Instructor
Frank Ow, Lecturer, UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Coursework Prerequisite
Chemistry Honors (AP Chemistry strongly recommended)
Course Description
Significant resources go into the laboratory synthesis, including compounds used in everyday products like household cleaners, food additives, personal care products, and medications. But how do scientists confirm the identity of the final product? How can they be sure of the product’s chemical structure? With millions of compounds known to exist, what processes are used to determine the chemical identity of a compound?
This course has two objectives.
- Topics from general and organic chemistry required for understanding structural determination will be covered.
- Students will get substantial laboratory exposure focusing on analytical and characterization techniques used for structure elucidation. Some synthesis may also be involved.
Introduction to Organic Compounds
Students will heavily build upon their previous knowledge from high school honors chemistry/AP chemistry by covering the curriculum from introductory organic chemistry, including: structure and bonding in organic compounds, nomenclature, and properties of organic acids and bases.
Analytical and Characterization Methods for Structure Determination
Students will be introduced to common analytical and characterization techniques used for structure determination. Students will receive hands-on experience with colorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, refractometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Common synthetic lab techniques such as liquid-liquid extraction, distillation, and recrystallization will be utilized.
Final Project
Students will determine the structure of an unknown compound given a list of candidates. All laboratory techniques previously learned will be utilized to physically and chemically characterize the compound to reach a conclusion of its identity.
Possible Off-Field Trips
Grace F. Napolitano Pure Water Southern California Innovation Center, HRL Laboratories, Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, Scripps Research
Possible On-Field Trips
UCLA CNSI, UCLA Molecular Instrumentation Center, UCLA Materials Characterization Lab,various research labs