JCE Online Journal of Chemical EducationDivision of Chemical Education, American Chemical SocietyAmerican Chemical Society
 | Subscriptions  | Software Orders  | Support  | Contributors  | Advertisers  | 

JCE Print

JCE Digital Library

JCE Software

Only@JCE Online

About JCE



  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2007  > November  >
In the Laboratory
The Mysterious Death: An HPLC Lab Experiment
An Undergraduate Forensic Lab
Douglas J. Beussman
Department of Chemistry, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN 55057
Cover
November 2007
Vol. 84 No. 11
p. 1809

Abstract
A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) laboratory experiment based on the separation of four prescription drugs (disopyramide, lidocaine, procainamide, and quinidine) is presented. The experiment is set within the forensic science context of the discovery of a patient's mysterious death where a drug overdose is suspected. Each lab group is provided with drug standards of known concentration and a simulated "blood" extract from the patient. Each group must determine whether the patient died of a drug overdose or through natural causes. This requires each drug standard to be analyzed separately to determine its retention time. The group must then analyze the "blood" to identify which drugs are present. After establishing the identity of any drugs present in the "blood", multiple drug injections of varying concentrations are performed to construct a calibration curve of peak area versus concentration. This can be used to determine the quantity of each drug present in the "blood". The students must also search the literature to determine possible drug interactions as well as normal and lethal doses of each drug, before reaching a conclusion about whether the patient died of a drug overdose, and if so whether it was likely accidental or intentional.
Supplement
Instructions for the students and notes for the instructor are available.
*
Download
Contents
More Information
*
Citation
Beussman, Douglas J. J. Chem. Educ. 2007, 84, 1809.
*
Keywords
Analytical Chemistry; Chromatography; Drugs / Pharmaceuticals; Forensic Chemistry; Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives; HPLC; Inquiry-Based / Discovery Learning; Laboratory Instruction; Medicinal Chemistry; Problem Solving / Decision Making; Quantitative Analysis; Separation Science; Toxicology; Upper-Division Undergraduate
*
History
Created:
Last Updated:
9/19/2007
9/27/2007
 Caution! 
Experiments, laboratory exercises, lecture demonstrations, and other descriptions of the use of chemicals, apparatus, instruments, computers, and computer interfaces are presented in the Journal of Chemical Education as illustrative of new or improved ideas or concepts in chemistry instruction and are directed at qualified teachers. Although every effort is made to assure and encourage safe practices and safe use of chemicals, the Journal of Chemical Education cannot assume responsibility for uses made of its published materials. Many chemicals are hazardous. Precautions for the safe use of hazardous chemicals and directions for their proper disposal are described in the Material Safety Data Sheets and on the labels. We strongly urge all those planning to use materials from our pages to make choices and to develop procedures for laboratory and classroom safety in accordance with local needs and situations.
  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2007  > November  > Page 1809


Subscriptions

JCE HS CLIC

Our Secondary School editors work hard to distill all the JCE materials to produce a fraction of particular interest to high school teachers. We call it CLIC.


Contributions Welcome
JCE welcomes your submission

Advertisers
In recent years we have worked hard to better match our advertisers with our readers. When shopping for chemistry education materials, visit our advertisers' WWW sites first.

Be An Ambassador
Take JCE along on your outreach missions. Copies of the Journal, guest access to JCE Online, our publications catalog, and more are available for your participants.