This course covers about a half a semester of instrumental analysis which is a standard part of the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. Any chemist has to understand how to analyze samples – whether they are water samples, blood samples or bits of a painting. Most often chemists do this using instruments of some sort. Machines like mass spectrometers or gas chromatographs can indicate both what’s in a sample (qualitative) as well as how much of something there is(quantitative). If you are fascinated by shows like CSI, and have enough basic chemistry, this course would be great for you. However, the course is first and foremost designed for chemistry students working towards their degree.
Syllabus
Description: This course will provide students with a background in modern analytical chemistry with an emphasis on instrumentation. Applications of instrumental analytical chemistry in medicine, forensics and materials science will be presented. Course objectives:
- To reinforce chemical principles central to analytical chemistry.
- To introduce instrumental techniques for chemical measurement.
- To develop critical thinking for interpreting analytical data.
- To select instrumentation appropriate to the measurement need.
Week 1: Overview of instrumental analysis and basic chemistry review Week 2: Atomic spectroscopies and the analysis of metals Week 3: Calibration, QA/QC, and improving instrumental analysis Week 4: The basic principles of chromatography Week 5: Gas chromatography Week 6: Liquid chromatography Week 7: Vibrational spectroscopies Week 8: Electronic and optical sensors