listine of the too baccalaureate sources-of P ~ D ' Sin chemistry eould havd heen entitled "where not to send your daughter to college." For example, using the data Hall provides, between 1920-1980, a total of four women graduates from Indiana Universitv (Bloomineton) subsequ&tly received a PhD in chemistr;compared to 242 men. That averages one woman every 15 years! Indiana University (my PhD a h a mater) was not atypical. Again, using Hall's data during the same time period the following can he readily computed. Baccalaureate Sources ot PhD's In Chemistry: 1920-1980 Underaraduate lnstltutlon
CaliforniaUnlvenlty, Berkeley CaliforniaInstitute of Technology Brown University Stanford University
Number of Doctorates
Number of Women
Percent Women
938 283 266 219
52 2 9
5.5 0.71
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An Alternative Use of Tltrlmetrlc Data To the Editoc
In my recent manuscript, "A different view of using titrimetric data", [J. Chem. Educ. 1985,62,443] I suggested that the derived equation
Can he rearranged to
3.4
When one compares these results with the number of women on the faculties of chemistry departments offering doctoral studies in chemistrv. around 3% (1). i t is evident that these undergraduate women chemists have learned more than just chemistry. How long can the United States he content to utilize only 50% of its "chemical potential"? Llterature Cited 1. Source: Report compiled for Women Chemistp Committee of the American Chemical Sorietv by Agn* Ann Green from Direrlomle of Graduate Research 1978-79. (Report revised, August 1980).
so that a plot of 1/Vb vs [H+] should he linear with K. = interceptlslope. I t can he easily shown that eq 1could also he rearranged to
so that aplot of Vb vs Vb[H+]should also he linear, and have a s l o ~ of e -1IK.. Thus K. = -(slone)-I. . . . AI& of the re&nged eqs 2 or 3 are suitable for graphical incervretation of titrimetricdataand eive the same information about the magnitude of K.. A complementary set of equations may, of course, he formulated for thereverse mode of titration in which a strong acid is added to the weak hase, in order to obtain Kb. For this case, the rearranged equations are
Interpretation of Electronic Spectra of Oxovanadlum(iV), VOZ+, Complexes To the Editor:
The ESR and optical spectra of oxovanadium(1V) compounds are of pedagogical value, e.g., a recent article in this Journal ( I ) presents a series of experiments involving electronic spectra of V02+ complexes. In the interpretation of the electronic spectra the second highest energy absorption hand, vz, is assigned to the crystal field splitting energy Ao or lODq following the earlier literature on the subject. However, it can he readily shown (2) using elementary crystal field theory (3)that uz = lODq sin4@ where 0 is the 0 = V-equatoria1 ligand bond angle. Assigning ligands to a spectrochemical 288
Journal of Chemical Education
Where Cb is the initial concentration of the hase, C. the formal concentration of the acid used as reagent; Vb is the initial volume of hase titrated, V, is the volume of acid added to it a t any point, and [OH-] = Kw/[H+]. Carlos Castlllo S. A.A. 25360 Call
Vaile Colombia
