The Department was started in the year 1908. Prof. F. L. Usher, a student of Sir William Ramsey, Nobel laureate (1904) was appointed as the first Professor of the department in the year 1910. The department was affiliated to the University of Madras until 1916. It attained the status of a University Department after the establishment of University of Mysore. It came under the administrative control of Bangalore University in the year 1964. Since its inception the Department had specializations in the area of Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. Biochemistry was introduced in 1973 and Analytical Chemistry specialization in as 2007. The development of the department during the past century is due to the efforts of a galaxy of teachers that include Prof. M. Shadaksharaswamy, Prof. T. H. Venkata Setty, Prof. G. K. Narayana Reddy, Prof. K.M. Sivanandaiah and Prof M.P Venkatappa The lead and the impetus provided by these eminent scientists have led to the blossoming of research in the modern area of Chemistry. Encouraged by the past glory, the Department is striving hard to create a niche for itself in national and international domains of research and teaching.