Acquisition of a FT-IR spectrometer enables chemistry students to gain hands-on experience with one of the most important tools used in the elucidation of structure and bonding in molecules. FT-IR is incorporated into the Chemistry Department's organic laboratory and into its integrated laboratory sequence which serves all junior and senior majors. Professors are able to enhance organic experiments currently being performed and add more modern and instructionally richer experiments to the organic course and to the integrated lab sequence. The instrument also has a major impact on student research. The IR chosen is simple to operate and maintain, yet provides sufficient sophistication for a wide range of undergraduate applications. The institution is matching the NSF grant with an equal amount of funds.
