Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is an analytical chemistry technique helpful in determining the purity and molecular structure of a sample. NMR spectroscopy is generally introduced in 200 level organic chemistry courses. However, the advanced mechanics behind how the spectrometer works is often overlooked in these lower-level chemistry courses. As a result, this leaves students more likely to memorize trends than understand how this type of spectroscopy works at an atomic level. Developing a low-cost NMR spectrometer and an interactive augmented reality (AR) app can help lead to new ways of teaching about NMR. These approaches to teaching allow students to have a hands-on learning experience which can help them better visualize what they are learning. Interactive teaching applications can help make the quantum mechanics and spin physics that are needed to understand NMR more obtainable to audiences of students with varying levels of both physics and chemistry knowledge. Through adopting Carl A Michal’s NMR spectrometer design, it can be demonstrated that a low-cost device can be made and used in teaching environments. For the development of the AR application, Unity and Vuforia editing softwares were used to create 3D animations walking the user through an interactive NMR lesson. The AR app aims to review and expand upon the user's knowledge of charged particles, magnetic fields, and spin physics to provide a holistic understanding of NMR spectroscopy at the atomic level. Both teaching techniques can help bring a new way of looking at NMR into the classroom and allow students of all educational backgrounds to understand NMR at the atomic level.

NMR spectrometers and augmented reality

ACS Spring 2022

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