Search

The introduction of an integrated curriculum into general, organic, biochemistry (GOB) course at Georgia Southern University is well received by students, as indicated by the improved course evaluations measuring student interest. This is clearly superior to the GOB curriculum in terms of coverage possible and student interest, and is easily adaptable to fit a variety of institutional types.

The development of a guided-inquiry based, green electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) laboratory experiment in organic chemistry is illustrated. The characterization of products from experiment on green electrophilic aromatic iodination of salicylamide provides students opportunity to interpret signals in the fingerprint region of the infrared spectrum.

An experiment suitable for an introductory-level chemistry course using common foodstuffs to investigate biochemical principles relevant to nutrition has been developed. Students can lean about determination of carbohydrate composition of a banana, analysis of the changes in carbohydrate composition as the fruit ripens, and investigation of the control of the ripening process.

Biochemistry is often a secondary part of most chemistry programs and so revitalizing it through project-oriented labs and emphasizing its interdisciplinary nature can improve students' opinions. Traditional labs can be converted into discovery-based, long-term projects involving enzyme isolation, purification, and characterization that enhance student understanding of concepts and student interest.

An alternative procedure using disposable Pasteur pipets instead of micropipets is suggested for glucose oxidase assay of glucose as applied to the lactase activity assay previously presented. Students tend to turn the expensive micropipets upside down and to thereby damage them even when they have been given careful instructions.

Students in a sophomore-level biochemistry laboratory course for a food and nutrition major can learn about enzymes by investigating where lactose is digested. Using lactase, easily available in tablets, and milk, which the students study earlier, gives a nutritional aspect to the lab. There is a paper chromatography version of the experiment and a glucose oxidase/horseradish peroxidase version, which is quicker and more accurate, though slightly more expensive.

A puzzle-oriented laboratory excercise increases the thinking skills and problem solving capacity of organic chemistry students. The excercise helps them to learn the techniques of reflux, and of simple and fractional distillation. The basis of the experiment is the pinacol rearrangement of 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-butanediol during its acid-catalyzed reaction. Students determine the structure of reactants and products on the basis of the infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data.

Organic synthesis laboratories commonly use flash column chromatography for purification despite the high cost of commercially available flow controllers that are necessary for the apparatus. However, an inexpensive flow controller can be designed using materials readily available in most academic laboratories. Design instructions and necessary materials are included.