Gas Chromatography in a Forensic Chemistry Course for Non- Majors and in Advanced Laboratory Courses for Chemistry Majors

该项目有两个主要目标：(1)大幅改善非理科专业的科学教育；(2)加强化学专业的高级实验计划。一门新的、受欢迎的非专业法医化学课程将使用现代气相色谱仪(GC)。通过GC，学生将学习纵火调查的方法，并分析易燃液体混合物、促进剂和火灾残留物的成分。这些调查为非理科专业的学生提供了一种学习化学中重要概念、科学推理原理、实验设计和数据批判性解释的工具。化学专业的学生将使用现代化的GC系统，该系统可以连接到系的计算机，用于实验室课程实验和仪器分析、有机化学、物理化学和综合高级实验室的项目。

This project has two major objectives: (1) to improve substantially the science education of non-science majors and (2) to enhance the upper- level laboratory program for chemistry majors. A modern gas chromatograph (GC) will be used in a new, popular course in forensic chemistry for non-majors. With the GC, students will study methods of arson investigation and analyze the components of flammable liquid mixtures, accelerants, and residues from fires. These investigations provide a vehicle for students who are not science majors to learn important concepts in chemistry, principles of scientific reasoning, experimental design, and critical interpretation of data. Chemistry majors will use the modern GC system, which can be interfaced to the department's computers, for laboratory course experiments and projects in Instrumental Analysis, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Integrated Advanced Laboratory.