Improvement in Advanced Laboratory Using an Instrumental Laboratory Timesharing Concept

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Teaching undergraduates to use modern chemical instrumentation has become increasingly difficult due to the sophistication and complexity of both the instruments and the theory upon which they are based. This situation has aggravated the problem of scheduling experiments at the most opportune time. A unique plan to overcome these difficulties is being implemented by the Chemistry Department of the College of the Holy Cross by merging the Physical Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis Laboratories into a coherent three-semester advanced laboratory program. An orderly progression from basic instrumental laboratory techniques in the first semester to challenging and advanced topics in the third semester is being followed. During the first semester a unique timesharing approach utilizing the rapid data acquisition capabilities of a an ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) rapid scan spectrophotometer and a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer makes it possible for all students to concurrently carry out a series of introductory experiments in spectroscopy. During the same semester they will be introduced to the use of the computer as a data station. The culmination of the students' laboratory experience occurs in the third semester where they devote attention to projects centered around some of the challenging and advanced techniques essential to carrying out modern chemical research, including the use of lasers in chemistry, techniques for studying very fast reactions, and microcomputers.