First-year general chemistry has large enrolments at large universities and the students have diverse backgrounds. The vast majority of the students are not chemistry majors. NMR was introduced to engage the students with their learning by exposing them to up-to-date technology; and to represent modern chemistry to students for whom these subjects will be their only chemistry experience in higher education. NMR spectroscopy was incorporated into two first year general chemistry laboratory experiments at the University of Technology Sydney in Sydney, Australia. With the advent of the bench top NMR challenges such as close access to instrumentation and high throughput have been overcome. The PicoSpin 45 NMR was moved into the student laboratory for the duration of the laboratory period each week. A pilot project in General Chemistry 2 Advanced was run to test the waters for future incorporation of NMR into all of General Chemistry 2. The first NMR experiment involved students identifying an unknown aldehyde, ketone, or alcohol through colour tests, FTIR, and NMR. During the following laboratory experiment students synthesized an ester followed by analysis utilizing FTIR and NMR. A survey, ASCIv2 modified by Xu et al., was administered to determine students' attitudes to the experience focused on engagement and accessibility of material, in addition to a post-laboratory quiz.

NMR in first year chemistry

249th National Meeting (2015)

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