Some mathematical processes pertinent to undergraduate chemistry students are beyond what they might typically be taught. Fourier transform is broadly used with chemical instrumentation but is not fully understood by a typical undergraduate student. The goal of this research was to create an instructive lab that would explain the application of Fourier analysis to many instruments utilized in chemistry. It was important to use free, easily accessible software for this development as many students would not have access to more capable programs. Therefore the lab applies Microsoft Excel with possible expansion to R and other free software. The lab instructs students in how to export data from a miniature Bruker FTIR, import into a personal laptop, manipulate the raw data, and transform time/position domain data into the frequency domain utilizing the Analysis Toolpak in Microsoft Excel.

Utilization of Excel for fast Fourier transforms: Applications in analytical chemistry education

255th National Meeting (2018)

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