Teaching Crystallography by Determining Small Molecule Structures and 3-D Printing: An Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Module
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Jacob P. Brannon [1] ; Isaac Ramirez [1] ; DaShawn Williams [2] ; Gregory A. Barding Jr. [1] ; Yan Liu [1] ; Kathryn M. McCulloch [1] ; Perumalreddy Chandrasekaran [2] ; S. Chantal E. Stieber [1]
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[1] California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Estados Unidos
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[2] Lamar University
Lamar University
Estados Unidos
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- Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 97, Nº 8, 2020, págs. 2273-2279
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
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Resumen
Experimental methods for determining 3-D atomic structures, such as crystallography, are rarely taught in the undergraduate curriculum, yet are considered to be the norm for 3-D structure determination in a research setting. Although a fully physical understanding of crystallography takes years of practice, practical applications and basic interpretation of small-molecule crystallography can be readily integrated into undergraduate curricula to give students a research-like laboratory experience. Three 1-h crystallography laboratory modules were developed using the free Olex2 software to determine the structure of (dithiolene)2Co(1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane)·dichloroethane, while introducing basic crystallography knowledge, crystal evaluation through microscopy, practical structure determination skills, and spatial awareness through 3-D printing. Following implementation in an advanced instrumental analysis class composed of 14 Master’s and undergraduate students, the increase of topical knowledge of small molecule crystallography was 18–30% based on tailored assessment surveys, and student feedback was highly positive. This suggests that students without a prior background in crystallography were able to learn and retain information about small molecule crystallography from these laboratory modules.
