Low Resolution Raman Spectroscopy in an Undergraduate Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

Alexander Y. Nazarenko
Chemistry Department, State University of New York, College at Buffalo,
Buffalo, NY 14222, USA
E-mail: nazareay@buffalostate.edu

A low cost Raman instrument was introduced in an instrumental analysis laboratory course. Several variants of Raman Spectroscopy experiment were tested:  (1) Study of protonation reactions in solutions of polyatomic ions. (2) Quantitative determination of inorganic anions in solution. (3) Identification and quantitative analysis of a multicomponent mixture. The peculiarities of data analysis and interpretation as well as the limitations of low-resolution Raman spectroscopy in an educational environment are discussed. The laboratory setup was tested with chemistry and forensic chemistry students at SUNY College at Buffalo in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

Introduction and Experimental

Quantitative measurements of protonation reactions in solutions

Quantitative measurements of inorganic anions in solutions

Identification and determination of organic molecules

References