Ultraviolet/Visible (UV/VIS) spectroscopy is a technique that uses absorption of ultraviolet light to probe molecular structure. The acquisition of an UV/VIS spectrophotometer is crucial for enhancing the research and teaching environment of the modern chemistry department. The Department of Chemistry of Florida International University will use the instrumentation, purchased with the help of an award from the Chemistry Shared Instrumentation Program, to enhance research in the following areas of chemistry: 1) Temperature dependence of UV/Visible spectra of molecules in the gas and condensed phase 2) Separation and identification of carotenoids in human macular pigment 3) Thermochemistry of coordination compounds 4) Competitive chelation of porphyrins; implications for geoporphyrin chemistry 5) Kinetics of monochloramine oxidation of Syringaldozine The UV/VIS spectrophotometer will represent a significant addition to the research and teaching instrumentation available to this RUI institution that has set the increased participation of talented black and hispanic students as one of its primary goals.
