Alpha Chi Sigma
Encyclopedia
Alpha Chi Sigma is a professional
fraternity
specializing in the field of chemistry
. It has both collegiate and professional chapters throughout the United States consisting of both men and women and numbering more than 63,400 members. The fraternity aims to bring together students and professionals pursuing a wide variety of chemistry-related careers.
by a group of undergraduates who were fellow students in chemistry at that time. Later documents set the date of founding as December 11, 1902. The original founders were:
, silver
, iron
, mercury
, tin
, copper
, and lead
. These symbols correspond to planets, gods, and days of the week http://www.alphachisigma.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=295&srcid=211.
The rest of the symbols on the coat of arms are revealed only to those that go through the initiation ritual. This ritual secrecy is common practice among fraternities and sororities
in the United States.
"for his contributions to our knowledge of molecular structure through his investigations on dipole moments and on the diffraction of X-rays and electrons in gases."
"for [his] discoveries in the chemistry of the transuranium elements."
"for his research into the nature of the chemical bond and its application to the elucidation of the structure of complex substances."
"for his work on biochemically important sulphur compounds, especially for the first synthesis of a polypeptide hormone."
"for his method to use carbon-14 for age determination in archaeology, geology, geophysics, and other branches of science."
"for the discovery of the reciprocal relations bearing his name, which are fundamental for the thermodynamics of irreversible processes."
"for his fundamental achievements, both theoretical and experimental, in the physical chemistry of the macromolecules."
"for his studies on the structure of boranes illuminating problems of chemical bonding."
"for [his] development of the use of boron-containing compounds into important reagents in organic synthesis."
"for his development of methodology for chemical synthesis on a solid matrix."
"for developing new ways to synthesize complex molecules ordinarily found in nature."
"for his contributions to the theory of electron transfer reactions in chemical systems."
"for the discovery and development of conductive polymers"
"for palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis"
"for his discovery of the chemical nature of vitamin K."
"for [his] discovery that genes act by regulating definite chemical events."
"for [his] interpretation of the genetic code and its functions in protein synthesis."
"for [his] discoveries of Important Principles for Drug Treatment."
"for their discoveries concerning magnetic resonance imaging"
"for pioneering contributions to astrophysics, in particular for the detection of cosmic neutrinos."
"for warning of the dangers of radioactive fallout in nuclear weapons testing and war."
Professional fraternity
Professional fraternities, in the North American fraternity system, are organizations whose primary purpose is to promote the interests of a particular profession and whose membership is restricted to students in that particular field of professional education or study...
fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
specializing in the field of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
. It has both collegiate and professional chapters throughout the United States consisting of both men and women and numbering more than 63,400 members. The fraternity aims to bring together students and professionals pursuing a wide variety of chemistry-related careers.
Founding
The Alpha Chi Sigma fraternity was organized at the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
by a group of undergraduates who were fellow students in chemistry at that time. Later documents set the date of founding as December 11, 1902. The original founders were:
- Raymond Tracy Conger
- Harold Everett Eggers
- Joseph Gerard Holty
- Alfred Emil Kundert
- Joseph Howard Mathews
- Edward Gustav Mattke
- Bart Eldred McCormick
- Frank Joseph Petura
- James Chisholm Silverthorn
Coat Of Arms
The seven symbols that stretch the length of the coat of arms are the "seven metals of the Ancients": goldGold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
, iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
, mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
, tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
, copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, and lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
. These symbols correspond to planets, gods, and days of the week http://www.alphachisigma.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=295&srcid=211.
| Metal | Gold | Silver | Iron | Mercury | Tin | Copper | Lead |
| God/Celestial Body | Sol/Sun | Luna/Moon | Mars | Mercury | Jupiter | Venus | Saturn |
| Day of the Week | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
The rest of the symbols on the coat of arms are revealed only to those that go through the initiation ritual. This ritual secrecy is common practice among fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
in the United States.
Purpose
The Three Objects of Alpha Chi Sigma:- To bind its members with a tie of true and lasting friendship.
- To strive for the advancement of chemistry both as a science and as a profession.
- To aid its members by every honorable means in the attainment of their ambitions as chemists throughout their mortal lives.
Membership
Membership to the Alpha Chi Sigma professional chemistry fraternity is open to collegiate and professional men and women with a strong interest in chemistry. Membership is for life. Those who are interested in becoming a member should contact their local (or nearest) chapter for further information about pledgeship and membership.Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Petrus (Peter) Josephus Wilhelmus DebyePeter DebyePeter Joseph William Debye FRS was a Dutch physicist and physical chemist, and Nobel laureate in Chemistry.-Early life:...
, Tau '40 (1936)
"for his contributions to our knowledge of molecular structure through his investigations on dipole moments and on the diffraction of X-rays and electrons in gases."
- Glenn Theodore SeaborgGlenn T. SeaborgGlenn Theodore Seaborg was an American scientist who won the 1951 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for "discoveries in the chemistry of the transuranium elements", contributed to the discovery and isolation of ten elements, and developed the actinide concept, which led to the current arrangement of the...
, Beta Gamma '35 (1951)
"for [his] discoveries in the chemistry of the transuranium elements."
- Linus C. PaulingLinus PaulingLinus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
, Sigma '40 (1954)
"for his research into the nature of the chemical bond and its application to the elucidation of the structure of complex substances."
- Vincent du VigneaudVincent du VigneaudVincent du Vigneaud was an American biochemist. He won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1955 for the isolation, structural identification, and total synthesis of the cyclic peptide, oxytocin.-Biography:...
, Zeta '30 (1955)
"for his work on biochemically important sulphur compounds, especially for the first synthesis of a polypeptide hormone."
- Willard F. Libby, Sigma '41 (1960)
"for his method to use carbon-14 for age determination in archaeology, geology, geophysics, and other branches of science."
- Lars OnsagerLars OnsagerLars Onsager was a Norwegian-born American physical chemist and theoretical physicist, winner of the 1968 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.He held the Gibbs Professorship of Theoretical Chemistry at Yale University....
, Chi '50 (1968)
"for the discovery of the reciprocal relations bearing his name, which are fundamental for the thermodynamics of irreversible processes."
- Paul J. Flory, Tau '50 (1974)
"for his fundamental achievements, both theoretical and experimental, in the physical chemistry of the macromolecules."
- William N. Lipscomb, Alpha Gamma '39 (1976)
"for his studies on the structure of boranes illuminating problems of chemical bonding."
- Herbert C. BrownHerbert C. BrownHerbert Charles Brown was a chemist and Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate for his work with organoboranes....
, Beta Nu '60 (1979)
"for [his] development of the use of boron-containing compounds into important reagents in organic synthesis."
- R. Bruce Merrifield, Beta Gamma '44 (1984)
"for his development of methodology for chemical synthesis on a solid matrix."
- Elias J. Corey, Zeta '53 (1990)
"for developing new ways to synthesize complex molecules ordinarily found in nature."
- Rudolph A. MarcusRudolph A. MarcusRudolph "Rudy" Arthur Marcus is a Canadian-born chemist who received the 1992 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his theory of electron transfer. Marcus theory, named after him, provides a thermodynamic and kinetic framework for describing one electron outer-sphere electron transfer.He was born in...
, Zeta '55 (1992)
"for his contributions to the theory of electron transfer reactions in chemical systems."
- Alan G. MacDiarmid, Alpha '51 (2000)
"for the discovery and development of conductive polymers"
- Richard F. HeckRichard F. HeckRichard Fred Heck is an American chemist noted for the discovery and development of the Heck reaction, which uses palladium to catalyze organic chemical reactions that couple aryl halides with alkenes....
, Beta Gamma '50 (2010)
"for palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis"
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Edward Adelbert DoisyEdward Adelbert DoisyEdward Adelbert Doisy was an American biochemist. He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1943 with Henrik Dam for their discovery of vitamin K and its chemical structure.Doisy was born in Hume, Illinois, on November 3, 1893. He completed his A.B. degree in 1914 and his M.S...
, Zeta '43 (1943)
"for his discovery of the chemical nature of vitamin K."
- E. L. Tatum, Alpha '30 (1958)
"for [his] discovery that genes act by regulating definite chemical events."
- Robert W. HolleyRobert W. HolleyRobert William Holley was an American biochemist. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 for describing the structure of alanine transfer RNA, linking DNA and protein synthesis.Holley was born in Urbana, Illinois, and graduated from Urbana High School in 1938...
, Zeta '40 (1968)
"for [his] interpretation of the genetic code and its functions in protein synthesis."
- George H. Hitchings, Omicron '29 (1988)
"for [his] discoveries of Important Principles for Drug Treatment."
- Paul C. Lauterbur, Gamma '49 (2003)
"for their discoveries concerning magnetic resonance imaging"
Nobel Prize in Physics
- Raymond Davis, Jr., Alpha Rho '35 (2002)
"for pioneering contributions to astrophysics, in particular for the detection of cosmic neutrinos."
Nobel Prize in Peace
- Linus C. PaulingLinus PaulingLinus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
, Sigma '40 (1962)
"for warning of the dangers of radioactive fallout in nuclear weapons testing and war."
Priestley Medal
- Farrington DanielsFarrington DanielsFarrington Daniels , was an American physical chemist, is considered one of the pioneers of the modern direct use of solar energy.- Biography :Daniels was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 8, 1889...
, Beta 1908, (1957). 1953 President of the American Chemical Society,, solar and nuclear energy pioneer. - Roger AdamsRoger AdamsRoger Adams was an American organic chemist. He is best-known for the eponymous Adams' catalyst, and his work did much to determine the composition of naturally occurring substances such as complex vegetable oils and plant alkaloids...
, Zeta '12, (1946). Developed Adams' catalystAdams' catalystAdams' catalyst, also known as platinum dioxide, is usually represented as platinum oxide hydrate, PtO2-H2O. It is a catalyst for hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis in organic synthesis. This dark brown powder is commercially available...
, 1935 president of the American Chemical SocietyAmerican Chemical SocietyThe American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
, 1950 president of the AAASAAASAAAS may refer to:* American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an organization dedicated to scholarship and the advancement of learning* American Association for the Advancement of Science, an organization that promotes cooperation between scientists...
. - James Bryant ConantJames Bryant ConantJames Bryant Conant was a chemist, educational administrator, and government official. As thePresident of Harvard University he reformed it as a research institution.-Biography :...
, Omicron '12, (1944). Early contributor to physical organic chemistry, President of Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
from 1933 to 1953, oversaw the Manhattan ProjectManhattan ProjectThe Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
, winner of the Presidential Medal of FreedomPresidential Medal of FreedomThe Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
. - Joel Henry HildebrandJoel Henry HildebrandJoel Henry Hildebrand was an American educator and a pioneer chemist. He was a major figure in chemistry research specializing in liquids and nonelectrolyte solutions.-Education and professorship:...
, Sigma 1913, (1962). Replaced nitrogen in scuba tanks with helium and oxygen, the American Chemical Society's Joel Henry Hildebrand is named for him, president of the Sierra Club from 1937 to 1940. Winner of virtually every chemical award except the Nobel Prize. - Darleane Hoffman, Sigma 1988, (2000). Also winner of ACS Award in Nuclear Chemistry, US Medal of Science.
- Warren K. LewisWarren K. LewisWarren Kendall Lewis was an MIT professor who has been called the father of modern chemical engineering. He co-authored an early major textbook on the subject which essentially introduced the concept of unit operations...
, Alpha Zeta 1925, (1947). Called Father of Modern Chemical Engineering. Also won first American Chemical Society of Award in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, the AIChE Founders Award, and the Perkins Medal. Introduced the concept of the unit operationUnit operationIn chemical engineering and related fields, a unit operation is a basic step in a process.Unit operation involves bringing a physical change such as separation, crystallization, evaporation, filtration etc.. For example in milk processing, homogenization, pasteurization, chilling, and packaging are...
. - M. Frederick HawthorneM. Frederick HawthorneProfessor M. Frederick Hawthorne was born in 1928 in Fort Scott, Kansas and he received his elementary and secondary education in Kansas and Missouri. Prior to high school graduation, through examination he entered the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Rolla, Missouri as a chemical...
, Beta Delta 1949 (2008) Noted Boron Chemist, Director of the International Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine at the University of Missouri. Also won the King Faisal Award for Science.
Other Notable Brothers
- Gilbert N. LewisGilbert N. LewisGilbert Newton Lewis was an American physical chemist known for the discovery of the covalent bond , his purification of heavy water, his reformulation of chemical thermodynamics in a mathematically rigorous manner accessible to ordinary chemists, his theory of Lewis acids and...
, Sigma 1913, known for dot diagrams of bonding and acid/base theory - Frederick Gardner CottrellFrederick Gardner CottrellFrederick Gardner Cottrell was an American physical chemist and inventor. A native of Oakland, California, his immense curiosity gained him notice as a prodigious reader. But his achievements were also an ambitious response to economic necessity...
, Sigma 1917, Director of the US Bureau of Mines. - Arnold Orville BeckmanArnold Orville BeckmanArnold Orville Beckman was an American chemist who founded Beckman Instruments based on his 1934 invention of the pH meter, a device for measuring acidity. He also funded the first transistor company, thus giving rise to Silicon Valley.-Early life:Beckman was born in Cullom, Illinois, the son of...
, Zeta 1921, inventor of pH meterPH meterA pH meter is an electronic instrument used for measuring the pH of a liquid...
and ultraviolet spectrometer. Member of the National Inventors Hall of FameNational Inventors Hall of FameThe National Inventors Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human,...
, winner of the National Medal of TechnologyNational Medal of TechnologyThe National Medal of Technology and Innovation is an honor granted by the President of the United States to American inventors and innovators who have made significant contributions to the development of new and important technology...
and the National Medal of ScienceNational Medal of ScienceThe National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
. - Wallace CarothersWallace CarothersWallace Hume Carothers was an American chemist, inventor and the leader of organic chemistry at DuPont, credited with the invention of nylon....
, Zeta 1926, Inventor of nylonNylonNylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
and neopreneNeopreneNeoprene or polychloroprene is a family of synthetic rubbers that are produced by polymerization of chloroprene. Neoprene in general has good chemical stability, and maintains flexibility over a wide temperature range...
. - Thomas Midgley, Jr.Thomas Midgley, Jr.Thomas Midgley, Jr. was an American mechanical engineer and chemist. Midgley was a key figure in a team of chemists, led by Charles F. Kettering, that developed the tetraethyllead additive to gasoline as well as some of the first chlorofluorocarbons . Over the course of his career, Midgley was...
, Alpha Delta 1936, inventor of Freon - Mary L. GoodMary L. GoodMary Lowe Good is an inorganic chemist who does industrial research and has worked in government. She received her BS from the University of Central Arkansas and in 1955 received her PhD in from the University of Arkansas...
, Beta Phi 1976, 1993 Under Secretary of Technology, 1987 president of the American Chemical Society - F. Albert CottonF. Albert CottonFrank Albert Cotton was the W.T. Doherty-Welch Foundation Chair and Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University. He authored over 1700 scientific articles. Cotton was recognized for his research on the chemistry of the transition metals.-Education:Frank Albert Cotton was born on...
, Beta Eta 1978, noted transition metal chemist - Dr. Donna J. NelsonDonna NelsonDr. Donna J. Nelson is a professor of chemistry at the University of Oklahoma. Nelson performs research into and teaches organic chemistry and has also conducted research into ethnic and gender diversity among highly-ranked science departments of research universities.-Education:Nelson was born in...
, Beta Nu 1982, National Organization for Women "Woman of Courage Award" 2004, Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science "Distinguished Scientist of the Year" 2006
Professional Chapters & Groups
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