A new organic laboratory experiment was designed and developed based upon the independent research of two undergraduate students investigating solvatochromism. Bromothymol blue was found to exhibit a significant bathochromic shift across a series of solvents increasing in polarity. An experiment was then created to allow students to discover this effect using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy data generated by the entire class. Students built skills in recognizing functional groups and intermolecular interactions as well as analyzing data trends. The undergraduate research process, design of the experiment and results from the first year of implementation into the curriculum will be presented.

Student-driven discovery of a solvatochromic effect propels the design of an undergraduate organic laboratory experiment

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.