Chemical Spectroscopy

Catalog description

Modern methods and instruments of spectroscopy and their applications to problems of chemical structure and analysis. CHEM 423W Chemical Spectroscopy (4) This course reviews modern methods and instruments of spectroscopy and their applications to problems of chemical structure and analysis. Topics include electronics, optics, and atomic and molecular spectroscopy (UV-VIS, Fluorescence, FTIR, Raman, liquid- and solid-state NMR). The course thoroughly integrates lecture and laboratory activities. The laboratory component incorporates skill-building exercises with open-ended guided-inquiry laboratory exercises and a semester-long laboratory- and literature-based research project. Students work in small groups (2-3 students) to complete each assignment. Students are required to write research papers during the semester. The reports are linked to the core course topics and the fifth is associated with the semester-long research project. All reports require students to search for and read the relevant published literature. The course is designed to be rigorous and comprehensive in scope. The writing component for this course includes: maintaining a proper laboratory notebook; reports; and an oral poster presentation. All writing elements are reviewed and graded by the instructor and teaching assistants.