The main goals that are achieved using the equipment in this project are: (1) to enable the students to preform experiments that were able to be done because the former instruments do not have adequate resolution or wavelength range, (2) to provide students with opportunities to use digital data handling techniques in conjunction with recording and manipulating infrared spectra. The IR spectrometer purchased has a resolution of 1.0 wavenumbers and enables upper division students to record spectra with sufficient resolution for use in quantum chemical calculations. The communications interface permits the instrument to be interfaced to a PC so that students gain experience with digital data handling techniques. The interfcing and software system design is done by students in a microcomputer interfacing course. The institution is matching the NSF grant with an equal amount of funds.
