Improving the Chemistry Curriculum at Roanoke College: Purchase of an FTIR Spectrometer

通过该项目，学院获得了一台傅里叶变换红外光谱仪，大大改善了学院的化学教学方案。这些改进包括：(1)将课程中使用红外光谱的实验数量增加一倍。暴露在红外光谱解释的新水平已经理想的训练学生在这一关键技术。(2)学生第一次能够学习和使用信号平均和傅立叶变换光谱的重要概念。(3)为FAIR购买漫反射采样配件，可以方便快速地使用红外光谱对固体样品进行研究。(4)现代科学仪器的兴奋感已经传递给了初级水平的学生，无论是专业学生还是非专业学生。这些努力建立在该系成功地将先进仪器纳入第一年课程的基础上，并已扩展到没有使用现代仪器的课程。课程的改进包括化学的所有分支，并使从大学预科到从事独立研究项目的高级化学专业的学生受益。该机构已为该项目提供了相当于国家科学基金会基金的金额。

Through this project, the institution acquired a Fourier Transform Infrared (FAIR) Spectrometer which markedly improved the instructional program in Chemistry at the college. The improvements included: (1) doubling the number of experiments using infrared spectroscopy in the curriculum. The new level of exposure to infrared spectral interpretation has been ideal for the training of students in this key technique. (2) For the first time, students have been able to learn and use the important concepts of signal averaging and Fourier transform spectroscopy. (3) The purchase of diffuse reflectance sampling accessory for the FAIR allowed easy and rapid study of solid samples with infrared spectroscopy. (4) The excitement of modern scientific instrumentation has been transmitted to introductory level students, both majors and non-majors. These efforts have built on the department's successful incorporation of advanced instruments in first year courses, and have extended to courses which had no usage of modern instrumentation. The curricular improvements include all branches of chemistry, and have benefitted students ranging from precollege level to senior chemistry majors doing independent research projects. The institution has contributed to this project in an amount equal to the NSF funds.