Chemistry Detectives: Solving Real World Puzzles

A laboratory-based course in which students learn the language and techniques used in industrial and forensic laboratories to conduct organic chemical analysis. Students become chemistry detectives, able to solve the types of chemistry puzzles that are characteristic of the fun part of doing chemistry (e.g. how chemists, such as forensic and pharmaceutical chemists, determine the structure of real-world unknown compounds). A range of applications of this chemistry is discussed, including such topics as environmental, medicinal, polymer, forensic and industrial chemistries, government regulations, natural products, pheromones, and information retrieval. In the process, students will gain hands-on experience using modern instrumentation, including IR, NMR, GC-Mass Spec, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. Does not count toward the chemistry major or minor.