The Chemistry Department at Appalachian State University has recently acquired an ion trap mass spectrometer and a microcomputer system which when interfaced with a gas chromatograph affords undergraduate students opportunities to expand their experience with modern instrumentation. Student use of this system is an integral part of a course in natural products chemistry, and one devoted to the use of computerized instrumentation. In addition, the instrument is used in introductory courses as a lecture demonstration tool and as a qualitative and quantitative tool in the organic chemistry laboratory.
