Improvement of Chemistry Instruction with FT-IR Spectroscopy

红外分析是最常用的分析方法之一，特别是在有机化学中。色散红外光谱太慢，不能用于较大的类别，也不适合固体样品的分析。该项目代表了一个为期10年的重点是改善学生的实验室经验，包括增加重要仪器的动手使用。IR仪器的升级提高了学生实验室体验的质量。 该部门正在将傅里叶变换红外（FTIR）为基础的实验在新生-通过高级课程。FTIR的速度和准确性使其能够进行色散IR无法进行的实验。使用漫反射附件，可以轻松分析固体和液体样品。 四个新的实验，在新生级课程的专业，未成年人和文科学生介绍新生的FTIR。主要的程序增强发生在有机化学，其中14个实验正在通过使用FTIR分析试剂，产品和未知物来增强。用红外光谱分析固体样品的能力是有机实验室的一个重大进步。物理化学中的一个新的聚合物动力学实验利用了FTIR的速度。在仪器方法中引入了一个具有环境应用的定量IR实验，在生物化学中引入了一个演示氢键效应的新实验。 FTIR也被用于夏季研究计划（SEURP），特别是有机化学项目。

Infrared (IR) analysis is one of the most commonly used analytical methods, especially in organic chemistry. A dispersive IR is too slow for use by larger classes and is not well adapted for analysis of solid samples. This project represents a 10-year emphasis on the improvement of the student laboratory experience including increased hands-on use of significant instrumentation. An upgrade of the IR instrumentation enhances the quality of the student laboratory experience. The department is incorporating Fourier-transform-infrared (FTIR) based experiments in freshman- through senior-level courses. The speed and accuracy of the FTIR allows the performance of experiments that were not feasible with a dispersive IR. With the diffuse reflectance attachment, solids as well as liquid samples can be analyzed readily. Four new experiments in the freshman-level courses for majors, minors, and liberal arts students introduce the freshmen to the FTIR. The major program enhancement occurs in organic chemistry, where 14 experiments are being enhanced by the use of FTIR analysis of reagents, products, and unknowns. The ability to analyze solid samples with IR is a major improvement in the organic laboratory. A new polymer kinetics experiment in Physical Chemistry utilizes the speed of the FTIR. A quantitative IR experiment with an environmental application is being introduced in Instrumental Methods, and a new experiment which demonstrates H-bonding effects is being introduced in Biochemistry. The FTIR is also being utilized in the summer research program (SEURP), especially in Organic Chemistry projects.