With funds provided by this NSF-ILI grant and a local match, Sinclair Community College has greatly expanded its undergraduate Organic Chemistry courses through the purchase of a Varian EM360, Mhz NMR. This acquisition provides students with hands-on experience in using the instrument and direct experience in identifying the structure of products they synthesize. Organic Chemistry I has been modified so that students are introduced to NMR theory during the last half of the fall quarter. Introduction of the instrument in the laboratory coincides with the theorectical lectures. Students verify the identity of their laboratory product using IR and NMR spectroscopy. Students have access to the NMR during approximately 15 laboratory exercises in three organic chemistry courses. The institution is matching the NSF grant with an equal amount of funds.
