Text 2: Chemistry In the Karazin National University

The history of the chemistry department started with the opening of the University itself in 1805 though at first there was no such a specialty as chemistry. It belonged to the so-called “Department of Sciences of Physics and Mathematics”. Only in the year 1894 the chemical section managed to separate. The newly formed department consisted of two chairs, namely the chair of organic chemistry and that of inorganic and analytical chemistry.

In the second part of the nineteenth century the number of qualified chemists increased greatly. Here worked the Kharkiv Society of Physics and Chemistry where the scientists reported about the results of their work and the news in scientific literature. However the World War I and the following revolution changed the further history of the University and the University chemists.

Instead of the University the Academy of Theoretical Studies appeared, later in 1921 – the Kharkiv Institute of People’s Education. It was reorganized in 1930 into the Kharkiv Institute of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Its structure included the department of chemistry that was the largest one then. 1933 witnessed the second organization of the Kharkiv University. By this time the department included the following chairs: Inorganic Chemistry, Organic and Physical Chemistry, the Chemistry of Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses and Technical Chemistry. In three years the chair of Colloid Chemistry (the first one in Ukraine) appeared. 1935 was the year when the department started to issue the journal “The Works of the Chemistry Institute”. The first issue was dedicated to the 130 anniversary of the University.

World War II interrupted the studying and scientific processes. A part of teachers and lecturers were evacuated, a lot of them took part in military operations.

Just after the liberation of Kharkiv scientific schools started to rise and to develop. Now the department can be proud of a great number of Doctors of Science, Professors. A great contribution to the development of the department of chemistry and to the chemistry itself was made by N. N. Beketov, E. N. Gapon, J. O. Gabel, N. A. Valiashko, N. A. Izmajlov etc.

Ex. 38. Tell if the statements are true or false. If it is false, correct it.

1. At first chemistry was not studied at the University at all.

2. 1894 witnessed the appearance of the chemistry department.

3. Kharkiv Society of Physics and Chemistry analyzed the works of its members.

4. By the year 1938 the department consisted of 7 chairs.

5. The fist issue of The Works of the Chemistry Institute was dedicated to the opening of the University.

6. Since 1894 the department of chemistry continued its work without any break.

Ex. 39. Make up your own questions to the text.

Ex. 40. Name each paragraph of the text.

Ex. 41. Check your Grammar.

1. Why … to bed so early last night? – Because I felt very tired.
will you go does you go	do you go did you go
2. Well, what time…? – Come to the cafe by the station at four o’cklock.
shall we meet shall we met	will we meet we shall meet
3. All his … are not so useful as we thought.
advice pieces of advice	pieces of advise advise
4. Mary usually … me on Fridays but she … last Friday.
will phone phone phones	don’t phone won’t phone didn’t phone
5. How was your holiday? … a nice time
Do you have Did you have	Do you has Does you have
6. There … a nice play in the theatre next week.
is shall be	will be are
7. … anything that was really worth seeing?
Was there Are there	Were there Will there
8. It’s usually dry here at this time of the year. It … much.
rain not rains not	don’t rain doesn’t rain
9. This phenomenon … great interest.
causes	cause
10. When Sue heard the news she … very pleased.
is not are not	was not were not