Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy in the Undergraduate Laboratory: Assessment of a NSF‐CCLI Supported Project. What Did the Students Learn and What Did We Learn?

Abstract

In traditional chemistry curricula, students may encounter a particular instrument only once in their undergraduate career. We have developed an approach that exposes students multiple times to selected instruments, with early encounters focusing on fundamental aspects of the techniques and later encounters building in complexity and sophistication. We recently finished the assessment phase of a curricular project centered on the incorporation of flame atomic absorption spectroscopy throughout the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. Our assessment indicates that this approach is successful and our initial goals were largely achieved.

Keywords:

• Assessment
• flame atomic absorption
• Trinity University

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Ben Smith of the University of Florida and James Holcombe of the University of Texas for their contributions as outside reviewers in the drafting of the assessment form and the review of the student responses. Varian, Inc., and Trinity University are also thanked for their financial support of this project. M.M.B. was a Dreyfus Scholar during the project lifetime. This project was funded by the National Science Foundation–CCLI A&I program as project 0088015. Finally, the project would not have been possible without the cooperation of the chemistry department faculty, staff, and students. In particular, Bert Chandler and William Kurtin were largely responsible for development and implementation of the CHEM 1118 labs. Diane Smith, member of the Trinity Department of Geosciences, was a co‐PI and responsible for the geosciences portion of this project and reviewed drafts of this contribution. Frank Walmsley is also thanked for reviewing drafts of this contribution.

Notes

The author was invited to contribute this paper to a special issue of the journal entitled “Undergraduate Research and Education in Spectroscopy.” This special issue was organized by Associate Editor David J. Butcher, Professor of Chemistry at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina, USA.