Teaching

CHEM 332/632 - Instrumental Analysis

Theory and practice of techniques of instrumental analysis including spectrophotometry, fluorescence, mass spectrometry, atomic absorption, gas and liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, and dynamic electrochemistry. Designated as a writing intensive course (W2). Offered in the Fall semester. As of Fall 2020, this course carries a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) designation.

When taught by Prof. Collins, CHEM 332/332L can satisfy an Applied Approaches requirement for the Food Systems minor.

CHEM 332L - Instrumental Analysis Laboratory

[Taken concurrently with CHEM 332] Practical use of analytical instrumentation for chemical analysis with a focus on exploring modifications and optimization of instrument operating parameters. At present, the laboratory section of the course is centered around the analysis of food items grown at Bucknell University Farm and other community partners, covering water-soluble organic, lipid-soluble organic, and inorganic chemical analysis. Students will learn to conduct sample preparation, extraction, chemical analysis, data processing, and communication of results to technical and non-technical audiences. Students will personally use modern chemical instruments, including gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), UV-Visible spectrophotometry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ion chromatography (IC), and inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Students will interface with community partners and stakeholders.

Community Engaged Learning in Analytical Chemistry - Based on the development of community engagement within the Instrumental Analysis Lab course, in collaboration with Bucknell University Farm, Prof. Collins and Prof. Spiro (BU Farm Faculty Director) have published a book chapter to document the opportunities available for community engagement through University Farms and Community Gardens.

Collins, D.B. and M.D. Spiro. "Developing Community Engaged Learning in Chemistry to Address Food Insecurity and Nutrition with University Farms and Gardens" in Engaging Students with Real-World Context: Volume 2. ACS Symposium Series, Vol. 1461, 2023, pp 39-55. [link]

CHEM 231 - Quantitative Analysis

The course deals primarily with quantitative chemical equilibria and their role in practical analysis. Topics covered include acid - base chemistry, solubility phenomena, metal - complex equilibria, oxidation - reduction equilibria, electrochemistry, spectrophotometry, and chemical separation techniques including extraction, ion - exchange and chromatography. Calculations and quantitative solutions to problems are stressed throughout the course.

CHEM 231L - Quantitative Analysis Laboratory

[Taken concurrently with CHEM 231] The laboratory is closely integrated with the CHEM 231 classwork. Quantitative analysis of unknown samples is required and some experiments are designed to simulate small research problems. Experimental techniques chosen include acid - base and redox titrations, elementary spectrophotometry and potentiometry, and extraction and chromatography.

CHEM 230 - Principles of Chemistry II

Quantitative topics in chemistry including acid/base, metal complex, and chemical separation equilibria, electrochemistry, solid state chemistry, and nuclear chemistry. Designed for students in STEM majors other than chemistry and cell biology/biochemistry. Offered in the Spring semester.

CHEM 230L - Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory

[Taken concurrently with CHEM 230] Practical exploration of topics covered in the lecture.

CHEM 386/686 - Mass Spectrometry (Special Topics Seminar)

Over the past few decades, a huge diversity of methods for creating, transmitting, and analyzing ions have been developed. Mass spectrometry can now be done on the benchtop of any laboratory with little sample preparation, in high-throughput workflows popular in the chemical/pharmaceutical R&D industry, and in huge facilities for ultra-high mass resolution. Nearly every practicing chemist will encounter the need or desire to generate and/or interpret mass spectrometry data. Emerging mass spectrometry methods can generate massive datasets, and compiled data from many scientists over years have been compiled into major repositories, enabling computational discoveries in mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry has become a technique central to the analysis of complex samples in biological, environmental, food, forensic, materials, and petroleum fields. In this seminar, we will explore some of the latest developments in modern mass spectrometry, and students will gain hands-on experience with the impressive mass spectometry resources available at Bucknell.

CHEM 131 - What's that Smell?

We experience the world with our senses. Olfactory responses often conjure vivid and specific memories, emotions, and sub-conscious responses, yet our sense of smell is shrouded in the most mystery of all of our senses. In this course, we use smelly chemicals, the olfactory system, and its many connections to culture and society, as a springboard for practicing scientific thinking, understanding how discoveries are made, and how we can connect content areas between disciplines with the liberal arts.

CHEM 131L - What's that Smell? Laboratory

[Taken concurrently with CHEM 131] We experience the world through our senses. Olfactory responses to stimulus often conjure vivid and specific memories, strong emotions, attraction or repulsuion, and various sub-conscious responses. Despite its importance to our existence, our sense of smell remains the most mysterious of our five senses. In this course, we use smelly chemicals, the olfactory system, and its many connections to culture and society, as a springboard for practicing scientific thinking, understanding how discoveries are made, and how we can connect content areas between disciplines with the liberal arts. The course has four parts, (1) chemical fundamentals, (2) chemical signaling, (3) fragrance and consumer products, and (4) air quality and environmental health.

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