The quality of undergraduate laboratory work will be enhanced by the introduction of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in general chemistry and in three advanced courses. General chemistry students will determine the amounts of different crystalline forms of calcium carbonate in seashells, and identify the polymeric components of a commercial plastic. Organic chemistry students will characterize the products of two reactions by modern methods, including the electronic storage and manipulation of spectral data. Students will perform a new experiment in physical chemistry involving the kinetics of isomerization of a cobalt amine complex. The grantee will match the NSF award from non-Federal sources.
