Through the purchase of and development of related courses and experiments, Knox College has expanded and modernized its chemistry curriculum The acquisition of a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer has allowed the creation of an innovative and comprehensive laboratory to accompany the new Environmental Chemistry lecture course. Ion chromatographic equipment, atmospheric sampling devices, and alternate gas chromatographic detectors were also acquired and implemented within the laboratory portion of the environmental course. The flexibility of the GC/MS is permitting its usage to fortify several other laboratory offerings. A new Inorganic Chemistry course and a revised Organic Chemistry feature spectral characterization of synthetic products using the GC/MS and existing spectroscopic instruments. The Instrumental Analysis laboratory has been updated by adding contemporary GC/MS experiments while trimming usage of several out-of-date instruments. Undergraduate research is employing the GC/MS and its spectral library on a routine basis for structural identification and verification. The institution contributed an amount equal to the NSF funds to the project.//
