This experiment targets undergraduate students in an analytical or organic instructional context. Using a simple extraction, this protocol allows students to quantify and qualify monoterpenes in essential oils from citrus fruit peels. The procedures involve cooling down the peels by immersing them into icy water. After a few minutes, the chilled peels are pulped in a simple kitchen blender using acidic brine to hydrolyze the undesired fatty acids. Essential oils are extracted from the emulsion using methylene chloride and are then injected in a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer. Among the fruit tested—limes, grapefruits, and oranges—all showed a high concentration of (R)-limonene, a monoterpenoid commonly found in these fruits. Students are invited to quantify (R)-limonene in the extracts following an accurate 5-point standard calibration curve. For students, this experiment may be a first contact with the analysis of plant extracts as well as an introduction to the biochemistry of monoterpenes.
Information for the instructor including specifications on the standard deviation curves, the complete GC–MS programs, results obtained by students, common fragmentation patterns, and pre- and postlab questions and answers
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.
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.
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.
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.
Caution! 
