A Fourier Transform infrared spectrophotometer, with associated sampling accessories and a spectal library will be used by students in organic, instrumental analysis, physical, inorganic, and polymer coatings courses, as well as in undergraduate research projects. Theoretical aspects of Fourier Transformation and computer-controlled data acquisition and manipulation, now mainly lecture topics, will be experimentally studied and utilized by these chemistry students. The instrument will also be introduced in lower level chemistry courses, including a nonmajors course, where it will show the power of modern, computer-based instrumentation in studies of samples obtained from the everyday world. The grantee will match the NSF award from non-Federal sources.
