Chemistry 3 3 175  Jason Ribblett  Assistant Professor  CP
305L  Phone: 765-285-8074    Department of Chemistry Ball State
University Cooper Physical Science Building, room 305 Muncie, IN
47306  University of Pittsburgh Ph.D. (1999) University of
Pittsburgh B.S. (1993)  Research Interests  Molecular Modeling
Using Computers  Methyl salicylate, used as a wintergreen
flavoring agent in candies, gums, and medicines, has a unique
spectroscopic property—it absorbs ultraviolet light but emits
blue light.  You can witness this effect for yourself.  Take a
wintergreen Life-Saver into a very dark room with a mirror. 
Place the candy between your teeth and quickly bight down,
holding your lips (and eyes) open.  You will see blue 'sparks'
from the methyl salicylate!  It is believed that methyl
salicylate undergoes a large geometry change in its excited
state; and that it is this geometry change that causes the shift
in emission (from UV to blue light).  Our research group will
study phenomena (excited state proton trans