With support from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Acquisition Program, the Department of Chemistry at West Chester University of Pennsylvania will acquire a 300 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr) spectrometer. The instrument will be used in research projects to characterize organic molecules, polymers, organometallic complexes, silicate systems and G-rich DNA structures. It will be employed in organic laboratory classes to characterize reaction products and in physical, and biochemistry classes to determine kinetic, thermodynamic and magnetic susceptibility measurements.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is the most broadly used tool available to chemists for the elucidation of the structure of molecules. It is used to identify unknown substances and to provide information on the arrangement and connectivity of atoms in molecules. This award will provide these essential analytical capabilities to the chemists and biochemists at West Chester University. Undergraduate students will benefit from use of a modern spectrometer in their research projects and from the training in its use in laboratory classes.
