The Department is well-equipped for laboratory applications of a wide range of instrumentation techniques. Students are introduced early to the use of chemical instrumentation and analysis of data. Chemistry is a laboratory science and we firmly believe in a hands-on approach which allows students to gain a good knowledge of various methods. We focus on sample preparation, using the instruments, evaluating and reporting of data, and the all-important awareness of the capabilities and limitations of each method. We are equipped for the following methods: (This is a partial list)

Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry: (AA) for analysis of trace elements in the environment, foods, materials, forensic samples, archeological samples, etc. Department has a Buck Scientific Accusys 211 and a Perkin-Elmer PE 2380.

Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry: (UV-Vis) for determination of concentrations of organic and inorganic substances in solution. The Department has a Beckmann-Coulter DU800, and a Helios Alpha.

Spectrofluorimetry: for analysis of tiny quantities of organic substances. The Department has a Quantech spectrofluorimeter.

Gas-liquid chromatography: (GC) for endless applications in analysis of small samples for substances present and their concentrations. We have various types of detectors for different tasks, which range from forensic samples to organic mixtures, environmental and food samples, and toxicological samples.

Mass spectrometry: (MS) often coupled with gas chromatography: gives absolute compound identifications and molecular weights. The Department has two (2) HP 6890 GC, each with an HP 5973 mass spectrometer detector.

High pressure liquid chromatography: (HPLC) for separations and identifications of pharmaceuticals, natural products, food products, etc.

Fourier-transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR): for identifying organic compounds and components in mixtures, including polymers, drug samples, contaminants. The Department has a Nicolet Impact 410, along with a Nicolet 380 featuring a Thermo Scientific “Smart Performer” attenuated total reflectance (ATR) attachment.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometry: (NMR) for refined structure determination of organic compounds, and absolute identifications. The Department has an Anasazi 90 MHz spectrometer with multi-nuclear capability.

Voltammetry and polarography: plus other electrochemical techniques for studying electron transfer and oxidation states of substances, and following progress of reaction pathways. The Department has a Bioanalytical Systems CV-1A cyclic voltammetry instrument with assorted electrodes. Polarimetry, refractometry: optical methods for many bio-active molecules, including pharmaceuticals, sugars, natural products.

The Department also has extensive technical library holdings, with long hardcopy runs of many major journals and references. Also online journals and online access to Chemical Abstracts, with in-house computers for data access and analysis.