The word “chemistry” has been derived from the Greek word “chemeia”, meaning, “the art of metal working”. Obviously modern chemistry involves a great deal more than this. Chemistry has become an interdisciplinary science, and today no scientific work can escape chemistry.
Chemistry plays a pervasive role in all our lives. Hundreds of materials that we use directly and indirectly everyday are products of chemical research. The development of fertilizers, which is one of the major areas of the chemical industry, has profound effect on agricultural production. Another major area of the chemical industry is the pharmaceutical, or drug, industry. Who among us has not used an antibiotic to cure an infection or various drugs to alleviate the pain associated with dental work, accidents, or surgery? Modern medicine which rests firmly upon chemistry, has increased our life expectancy. It is hard to believe that little over a century ago many people actually died from simple infections and other diseases that we seldom hear anymore.

Perhaps the chemical products most familiar to all of us are plastics. About 50 percent of industrial chemists are involved with the development or production of plastics. There is hardly an activity in our daily life that does not include some plastic products. Chemistry also plays a major role in materials science-from the manufacture of computer chips to paper and wood products to structural metals such as steel and lightweight titanium and aluminum alloys for ships and aircrafts.

History of the Department

The Department of Chemistry started functioning as a small discipline in 1958 in the First Science building under the leadership of Late Dr. Kazi Abdul Latif with a batch of 15 postgraduate (Master previous) students. The teaching was started in December 1958. A three year B.Sc. Honours course was initiated in 1962. The Department was shifted to its present location in the Second Science building in 1968. Since then it has grown and flourished into one of the biggest departments of Rajshahi University . This growth was made possible by the dynamic leadership of the departmental staffs and availability of the financial support from various heads. The major cause in the sustained and rapid growth is the vitality of the Faculty whose research interest include programs of the frontiers of physical, organic, inorganic, analytical and polymer chemistry. The department is committed to provide a stimulating graduate and postgraduate educations at the highest level of attainment. The major areas of research thrust being pursued in the department are of theoretical significance as well as of practical utility.

The Department Chemistry is housed in the Seccond Science building and it has now grown and flourished into a on of the begest Department of Rajshahi University. It is devided mainly into three sections, namely Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry. The department is committed to providing a stimulating graduate and postgraduate education at the highest level of attainment. The calibre of the faculty, instrumentation, research facilities provide the opportunity for a motivated student to receive efficient educational traning and to do fruitful research and the expectation of continual improvement is a characteristic of the Department. Major areas of research thrust being pursued in the department are of theoretical significance as well as f practical utility.

The Department has Six Class rooms, Six Laboratory, Six Research Laboratory, Six Store rooms, One Ladies comon room and other relating rooms. In addition to appropriate laboratory space and equipment, there is a Seminar Library, which hods a good collection of chemistry journals and books Computer lab. and a well equipped teachers lounge. The Research laboratory modern instruments of various types. There are also glass blower’s room, gas generator room and too generators for supply of electricity when necessery. The chemistry office and the fully equipped chairman room appear as the fro9nt southern part of the building with a nice flower gurden in front. This unit provites a pleasant academic emvironment.

At present there are 50 teachers, 35 emplooys. The highly experience academic staff are actively engaged in a range of research activities, many of which received substantial financial support from outside funding bodies. Member of staff tend to specialise in different areas there are many fields where there is significant overlap of interests. The department supervises candidates enrolled within the Faculty of Science of r the degrees of Master of Science, Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy.