Introduction of GC/MS throughout the Undergraduate Curriculum

化学(12)化学系正在购置一台气相色谱仪/质谱仪，专门为所有级别的学生提供实践学习体验。通识教育导论专业的学生正在观察示范，收集和分析数据。该仪器被整合到化学专业的螺旋课程中：随着课程从低级有机化学到高级研究项目的进展，化学专业的学生在越来越复杂的实验中使用该仪器。在一系列系统的实验中，学生们使用该仪器来识别反应产物、量化污染物水平、阐明反应机理、分析产品纯度并确定重金属的同位素丰度。正在根据教育文献改编实验，以设计一系列仔细的经验，使学生接触到可以借助从GC/MS获得的结果进行调查的广泛类型的问题。该仪器还支持环境化学和法医学的本科生计划的发展，并通过再次改编教育文献和环境保护局协议的实验，加强对当地高中和蒙大拿州部落大学的外联活动。更广泛的影响该项目涉及非理科专业、化学专业和其他理科专业的课程改进，并包括针对招生和面向高中学生和教师的部分内容。我们招聘新专业的一个重要部分与我们与地区高中教师的接触相吻合，他们利用GC/MS来监督学生研究项目。许多高中项目涉及当地问题，并帮助描绘大学对社会的服务角色。该仪器在REU项目中的使用正在增强美洲原住民和代表不足的学生的研究体验。该仪器对化学专业环境和法医学本科生的发展很重要。法医科学计划正在满足国家和地区对训练有素的法医科学家的需求。将广泛传播介绍性方案、外展方案、螺旋式课程和新集中的试验和经验，使其他机构能够适应和实施项目成果。

Chemistry (12) The Department of Chemistry is acquiring a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer that is dedicated to hands-on learning experiences for students at all levels. Intellectual MeritIntroductory general education students are observing demonstrations and collecting and analyzing data. The instrument is incorporated into the chemistry major in a spiral curriculum: chemistry majors use the instrument in ever more sophisticated experiments as courses progress from lower division organic chemistry to senior research projects. In a systematic sequence of experiments, students use the instrument to identify reaction products, quantify contaminant levels, elucidate reaction mechanisms, assay product purity and determine isotopic abundances of heavy metals. Experiments are being adapted from the educational literature in order to design a careful progression of experiences that expose students to the wide range of types of problems that can be investigated with the help of results obtained from a GC/MS. The instrument also is supporting development of undergraduate programs in environmental chemistry and forensic science and is enhancing outreach activities to local high schools and to tribal colleges in Montana, again by adapting experiments from the educational literature and from EPA protocols. Broader Impacts This project involves curricular improvements for non-science majors, chemistry majors, and other science majors, and includes components directed at student recruitment and outreach to high school students and teachers. A significant part of our recruitment of new majors dovetails with our outreach to regional high school teachers who supervise student research projects utilizing GC/MS. Many of the high school projects deal with local issues and help portray the service role of the university to the community. Use of the instrument in an REU program is enhancing research experiences for Native Americans and underrepresented students. The instrument is important to the development of undergraduate concentrations in environmental and forensic science within the chemistry major. The forensic science program is addressing national and regional needs for trained forensic scientists. Experiments and experiences with the introductory programs, outreach programs, spiral curriculum and new concentrations will be widely disseminated, enabling adaptation and implementation of project results in other institutions.