Improvement in Advanced Laboratory Using an Instrumental Laboratory Timesharing Concept

由于现代化学仪器及其所依据的理论的复杂性和复杂性，教授本科生使用现代化学仪器变得越来越困难。这种情况加剧了在最合适的时间安排实验的问题。圣十字学院化学系正在实施一项克服这些困难的独特计划，将物理化学和仪器分析实验室合并为一个连贯的三学期高级实验室计划。从第一学期的基本仪器实验室技术到第三学期的具有挑战性和高深的主题，将按顺序进行。在第一学期，一种独特的分时方法，利用紫外线-可见光(UV-VIS)快速扫描分光光度计和傅立叶变换红外(FTIR)分光光度计的快速数据采集能力，使所有学生能够同时进行一系列光谱学入门实验。在同一学期中，他们将被介绍使用计算机作为数据站。学生的实验经历在第三学期达到顶峰，他们专注于围绕进行现代化学研究所必需的一些具有挑战性的先进技术的项目，包括在化学中使用激光，研究快速反应的技术，以及微型计算机。

Teaching undergraduates to use modern chemical instrumentation has become increasingly difficult due to the sophistication and complexity of both the instruments and the theory upon which they are based. This situation has aggravated the problem of scheduling experiments at the most opportune time. A unique plan to overcome these difficulties is being implemented by the Chemistry Department of the College of the Holy Cross by merging the Physical Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis Laboratories into a coherent three-semester advanced laboratory program. An orderly progression from basic instrumental laboratory techniques in the first semester to challenging and advanced topics in the third semester is being followed. During the first semester a unique timesharing approach utilizing the rapid data acquisition capabilities of a an ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) rapid scan spectrophotometer and a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer makes it possible for all students to concurrently carry out a series of introductory experiments in spectroscopy. During the same semester they will be introduced to the use of the computer as a data station. The culmination of the students' laboratory experience occurs in the third semester where they devote attention to projects centered around some of the challenging and advanced techniques essential to carrying out modern chemical research, including the use of lasers in chemistry, techniques for studying very fast reactions, and microcomputers.