A Jigsaw Classroom Activity for Learning IR Analysis in Organic Chemistry

Authors

T. Nicholas Jones, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's UniversityFollow
Kate J. Graham, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's UniversityFollow
Chris P. Schaller, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2012

Disciplines

Chemistry | Curriculum and Instruction | Education | Higher Education | Organic Chemistry | Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Abstract

A modified jigsaw classroom activity is presented for the integrated study of functional groups and their characteristic infrared absorption frequencies. Students individually performed semiempirical studies on the vibrational frequencies of an assigned molecule and compared the results to an experimental spectrum from a database. The results of these studies were discussed in a small group exercise to discover the spectral features that are most useful in identifying particular functional groups and their relationship to structures.

Comments

DOI: 10.1021/ed200334n

Recommended Citation

Jones, T. N.; Graham, K. J.; Schaller, C. P. A Jigsaw Classroom Activity for Learning IR Analysis in Organic Chemistry. J. Chem. Educ., 2012, 89(10), 1293–1294.