Introducing Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to Undergraduates

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The college is purchasing a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR) for the improvement of undergraduate chemistry laboratories. The instrument is used at all levels of instruction including Introduction to Chemistry, as well as General, Organic, Analytical, and Physical Chemistry. In addition the FT-IR is available for use in the college's outreach program, which involves 1-day visits by high school chemistry classes to use laboratory facilities. In comparison with the older, dispersive technology, the FT-IR rapid-scanning ability and reduced sample preparation minimizes student waiting time, making possible more extensive experimentation during a laboratory period. This is especially important for the larger lab sections with 15-20 students. In intermediate-level courses, students learn to use the unique computer-enhanced capabilities of the instrument, including displaying, zooming, scaling, transforming, assigning, storing, and printing data. Essential parameters of FT-IR being examined in these courses include signal averaging, repetitive scanning, resolution comparisons, standards collections, and search-match comparisons with a spectral database. The enhanced wavelength range and resolution of allows students to study chemical mixtures. The upper-level Physical Chemistry course uses the instrument to obtain molecular parameters, such as bond strength from vibrational spectra of simple molecules.