Computer-based Spectrometers for an Accelerated Introductory Chemistry Laboratory

1994年，佛罗里达大学化学系建立了一个新的本科加速课程序列，称为Chemtrak，为30-50名高素质的大一新生提供强化课程。这些学生通常已经学了两年或两年以上的高中化学，他们有很高的积极性，并为更高级的材料做好了准备。Chemtrak的教学大纲以仪器为主，已经发展成为一系列光谱测量，包括原子和分子的发射、吸收和荧光。主要仪器包括各种单色仪、光谱仪、激光器、燃烧器组件和光学元件。该项目旨在将基于计算机的光谱仪集成到Chemtrak实验室中。该实验室的设计改编自维克森林大学（NSF-DUE 9251294）的工作，该大学在本科课程中使用基于计算机的光谱法的模块化方法已被证明在向本科生介绍光谱学实践和理论方面取得了成功。在我们对这项工作的改编中，五个紧凑的基于计算机的光谱仪与电荷耦合器件（CCD）探测器和笔记本电脑被整合到Chemtrak实验课程中。学生可以在家用电脑上观察350-1000纳米的整个光谱区域，并获得大量数据供后续评估。这些小型光谱仪的多功能性允许完成更多的实验，并进行更详细和复杂的测量。这大大提高了本课程的教育效果。

In 1994 the University of Florida Department of Chemistry established a new accelerated undergraduate course sequence, called Chemtrak, to provide an enhanced curriculum for 30-50 high caliber entering freshmen students. These students typically enter with two or more years of high school chemistry and are highly motivated and prepared for more advanced material. With a major instrumental emphasis, the syllabus of Chemtrak has evolved into a series of spectroscopic measurements involving emission, absorption and fluorescence of atoms and molecules. Major instrumentation includes a variety of monochromators, spectrometers, lasers, burner assemblies, and optical components available in the department.This project addresses the integration of computer-based spectrometers into the Chemtrak laboratory. The design of this laboratory is adapted from the work at Wake Forest University (NSF-DUE 9251294) where the modular approach of using computer-based spectrometry in the undergraduate curriculum has been proven successful in introducing spectrometric practice and theory to undergraduate students. In our adaptation of this work, five compact computer-based spectrometers with charge coupled device (CCD) detectors and laptop computers are integrated into the Chemtrak experimental curriculum. Students can observe the entire spectral region from 350-1000 nm and acquire large amounts of data for subsequent evaluation on their home computers. The added versatility of these small spectrometers permits more experiments to be completed, and more detailed and sophisticated measurements to be performed. This is found to greatly enhance the educational impact of this course.