FT-IR Spectroscopy and Computer Interfaced Instrumentation in the Chemistry Curriculum

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This project will give students hands-on experience with computer-interfaced instrumentation by incorporating fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy into six undergraduate chemistry courses. In General Chemistry, the instrument will be used to study isotopic substitution and to correlate the spectrum of an unknown compound with those in a computerized database. Applications in Organic Chemistry include structural interpretation and identification of reaction products, compounds isolated from natural sources, and real life samples (e.g., cinnamon and mouthwash). Polymers synthesized by students will be characterized by FT-IR. In Instrumental Analysis, students will record IR spectra of single strands of hair in a methods development experiment and will determine the percentage of ethanol in gasohol samples. Other FT-IR experiments include a kinetics study of a ligand substitution reaction in Physical Chemistry and enzyme-substrate interactions in aqueous solution in Biochemistry. The experience gained by students will give them skills to apply to other computer-interfaced instruments and valuable training for graduate school and the workforce.