A Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer for Curricular Improvement

气相色谱-质谱（GC-MS）是科学研究中广泛使用的一种不可缺少的分析工具。教授这门技术提供了对化学分析的两个核心要素的基本接触：通过分子量测定和碎片分析进行混合物分离和组分鉴定。本项目使用惠普6890台式气相色谱-质谱系统，通过实施实验来展示气相色谱-质谱在普通化学、有机化学、酶学、环境化学和法医化学中的应用能力，以提高我们各级课程的教学水平。来自教育和研究文献的实验，以及标准的EPA方法，正在适应我们的本科生，包括理科生和非理科生的需求。我们课程修订的核心是强调现在标准分析技术的实验，如正离子化学电离分析，痕量亲电分析的负离子化学电离分析，以及通过谱库搜索的化合物鉴定/结构假设检验。我们的主要目标是扩大我们现有的实验室项目的质量，以及我们本科生的研究经验，以提高我们化学专业学生的整体准备水平，并为教学和研究领域的教师发展做出贡献。我们将通过实验手册交流、教师互动、期刊出版物、科学会议报告以及我们系的网页与他人分享这个项目的课程发展。我们作为新英格兰本科科学教育联盟的积极成员，也为我们的姊妹院校传播创新提供了一个有效的机制。

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) is an indispensable analytical tool used widely in scientific research. Teaching this technique provides essential exposure to two central elements of chemical analysis: separation of mixtures and component identification through molecular weight determination and fragmentation analysis. This project uses a Hewlett-Packard 6890 bench top GC-MS system to enhance our curriculum at all levels, by implementing experiments demonstrating the power of GC-MS applications to general, organic, enzymological, environmental, and forensic chemistry. Experiments from the educational and research literature, as well as standard EPA methods, are being adapted to meet the needs of our undergraduates, including both science majors and nonmajors. Central to our curriculum revision are experiments that highlight now standard analytical techniques, such as positive ion chemical ionization analysis, negative ion chemical ionization analysis for trace level electrophilic analytes, and compound identification/structural hypothesis testing through spectrum library searches. Our major objective is to expand the quality of our existing laboratory program, and of our research experiences for undergraduate students, in order to enhance the overall level of preparation of our chemistry students, and to contribute towards faculty development in the areas of both teaching and research. We are sharing the curricular developments from this project with others through lab manual exchanges, faculty interactions, publications in refereed journals, scientific meeting presentations, and through our Department's WebPages. Our active membership in the New England Consortium for Undergraduate Science Education also provides an effective mechanism for dissemination of innovations to our sister institutions.