U.V. - Visible Spectrophotometry and Improvement of the Chemistry Curriculum at IBC

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The department of chemistry was without an adequately functioning U. V.-visible spectrophotometer and so basic but fundamentally important laboratory experiments could not be performed. The acquisition of a spectrophotometer with a computer work station increased the teaching effectiveness of the department's inorganic and biochemistry laboratory courses and at the same time, modernized the labs. The instrument is used to teach the relationship between U. V.-visible spectra and chemical processes. The computer is used in the acquisition and storage of data, and in fitting the data to various models. The instrument is extensively used in the biochemistry course where it is a powerful tool in the study of macromolecule. In fact, the instrument allowed development of a two semester biochemistry laboratory that emphasizes isolation and characterization of proteins and nucleic acids. The spectrophotometer also is used in undergraduate research projects. Student research is an important part of the chemistry curriculum at the institution and several research problems are being undertaken which could not be carried out previously. The institution is contributing to the project in an amount equal to the NSF funds.