A Hewlett Packard Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer is being purchased for the use in five areas of chemistry. By teaching the principles and operation of a modern microprocessor driven separation and identification technique, students are learning chemical principles as well as data techniques. Specific experiments have been designed in the classical chemistry areas. For example, the analysis of branched fatty acids of the human skin surface is being considered in biochemistry. In instrumental analysis the detection of zeranol and zearalenone, used as the fattening agent, in cattle is being used to acquaint the students with some practical approaches to GC/MS. The department also teaches a course in criminalistics and the use of GC/MS is being used to illustrate the wide applicability of the technique in this area. The grantee is matching the award from non-Federal sources.
