Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy of Acetylene in the Lecture
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Thomas E. Briggs [1] ; Scott T. Sanders [1]
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[1] University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
City of Madison, Estados Unidos
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- Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 83, Nº 12, 2006, pág. 1864
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
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Resumen
Lectures can be greatly enhanced by demonstrating experimental techniques or analysis tools directly in the classroom. The homework experience can also be more valuable when the students are working with real data that was obtained in an experiment they observed. We have designed an in-class experiment to measure the absorption spectrum of acetylene near 1525 nm and its dependence on gas pressure. The experiment is based on readily available telecommunications products including a broadband fiber-coupled light source and optical spectrum analyzer. The experiment was coupled to a follow-up assignment in which students extract spectroscopic details from the classroom data, culminating in an inference of gas pressure. The experience demonstrated how data are obtained in the lab and how to interpret the data for meaningful results. The same general approach could be used to investigate the optical properties of other substances. The use of fiber-coupled telecommunications equipment provides an extremely flexible setup, in our case enabling the high-pressure gas cell to be located in a remote room for added safety.
