Students were introduced to NMR early in the first semester of organic chemistry laboratory. The scaffolding process began with helping students learn about hydrogen environments and their relationship to the 1H NMR spectrum. Next the students were introduced to locations of functional groups commonly encountered in the first semester organic lab on 1H NMR spectra. Shifts anticipated from the presence of electronegative atoms such as oxygen were also taught. Splitting patterns were presented to students for some simple organic molecules before they began the synthesis portion of the lab. Near the beginning of the course, students were asked to match spectra with molecular structures. Later, they were expected to draw the anticipated spectra for their products from synthesis experiments and compare these to the actual 1H NMR results. Evaluating results by comparison with literature spectra was also part of the course. Depth of student understanding was measured.

Incorporation of scaffolding into the teaching of NMR in the organic laboratory

251st National Meeting (2016)

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