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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2008  > June  >
In the Laboratory
Identification of an Unknown Compound by Combined Use of IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and Mass Spectrometry: A Real-Life Experience in Structure Determination
Louis J. Liotta and Magdalena James-Pederson
Department of Chemistry, Stonehill College, Easton, MA 02357
Cover
June 2008
Vol. 85 No. 6
p. 832
Abstract
In this introductory organic chemistry experiment, the students get an opportunity to analyze and identify an unknown compound as it is done in a real-laboratory setting. First, students are instructed on the proper operation of three major instruments, NMR, IR, and GC–MS, and are given a sample of an unknown compound. The students are expected to operate these three instruments on their own so as to obtain 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR, and MS spectra of their unknown sample. They must then interpret the data from each of the four spectroscopic methods simultaneously to elucidate the chemical structure of the unknown compound. In this exercise, the instructor does not provide a list of possible unknowns so as to narrow the search for the students. All the knowledge about the nature of the compound is obtained from the spectral data.
Supplement
Pre-laboratory reading material, detailed procedural instructions, and report worksheet for the students; Instructor notes; Tables containing the spectral assignments for each unknown
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Citation
Liotta, Louis J.; James-Pederson, Magdalena. J. Chem. Educ. 2008, 85, 832.
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Keywords
Carbon; First-Year Undergraduate / General; Gas Chromatography; Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives; Instrumental Methods; IR Spectroscopy; Laboratory Instruction; Mass Spectrometry; Molecular Properties / Structure; NMR Spectroscopy; Organic Chemistry; Qualitative Analysis; Second-Year Undergraduate; Spectroscopy
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History
Created:
Last Updated:
5/5/2008
5/7/2008
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