Robert J. LeRoy
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert J. LeRoy is one of Canada
’s leading chemist
s and is currently a University Professor at the University of Waterloo
.
LeRoy received the BSc and MSc degrees from University of Toronto
in 1965 and 1967, respectively, and a PhD degree from University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1971.
LeRoy is renowned for two major achievements in the field of chemistry
: the development of the near-dissociation theory, alongside R. B. Bernstein, and the derivation of the LeRoy Radius
. LeRoy is also the author of many computer programs that aid in collecting information from experiments. Many of his works are used by schools and labs throughout the world and have contributed to the progress of science.
He is a graduate from the University of Toronto
. During his stay there, he began working with theoretical and computational chemical physics, which is what he would deal with for the rest of his career.
In his research, Dr LeRoy involves using quantum mechanical theory
to understand and explain how properties of molecular systems are the results of forces of interaction by quantitatively determining those forces from measurements of various properties.
In almost any area of science today, the experimental work runs parallel to the theoretical
work and there is constant interplay between the two areas. In Canada there are several
theorists whose research teams examine the forces between atoms and molecules to
increase our understanding of physical and chemical properties. One such individual
is Dr. Robert LeRoy (Figure 14), currently working in theoretical chemical physics at
the University of Waterloo.
Dr. LeRoy’s interest is intermolecular forces. He uses quantum mechanics and computer
models to define and analyze the basic forces between atoms and molecules. Early
in his career, Dr. LeRoy developed a technique for mathematically defining a radius of
a small molecule, now known as the LeRoy radius. This established a boundary.Within
the boundary, intramolecular bonding is important, and beyond the boundary, intermolecular
forces predominate. In his work, the study of atomic and molecular spectra
(called spectroscopy) plays a crucial role.Measurements from spectroscopy help theoreticians
develop better models and theories for explaining molecular structure.Computer
programs that Dr. LeRoy has developed for the purpose of converting experimental evidence
to information on forces, shape, and structure are free, and are now routinely
used around the world.
It is important not to assume that forces and structures are well established. Our
knowledge of bonding and structure becomes more and more scanty and unreliable for
larger structures. A huge amount of research remains to be done if we are ever to be
able to describe bonding and structure very accurately for even microscopic amounts of
complex substances. Dr. LeRoy states “... except for the simplest systems, our knowledge
of (interactions between molecules) is fairly primitive... .” A classic example is our understanding
of the structure and activity of proteins—the stuff of life.We know the composition
of many proteins quite precisely and the structure can be experimentally
determined, but the structure of these large molecules depends on how bonding folds
and shapes the chains and branches. How a protein behaves and what it does depends
specifically on its precise shape and structure, and that is something scientists often state
is “not well understood.”
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
’s leading chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
s and is currently a University Professor at the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
.
LeRoy received the BSc and MSc degrees from University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1965 and 1967, respectively, and a PhD degree from University of Wisconsin–Madison
University 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...
in 1971.
LeRoy is renowned for two major achievements 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....
: the development of the near-dissociation theory, alongside R. B. Bernstein, and the derivation of the LeRoy Radius
LeRoy radius
The LeRoy radius, derived by Robert J. LeRoy, defines the internuclear distance between two atoms at which LeRoy-Bernstein theory becomes valid....
. LeRoy is also the author of many computer programs that aid in collecting information from experiments. Many of his works are used by schools and labs throughout the world and have contributed to the progress of science.
He is a graduate from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. During his stay there, he began working with theoretical and computational chemical physics, which is what he would deal with for the rest of his career.
In his research, Dr LeRoy involves using quantum mechanical theory
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
to understand and explain how properties of molecular systems are the results of forces of interaction by quantitatively determining those forces from measurements of various properties.
In almost any area of science today, the experimental work runs parallel to the theoretical
work and there is constant interplay between the two areas. In Canada there are several
theorists whose research teams examine the forces between atoms and molecules to
increase our understanding of physical and chemical properties. One such individual
is Dr. Robert LeRoy (Figure 14), currently working in theoretical chemical physics at
the University of Waterloo.
Dr. LeRoy’s interest is intermolecular forces. He uses quantum mechanics and computer
models to define and analyze the basic forces between atoms and molecules. Early
in his career, Dr. LeRoy developed a technique for mathematically defining a radius of
a small molecule, now known as the LeRoy radius. This established a boundary.Within
the boundary, intramolecular bonding is important, and beyond the boundary, intermolecular
forces predominate. In his work, the study of atomic and molecular spectra
(called spectroscopy) plays a crucial role.Measurements from spectroscopy help theoreticians
develop better models and theories for explaining molecular structure.Computer
programs that Dr. LeRoy has developed for the purpose of converting experimental evidence
to information on forces, shape, and structure are free, and are now routinely
used around the world.
It is important not to assume that forces and structures are well established. Our
knowledge of bonding and structure becomes more and more scanty and unreliable for
larger structures. A huge amount of research remains to be done if we are ever to be
able to describe bonding and structure very accurately for even microscopic amounts of
complex substances. Dr. LeRoy states “... except for the simplest systems, our knowledge
of (interactions between molecules) is fairly primitive... .” A classic example is our understanding
of the structure and activity of proteins—the stuff of life.We know the composition
of many proteins quite precisely and the structure can be experimentally
determined, but the structure of these large molecules depends on how bonding folds
and shapes the chains and branches. How a protein behaves and what it does depends
specifically on its precise shape and structure, and that is something scientists often state
is “not well understood.”