Enhanced Microcalorimetry in Chemistry Laboratories

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As a result of the project, microcalorimetry is being integrated into chemistry major laboratories. Calorimetry is among the most fundamental of physical measurements with extensive applications to biological and materials chemistry. Technological advances have so increased the sensitivity of calorimetric measurements to the point where convenient studies of the energy changes associated with living systems are possible for such phenomena as membrane formation and phase segregation/aggregation even with very small sample sizes. The initial experiments of the project allow students to grasp the nature and importance of energy changes in biological systems by determining enthalpies of micelle formation and the binding constants of proteins and suitable ligands. Moreover, we students measure the heat capacity of the novel memory metal alloy NiTi. The improved instrumentation also enhances carbon compounds and junior year laboratory programs through the introduction of purity determination using differential scanning calorimetry as well as the range of independent research projects for senior students.