A Pedagogical Approach to Qualitative Organic Analysis - Simulating the Integration of Wet Tests, Spectroscopy, and Common Sense

Adrian J. Blackman
Department of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252C, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
J. Chem. Educ., 1996, 73 (5), p 434
DOI: 10.1021/ed073p434
Publication Date (Web): May 1, 1996
History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

Identification of unknowns plays an importatnt part in many undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory courses. Students, by using a computer simulation, are able to discover and rehearse the strategy of identifying an organic unknown in a situation free from the additional uncertainties of performing unfamiliar laboratory work and then relying on the results. Once a logical approach has been developed, identification of an unknown can be undertaken in the laboratory with more confidence and efficiency. A careful analysis of the process of identifying an organic unknown can be undertaken in the laboratory reveals that a number of principles can be formulated that ensure an efficient, logical approach. These include organisms tests into a hierarchical structure, dividing the analysis into stages and integrating spectroscopy and wet tests. A program ("Torganal" derived from Tasmanian developed organic analysis) that incorporates these principles has been developed and is already in use in universities, particularly in Australia. This article discusses Torganal.

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Organic Chemistry

Keywords (Feature):

Computer Series

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Computer-Based Learning

Keywords (Subject):

Spectroscopy
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  • Received: August 03, 2009

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