Tuesday, October 30, 2012

New NMR

After struggling with a 60-MHz instrument with a problematic magnet for many years the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry eagerly welcomes its new 90-MHz instrument.  It was purchased from Anasazi Instruments, Inc., and features a permanent magnet. 
.
This new spectrometer easily runs proton and C-13 spectra and - give it a moment - it can analyze other nuclei as well. Students will soon become adept at the DEPT procedure to distinguish carbon atoms of different degree of substitution. They will be cozy at interpreting two-dimensional spectra from COSY experiments.  Students are introduced to NMR theory and operation in the sophomore level organic chemistry course and continue using it in upper -level chemistry courses.  Perhaps the person most excited about this new instrument is Professor McMillen, who spent countless hours preparing our previous unstable machine each week before heavy use in the student labs.

Student Club Recognized in the News

The IU South Bend Biology-Chemistry Club has been extremely busy this fall. The students have taken a trip to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and celebrated Mole Day at 6:02 PM on 10/23 in the Student Activity Center. They have brought in guests to speak about medical school and sustainability, and have also arranged for the showing of American Chemical Society videos.  

Just this past week they celebrated National Chemistry Week with a science outreach program at the local River Park Public Library.  The photograph is possibly of two future scientists who attended this event.  The local Fox news station gave a short report of the club's event:  Fox news story.  Thank you students for your efforts on campus and for the community.  It is an obvious statement that isn't stated enough: Without our students, our campus is nothing.