Improvement to Three Undergraduate Chemistry Courses

在过去的几年里，化学系一直在参与一项设施和仪器现代化的计划。一个新的有机实验室已经建成。化学储藏区、预制室、平衡室和仪表室都进行了改造和更新。购买了新的仪器，包括两台红外光谱仪、一台紫外可见光谱仪、两台高压液相色谱仪和一台核磁共振光谱仪。获得新的原子吸收(AA)光谱仪是这一现代化计划的下一个合乎逻辑的步骤。它是该部门最先进的设备阵列的完美补充。最近的化学教育文献强调了提高学生对普通化学课程的兴趣和成功的必要性。要做到这一点，一种方法是积极参与与日常生活明显相关的实验室实验。与AA的直接实践经验可以激发学习科学的兴趣，同时向本科生教授基本的仪器和研究技能。使用AA光谱学的计划包括立即在三门新生级别的化学课程的实验室部分实施。

For the past several years, the Chemistry Department has been engaged in a program to modernize its facilities and instrumentation. A new organic lab has been built. The chemistry storage area, preproom, balance room, and instrumentation room have all been remodeled and updated. New instruments have been purchased including two infrared spectrometers, an ultra-violet-visible spectrophotometer, two high pressure liquid chromatographs, and a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. Acquiring a new atomic absorption (AA) spectrometer is the next logical step in this modernization program. It is the perfect addition to the department's array of state-of-the-art equipment. Recent chemical education literature has stressed the need to improve student interest and success in general chemistry courses. One way to do this is through active participation in laboratory experiments that have an obvious relevance to everyday life. Direct, hands-on experience with AA can spark interest in learning science while teaching basic instrumentation and research skills to undergraduate chemistry students. The plan to use AA spectroscopy involves its immediate implementation in the laboratory component of three freshman-level chemistry courses.