Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Science, Engineering and AgricultureIntroduction to Chemistry
Why does baking soda foam and bubble when vinegar is poured on it? What happens when dry ice vaporizes and makes a spooky fog for a scary movie? How can charcoal for the outside grill be made of carbon when diamonds are also made of carbon?
Chemistry answers these questions and many more by studying the substances that make up our world and universe. How substances react with each other, how they change, how certain forces connect molecules and how molecules are made, are all parts of chemistry.
What is Chemistry?
Chemistry is the science of the study of matter. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Chemistry includes the study of substances, their structures, properties and reactions together with the energy changes of those reactions. Chemistry is sometimes called the central science because its properties are important to biologists, physicists, geologists and astronomers alike. Chemistry is present throughout modern society in medicine, manufacturing and agriculture.
Contact Details
To find out more about University of Venda’s chemistry department contact:
Dr SS Mnyakeni Moleele
Head of Department
Phone: +27 15 962 8190
Email: mnyakeni.moleele@univen.ac.za
Ms Bronia Mantshimuli
Executive Secretary
Phone: +27 15 962 8107
Email: bronia.mantshimuli@univen.ac.za
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate Programmes and Modules
To major in chemistry a student must register for the following modules: 
First year class: CHE 1540, CHE 1621 and CHE 1622
Second year class: CHE 2521, CHE 2522, CHE 2620 and CHE 2623
Third year class: CHE 3520, CHE 3523, CHE 3621 and CHE 3622
To major in applied chemistry a student must register the above mentioned modules for main stream chemistry and the following modules:
Second year class: CHE 2524, CHE 2525, CHE 2626 and CHE 2629
Third year class: CHE 3524, CHE 3525, CHE 3626 and CHE 3627
Postgraduate Studies
After an obtainment of a junior degree with chemistry as a major, students with chemistry 3rd year modules average of 60% or more can pursue a BSc honours degree in chemistry, which is done over one year.
MSc and PhD in Chemistry
The department of chemistry offers both MSc and PhD degrees across all the four major chemistry sections; namely organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry and physical chemistry.
Research in organic chemistry (including medicinal chemistry and natural products chemistry) include total synthesis of drugs and isolation of active compounds from plants and testing their activities against diseases like diabetes, malaria, tuberculosis and others.
Research in physical chemistry ranges from synthesis of molecules and testing their activity as anticorrosive agents. Computational chemistry section includes study of biologically active molecules and the design of super molecular structures.
Research in inorganic chemistry comprises of the development of improved inorganic materials for lithium-ion and next generation batteries. Also there is a focus on the synthesis of metal frameworks.
Research in analytical chemistry ranges from water research projects and design and synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers.
Career Opportunities
Qualified chemists find themselves working at universities as Chemistry lecturers and at schools as Chemistry Teachers. Also they find jobs at different research companies as quality control chemists and industrial research chemists. Qualified chemists are also involved in the well-being of societies as food chemists, forensic chemists, environmental chemists. Other qualified chemists have exchanged laboratory coats for suits as sales representatives and patent agents
