Fractals offer mathematical tool for study of complex chemical systems

Fractal geometry is a mathematical language that can be used to describe irregular forms in nature— rivers, mountains, trees, coastlines, and clouds—as well as complex shapes associated with scientific phenomena. With the language of fractals, "one can broach a range of problems, some very pure and mathematical and others to a greater or lesser degree applied or theoretical," says Michael E. Fisher of the Institute for Physical Science & Technology at the University of Maryland. Scientific use of fractal geometry began in physics but more recently has been growing in other fields such as biology, geology, and economics, in addition to chemistry. In recognition of the increasing importance of fractals in chemistry, a multisession, five-day symposium on the topic was held last week at the ACS spring meeting in Atlanta. According to symposium organizer Fereydoon Family, professor of physics at Emory University, the session was held "to introduce the chemical community to fractal and scaling ...