CHEMISTRY 524, INSTRUMENTAL METHODS OF CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
Spring 2006
Lecture:
Lab:
T/Th 9:30-10:45 a.m., McKinley Hall, Room 224
M/W 1:30-4:20 p.m., McKinley Hall, Room 202
T/TH 1:30-4:20 p.m., McKinley Hall, Room 202
Instructor: Dr. Mike Van Stipdonk (Mike.VanStipdonk@Wichita.edu)
Office: Room 330A, McKinley Hall
Office Hours: T/Th 10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m. or by appointment
Office Phone: 978-7381
Course Topics (tentative):
Introduction
Primer, spectroscopy and spectrometry
Review, tools of analytical chemistry
Signal, noise and background
Elemental or Atomic spectroscopy/analysis
Atomic emission spectrometry
Atomic absorption spectrometry
X-ray and electron spectroscopic methods
Nuclear spectroscopic methods
Mass spectrometry
Molecular spectroscopy/analysis
Vibrational (Infrared and Raman) spectroscopy
Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy
Fluorescence spectroscopy
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Mass spectrometry
Electrochemical Instrumental Methods (may be deleted to same time)
Analytical Separations
Gas chromatography
Liquid chromatography
Capillary and gel electrophoresis
Important Dates:
3/10
Mid-semester point
4/2
Last day to drop with W
3/20-3/26
Spring Break
5/9
Study day
5/18
Final exam (8:00-9:50 a.m.)
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CHEMISTRY 524, INSTRUMENTAL METHODS OF CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SUGGESTED READING
The official text for this course is Exploring Chemical Analysis, 3rd. edition by Harris. For further
reading, the textbooks:
Rubinson and Rubinson, Contemporary Instrumental Analysis
Christian and O’Reilly, Instrumental Analysis
Strobel and Heineman, Chemical Instrumentation: A Systematic Approach
Silverstein, Bassler and Morrill, Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds
will be made available in the Chemistry Library for your use. You are also encouraged to
explore any texts on instrumental analysis in the Chemistry and Ablah Libraries.
EXAMINATION AND GRADE INFORMATION
Assignments for credit will include in-class and take-home exercises designed to develop your
spectral interpretation skills and in-class quizzes on similar problems. In addition, there will be a
mid-term (date yet to be decided) and end-of-term exam on the theory behind the instrumental
methods discussed in class and laboratory, and the interpretation of spectra derived from
organic and inorganic compounds. Our final exam will be the ACS standardized exam for
Instrumental Analysis.
Note: grades, exam scores, homework answers, etc. will NOT be discussed over the phone or
by e-mail. Serious discussions should be conducted by making an office appointment with the
instructor.
Policy on Incompletes: Before consideration is given to the issuance of a grade of I
(incomplete) to a student who cannot complete the course during the normal period of the
semester, ALL of the following criteria must be met:
a. The student is unable to complete no more than ONE (1) of the course requirements
due to circumstances beyond his/her control.
b. The student must be performing at a level that would warrant the issuance of a
passing grade at the time the request for incomplete is made.
c. No more than two (2) weeks of classes remain in the semester
d. The request is initiated by the student by properly completing a “Request for an
Incomplete” form, including all of the requested information and signatures.
Policy on Make-Up Exams: There will be NO MAKEUPS for any of the exams. In cases of
justifiably serious conflict, exams may be taken early. Absences from examinations must be
approved by the instructor ahead of time. If you are ill and cannot attend, you should call the
instructor before the exam is administered. Claims of illness that result in absences must be
verified in writing by a Health Center or by your physician. In addition, STUDENTS WHO FAIL
TO TAKE THE FINAL EXAM WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE INSTRUCTOR WILL
RECEIVE A FAILING GRADE FOR THE ENTIRE COURSE.
Policy on Withdrawal from the Course: If you decide to withdraw from the course, it is YOUR
responsibility to initiate the process and complete it by the published deadline. Students who do
not complete the scheduled assignments, laboratory projects and examinations and do NOT
withdraw will receive a failing grade for this course.
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CHEMISTRY 524, INSTRUMENTAL METHODS OF CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
LABORATORY
In the laboratory part of this course, you will gain “hands-on” experience with several pieces of
analytical instrumentation by characterizing a series of known and unknown compounds. You
will then be asked to complete a guided, short project, as teams of 4 individuals, that will be
designed to probe your understanding of the analytical information provided by various
instrumental methods and general experimental design and problem solving skills. The
topic/subject of the projects will be provided by the instructor and TA. The number of laboratory
exercises is flexible, yet to be determined, and completely dependent on the status (working,
not working, etc.) of the analytical instrumentation. The most important goal of the laboratory
experience is to provide you with a reasonably deep understanding of the chemical information
provided by the various analytical techniques, and practical application of each, so that you may
intelligently apply them to a “problem solving” exercise.
TENTATIVE POINT DISTRIBUTION AND GRADING SCALE
Points will be distributed as follows:
1. In-class and take home interpretation exercises, 100 points each
2. In-class interpretation quizzes, 20 points each
3. “Learning” lab experiments, 20 points each
4. Mid-term exam, 100 points
5. End-of-term exam, 100 points
6. Final exam, 100 points
7. Laboratory project, with presentation, 200 points
Your grade will be determined as follows:
At the end of the term, the average of the top three (3) student’s scores will be set equal to
100%. Your scores will then be calculated as a percentage of that top score when course letter
grades are determined using the scale shown immediately below.
A
B
C
D
F
=
=
=
=
=
88%-100%
76%-87%
63%-75%
50%-62%
0%-49%
NOTE: because grades are based on a total points scale rather than an arbitrary curve (though
the scale is obviously adjusted to the performance of the class) everyone can get an A in this
course.
THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THE GRADING SYSTEM AT ANY
TIME DURING THE SEMESTER.
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CHEMISTRY 524, INSTRUMENTAL METHODS OF CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CODE FORM
This form will be used to assign to you a student identification code that will be used on
all exams and critical thinking exercises submitted for credit. We are using the
identification code in order to comply with the Family Right to Privacy Act of 1974, and
to keep your grades and course progress private.
Print your name
Sign your name
Write the last four (4) digits of your Shocker Card number (NOT SSN!), and provide two
letters. This will be your identification code.
Note. By signing this form you testify that you received the course syllabus and were
present during a discussion of the syllabus and its content in class.
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