The chemistry education of undergraduate students at Notre Dame College of Ohio will be enhanced by laboratory experience with a state-of-the- art Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer. This instrument will allow students in Organic Chemistry to follow reaction progress and identify reaction products; in Spectrometric Methods, to analyze "real- world" mixtures; in Physical Chemistry, to define molecular structure and thermodynamic properties; in Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, to observe metal-ligand interaction and bonding. Using a computer to interface with other laboratory instrumentation, the students will develop facility with computer control of instrumentation and computerized data acquisition and analysis. In particular, students in Electronic Instrumentation and Analytical Methods courses will learn to apply modern computer technology to the chemistry laboratory. This women's college makes special efforts to encourage and enhance the chemistry education of women undergraduates, including minorities and handicapped students. Through this project, the college will continue its contribution to the education of women scientists. Its chemistry students will develop expertise in using modern laboratory instrumentation and computers to solve chemical problems, and will capture the excitement and vision of modern chemistry.
