TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 21 (2016) pp 199-204

Monitoring the Fischer Esterification Using Bench Top Gas Chromatography: An Undergraduate Lab Experiment Incorporating Technology and Techniques used in the Contemporary Research Environment

Brian Villareal, Andy Ling, Andrew Febrillet, Bavly Abdelmesih and Robert Aslanian*

Department of Chemistry, New Jersey City University, 2039 Kennedy Blvd. Jersey City NJ, 07305, raslanian@njcu.edu
Received August 15, 2016. Accepted September 8, 2016.

Published: 28 September 2016

Abstract. Organic laboratory experiments customarily illustrate theoretical concepts discussed in lecture and introduce some of the fundamental lab skills that are used in the field. However, it is important to a student’s success that more advanced skills that are valued by a graduate’s future employer are also exemplified. We have developed an experiment suitable for the organic chemistry lab curriculum that combines a green Fischer esterification reaction with gas chromatographic monitoring using the Vernier Mini-GC that provides students with a laboratory experience mimicking that seen in an industrial or academic research lab.

Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; organic chemistry

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: raslanian@njcu.edu )

Article in PDF format (322 KB) HTML format

Supporting Materials:

The student handout detailing the experimental procedure is provided in the Supplementary Material. (1.56 MB)