NMR prediction using ChemDoodle, NMR calculation with Gaussian, and hands-on data collection using a benchtop NMR spectrometer were explored to assess their synergistic capacity in teaching NMR to organic chemistry students. Nine molecules representing functional groups commonly encountered in undergraduate organic chemistry were selected. Spectra…

This study reports an undergraduate laboratory experiment that explores the temperature-dependent kinetics of caffeine release during tea steeping by using quantitative [superscript 1]H NMR spectroscopy with a water suppression pulse sequence. Designed for introductory organic chemistry laboratory courses, the experiment emphasizes the real-world…

The helium-plasma (HePI) ionization mass spectrometry method was used to track the formation of reaction products and consumption of reactants by continually monitoring the vapors in the reaction headspace in real time. Two examples of the application procedure are presented here: a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction and a 1,4-nucleophilic…

An introductory experimental course to teach and assess basic organic synthesis and identification skills has been designed. The first work of this course, which is based on the well-known hydrazone formation reaction of benzaldehydes with Brady's reagent, is presented. The designed experiment has many advantages and perfectly matches the goal of…

Photochemical reactions are initiated by the absorption of light, triggering the chemical reactions and resulting in the formation of products. These reactions are generally performed using a freely available renewable source of energy-solar energy. Solar simulators mimic both the ultraviolet and visible regions of sunlight and hence can serve as…

There is a growing need for chemistry students to be able to handle and manipulate large datasets and analyze them in an efficient and accessible way. This creates the need to develop course materials that introduce these topics early in the undergraduate curriculum. To address this growing need, this activity introduced RStudio to students…

Here, we present a laboratory activity in which the students work on an analysis of a questioned document that was written with one out of five possible pens. As a forensics study, the activity applied chemistry and analytical chemistry tools to solve the case. The students were able to apply polarity and solubility concepts to select and discard…

A new experiment using laser ablation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was designed for chemistry undergraduate students. While most analytical methods only provide information on the amount of the analyte, LA-ICP-MS allows extra information on the distribution of the element in the sample. Because it achieves…

An adipic acid esterification experiment suitable for graduate students has been developed to describe the industrial manufacture of plasticizers. Students first follow the progress of the reaction with simple acid/base titration enabling measurement of the acid number. During the workup of the reaction mixture, they learn how to manage the…

Reported herein is a chemistry experiment integrating polymer chemistry and instrumental analysis for the juniors majoring in chemistry. This experiment has a different scheduling framework than traditional experiments with a fixed lab period and schedule. The students arrange their experiment flexibly and individually. Styrene maleic anhydride…

Laboratory experiments provide training to students in experimental techniques and strengthen the understanding of the theory. Herein, a new introductory experiment for organic chemistry laboratory courses is described where students are trained in washing an unknown neutral organic compound using liquid/liquid extraction, isolating it via…

Removing the pollutants from various wastewater is crucial to the environment, ecology, and humans. However, the pollutants are generally removed by chemical decomposition, which not only consumes a lot of energy but also produces carbon emissions. Electrochemical flocculation is effective to extract pollutant molecules and heavy ions from…

Instruction in quantum mechanics is becoming increasingly important as the field is not only a key part of modern physics research but is also important for emerging technologies. However, many students regard quantum mechanics as a particularly challenging subject, in part because it is considered very mathematical and abstract. One potential way…

The discovery of ferrocene, Fe(C[subscript 5]H[subscript 5])[subscript 2], in the 1950s sparked the development of organometallic chemistry including metallocene compounds. Shortly after the isolation of ferrocene, the analogous ruthenium and osmium compounds were discovered. The preparation of ferrocene is common in undergraduate inorganic…

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous materials that are often crystalline with high surface area and structural tunability. In this laboratory experiment designed for inorganic chemistry students at the undergraduate level, students complete a two-step experiment where they will first (i) synthesize two isostructural…