The Department of Chemistry at the institution integrated Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) into its curriculum. The department acquired a Finnigan MAT Model 804A GC-MS system which features an ion trap detector and allows both electron impact and chemical ionization of samples. The instrument is controlled by a menu driven IBM-PC compatible computer and permits library searching of mass spectra. The department previously lacked any capability in mass spectrometry. The instrument is fully integrated into the organic chemistry courses in the curriculum and has been incorporated into two additional courses. The project provides students with hands-on experience with an instrument that has become standard technology in many academic, industrial, and commercial laboratories. The project provides the first entry into instrumentation which combines two analytical methods in one system. The education of at least 400 science majors over the next five years will be enhanced by the project. The institution contributed to this project in a amount equal to the NSF funds.
