Improvement to Three Undergraduate Chemistry Courses

在过去的几年里，化学系一直在从事一项计划，以现代化的设施和仪器。 一个新的有机实验室已经建成。 化学品储存区、预备室、天平室和仪器室都进行了改造和更新。 新购置的仪器包括两台红外光谱仪、一台紫外可见分光光度计、两台高压液相色谱仪和一台核磁共振光谱仪。 购买新的原子吸收（AA）光谱仪是这一现代化计划的下一个合乎逻辑的步骤。 这是对该部门一系列最先进设备的完美补充。 最近的化学教育文献强调，需要提高学生的兴趣和成功的普通化学课程。 其中一种方法是积极参与与日常生活有明显相关性的实验室实验。 直接的，与AA的实践经验可以激发学习科学的兴趣，同时教基本的仪器和研究技能的本科化学学生。 使用AA光谱的计划包括在三个大一化学课程的实验室部分立即实施。

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.