Applications of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in a Novel Integrated Chemistry Laboratory

已经有许多尝试创建整合物理、分析、有机和无机化学概念的实验室练习。大部分的工作集中在预先计划的实验室，那里的答案是已知的。然而，真正的化学研究不仅依赖于概念的整合，而且还依赖于解决问题的能力，这些问题的答案是未知的，在一个研究团队中有效地工作是至关重要的。这个项目的目标是持续发展一个整合的实验室序列，将有机、无机、物理和分析化学的概念融入到涉及原始研究想法的项目中。学生以四到五人为一组，每个小组包括有机化学和物理化学实验室的学生。每个学生都把他或她的特殊技能和背景带到研究小组，由此产生的技能和个性的结合往往导致新颖和原创的研究。化学专业的学生在有机化学和物理化学实验课程中要进行两次综合实验。在综合实验室的指导下已经进行的研究包括声化学、巴克敏斯特富勒烯的合成、水溶性聚合物染料的合成以及导电聚合物的合成和测试。学生不仅能够做更好的研究，他们也能够获得宝贵的经验，使用仪器，他们可能会在他们的职业生涯中遇到。综合实验室序列为学生提供了将化学知识应用于现实问题的专业知识的手段。

There have been numerous attempts to create laboratory exercises that integrate the concepts of physical, analytical, organic, and inorganic chemistry. Most of this work concentrates on pre- planned labs where the answer is known. However, true chemical research relies not only on the integration of the concepts, but also on the ability to work on problems where the answer is not known a priori and where working effectively within a team of researchers is vital. The objective of this project is the continuing development of an integrated lab sequence which incorporates concepts from organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry into projects involving original research ideas. Students work in teams of four or five, each team including both organic chemistry and physical chemistry lab students. Each student brings his or her particular skills and background to the research group, and the resulting combination of skills and personalities often results in novel and original research. Majors in chemistry take the integrated laboratory sequence twice, as part of their organic chemistry and physical chemistry lab courses. Research that has already been performed under the rubric of the integrated laboratory include sonochemistry, synthesis of buckminsterfullerene, synthesis of water-soluble polymeric dyes, and synthesis and testing of conductive polymers. Students are not only able to do better research, they are also able to gain valuable experience in using instrumentation they are likely to encounter in their professional careers. The integrated laboratory sequence provides a means for students to obtain expertise in applying their knowledge of chemistry to real-life problems.