Discusses the need to encourage increasing numbers of persons to enter analytical chemistry, educate them thoroughly in basic chemical science, and expose them to the most modern methods and instrumentation. Examines some problems and several university's efforts to overcome them. (MVL)

Discusses: (1) the design of the Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrometer; (2) the computation of the spectrum from the interferogram; and (3) the use of apodization. (Part II will discuss advantages of FT-IR over dispersive techniques and show applications of FT-IR to difficult spectroscopic measurements.) (JN)

Discusses the feasibility of using fermenters in secondary school laboratories. Includes discussions of equipment, safety, and computer interfacing. Describes how a simple fermenter could be used to simulate large-scale processes. Concludes that, although teachers and technicians will require additional training, the prospects for biotechnology in…

The National Science Foundation's College Science Instrumentation Program (CSIP) provides four-year colleges with money to buy modern instruments. Accomplishments of the program during its first year (including 234 awards totaling $5.5 million) and future directions are summed up by Robert F. Watson, head of the CSIP program. (JN)

Reviews techniques for online coupling of high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, emphasizing those suitable for application to nonvolatile samples. Also summarizes the present status, strengths, and weaknesses of various techniques and discusses potential applications of recently developed techniques for combined liquid…

A project was designed to expose students to the complexities of designing an instrumentation and control system for the overall plant design. Project objectives, format, and student activities, accomplishments, and shortcomings are described. (JN)

This document contains 20 competency-based examinations with student and instructor manuals for electronics and instrumentation occupations. For each of the examinations, the student manual contains the following: the competency, the performance objective, directions, the materials and equipment needed, a space to note time started and time…

Examines recent developments in techniques for obtaining high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra on solid samples, discussing the kinds of applications for which these techniques are well suited. Also discusses the characteristics of NMR of solids and generating magnetization for NMR in solids. (JN)

The fundamentals of two surface techniques--secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and ion-scattering spectrometry (ISS)--are discussed. Examples of how these techniques have been applied to surface problems are provided. (JN)

Described is an experiment to investigate the plasticizer content in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products. The experiment is designed for college students using an instrumental analysis laboratory. (RH)

Presents two lists: (1) important considerations for any total chemical analysis and (2) a condensed version that can be used by students to evaluate each analytical procedure. Benefits of using the condensed version (such as seeing that instrumentation is only one of several components of an analysis) are noted. (JN)

Describes a birefringence apparatus that can be assembled for less than $100 and can be used to measure both the dimensions and dipole moments of many macromolecules. Details are given of the construction and manipulation of the apparatus. (JN)

Examines trends in methods for deriving chemical information from a variety of systems and environments, focusing on improvements in sensitivity, specificity, speed and simplicity, and in sampling. Indicates that the increasing importance of analytical instrumentation requires reexamination of its coverage in educational curricula. (JN)

Voltammetry is used as a model for teaching chemical instrumentation to chemistry undergraduates at the National University of Singapore. Lists six criteria used to select a successful teaching model and shows how voltammetry satisfies each criterion. (JN)

Describes: (1) the light beam galvanometer; (2) the electrometer/direct current amplifier; and (3) digital multimeters. Focuses on the uses or potential uses of these instruments in teaching A-level physics. (JN)