Dr. Karen Quaal

E-mail Quaal@siena.edu

Educational Background

B.S. in Chemistry, 1972, State University of New York At Albany, NY

Graduate Education

Ph.D.,1978, State University of New York at Albany, NY

Courses Taught

• Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 210 and associated lab
• Organic Chemistry II
  • CHEM 220 and associated lab
• Integrated Lab I
  • CHEM 316
• Integrated Lab II
  • CHEM 326
• Chemical Communications
  • CHEM 311

Reasearch Interests

My research in recent years involves investigating the anion radical initiated polymerization of vinyl monomers. This project requires working with air and water sensitive reagents using equipment typically found in an undergraduate laboratory. The first system investigated using these techniques was the sodium naphthalide initiated polymerization of styrene (vinyl benzene) to form polystyrene. The polymer that forms under these conditions is a "living" polymer which allows for the formation of block polymers using sequential additions of different monomers. Further investigations involve synthesis and characterization of a variety of block polymers using these techniques.

Recent Publications

1. Droske, J.P., Jasinski, J.P., Young, J., Wnek, G., Quaal, K.S., Wu, C. N., Mathias, L., Gilmer, T.C., Mattson, G., Nalley, E.A., POLYMERS. In Introductory Chemistry Courses: A SOURCEBOOK, Vol. I., POLYED National Information Center, University of Wisconsin-SP, Stevens Point, WI.
2. In Preparation Karen S. Quaal, Chang-Ning Wu, Microscale Synthesis and Characterization of Polystyrene: NSF-POLYED SCHOLARS PROJECT, Proceedings of the NEW: Update: 93, Published by NASA, April 1994.

Recent Oral Presentations

1. Introduction of Polymer Chemistry Across the Undergraduate Curriculum, MATLAC,Karen S. Quaal, Loris College, Dubuque, Iowa, Oct. 16, 1996.
2. Introduction of Polymer Chemistry Across the Undergraduate Curriculum, NSF-POLYED Summer Polymer Workshop, Karen S. Quaal, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY Jul. 8, 1996.
3. Incorporating Polymeric Materials Topics into the Undergraduate Chemistry Core Curriculum:NSF-Poly-Ed Scholars Project: Microscale Synthesis and Characterization.Karen S. Quaal and C.N. Wu, National Educators' Workshop, UPDATE:93, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton Va., Nov 4, 1993.
4. Introduction of Polymer Chemistry Across the Undergraduate Curriculum,NSF-POLYED Summer Polymer Workshop, Karen S. Quaal, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, WI., Aug. 6, 1993.
5. Introduction of Polymer Chemistry Across the Undergraduate Curriculum,Karen S. Quaal, NSF-POLYED Summer Polymer Workshop, University of Southern Mississippi,Hattiesburg, MS., July 30,1993.
6. Introduction of Polymer Chemistry Across the Undergraduate Curriculum,NSF-POLYED Summer Polymer Workshop, Karen S. Quaal, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY Jun. 15, 1993.
7. Introduction of Polymer Chemistry Across the Undergraduate Curriculum, Karen S. Quaal, 27th Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society,Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY. Jun. 3, 1993.
8. Integration of Polymer Chemistry Across the Chemistry Curriculum.Karen S. Quaal, Invited presentation for Summer Course in Polymer Chemistry for University Faculty, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY Jun. 4, 1991.
9. Synthesis and Characterization: A Small College's Approach to Special Topics. Karen S. Quaal, Northeast Organic Educators Symposiumin conjunction with Fourth National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Union College, Schenectady, NY. Apr. 21, 1990.