Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Across the Curriculum

这个化学项目最近建立的一个目标是将开放式的基于发现的项目实验室纳入从一年级到四年级的整个化学课程。在这些实验中，学生可以选择一个区域进行调查、提出问题并进行实验来解决问题。在这些为期数周的实验中，学生不仅学习了许多实验技术，还被要求学习理解他们选择调查的主题所需的概念。这个项目的主要目标是通过提供一种可以在几门这样的课程中使用的工具，实现在大一第一学期以后的每门课程中都有项目实验室的目标。该部门正在使用原子吸收(AA)分光光度计，既有传统的燃烧器，也有加热的石墨炉。仪器已经为学生提供了在有机化学和物理化学中进行基于项目的实验。AA是开辟分析化学、仪器分析和环境化学导论多个研究领域所需的一个额外仪器。AA对于新生来说是一个有用的工具，因为它易于操作和理解；而傅里叶变换-核磁共振、傅立叶变换红外和气相色谱/质谱仪等仪器通常是为已经或正在学习有机化学的学生保留的。有许多开放式实验可以使用AA进行。AA也可以用于本科生研究和特殊群体，如数学/科学向上发展的学生。AA的加入增强了所提供的课程，并使在所有课程中进行基于项目的实验成为可能。

A recently established goal of this chemistry program is to incorporate open-ended discovery-based project laboratories throughout the chemistry curriculum from the freshman- to senior-year. In these labs, students can choose an area to investigate, pose a problem, and carry out experiments to address the problem. Students not only learn a lot of experimental techniques during these multiweek labs, but they are also required to learn concepts needed to understand the topic they choose to investigate. The primary objective of this project is to reach this goal of having project labs in every course beyond the first semester of the freshman year by providing an instrument that could be used in several such courses. The department is making use of an Atomic Absorption (AA) Spectrophotometer with both a conventional burner and a Heated Graphite Furnace. Instrumentation is already available for students to undertake project-based labs in Organic and Physical Chemistry. An AA is the one additional instrument needed to open up many areas of investigation for Introduction to Analytical Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis, and Environmental Chemistry. The AA is a useful tool for freshmen because it is easy to operate and to understand; whereas instruments such as the Fourier-transform-nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier-transform infrared, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometers are usually reserved for students who have had or are taking Organic Chemistry. There are many open-ended experiments that can be carried out with the use of an AA. The AA can also be used in undergraduate research and with special groups such as the Math/Science Upward Bound students. The addition of an AA enhances the courses offered and makes it possible to do project-based labs across the curricula.