The effectiveness of teaching concepts of spectroscopy has been improved by the Chemistry Department at Samford University through the recent acquisition of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer. Students are learning NMR principles and applications of magnetic resonance to chemical structure, first hand, by obtaining NMR information on different types of compounds and correlating this data with NMR theory as well as other spectroscopic information. This results in a composite "picture" of the molecule, and teaches students how chemical structure can be investigated. The instrument is used exclusively by undergraduate chemistry majors and minors in a number of chemistry courses in which a carefully planned group of experiments teach various aspects of the technique in a logical sequence that builds on what students have already learned. This equipment complements existing instrumental holdings and gives the department a more complete arsenal of analytical tools through which to teach spectroscopic methods.
