Sophisticated methods of separation by gas chromatography with component identification by mass spectrometry, routine in the chemical profession, is now included in the undergraduate laboratory experiences in chemistry at Canisius College. An integral part of this development has been the acquisition of a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry system which, as a key component of, and in conjunction with existing instrumentation- FTIR, NMR, UV-Visible, HPLC, etc., is being used to develop new laboratory experiences in separations and microscale organic and inorganic syntheses. The microscale approach to chemical syntheses is very attractive because of shorter reaction times, faster work-up procedures, greater laboratory safety, and facile chemical waste disposal.
