9351495 Jasinski A Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) is serving as a cornerstone of our new laboratory teaching effort. The instrument is being used in laboratories at all levels. Beginning with demonstration in a project-oriented introductory chemistry lab, the instrument is being used in increasingly sophisticated ways in higher level courses. Introduction of FTIR into the introductory organic laboratory is enhancing the ability of students to accurately analyze the small amounts of compounds that result from microscale experiments. In addition, students are being introduced to a wider variety of sampling techniques, including diffuse reflectance. Judicious choice of detectors (DTGS or MCT) allows for more sensitivity to low light throughput at a faster scan rate than dispersive IR spectrometers. FTIR techniques are enhancing our capabilities in the instrumental course as well as the polymers, pharmaceutical and medicinal applications in the industrial chemistry laboratory and in undergraduate research. Students are being introduced to modern spectral manipulation and database searching techniques as well as essential parameters of FTIR spectroscopy including signal averaging, repetitive scanning, resolution comparison and standards collections. ***
