Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy has become a vital tool for the analysis of environmental samples and of drugs of abuse. The demand for chemists with experience in GC/MS is growing rapidly and will continue to grow as the technique is incorporated into more technology laboratories. The GC/MS in this project is being introduced at the freshman level through observation of demonstrations. In the sophomore year, the students in organic chemistry have hands-on experience through interpretation of spectra and the identification of unknowns. In the analytical chemistry course students get their first introduction to the design of the instrumentation and its quantitative applications. As an experimental tool, the GC/MS will be used in the realm of advanced preparation. The school has contributed to this project an amount 11% greater than the NSF funds.
