9451513 Shabestary The proposed project is designed to strengthen the chemistry department's undergraduate curriculum in regards to physical chemistry laboratory. The main objective of the proposed work is to familiarize students with excited state reactions, via absorption and fluorescence (emission) spectroscopy. We propose to purchase a temperature controlled UV-visible spectrometer and a temperature controlled spectrofluorimeter. These instruments are quite versatile and a broad range of experiments can be developed. Initially, we propose to develop four experiments: (1) spectroscopy of excited state proton transfer reactions; (2) thermodynamics of excimer formation for pyrene; (3) excited state properties of 2-naphthol; and (4) kinetics of the tautomerization of acetylacetone enol. In time, additional experiments may be developed and incorporated into the curriculum. These experiments will stimulate interest in experimental physical chemistry, and demonstrate excited state phenomena. These experiments are not currently possible at our university.
