Bio L,ab

1 Pages 262 Words

Most experiments can be broken down in to three parts as shown in the diagram to the right.

In Part 1, the Sample preparation/calculation stage, you determine what to do to get your starting materials to react. You might ask yourself questions such as: how many grams of the starting materials do I need, what Molarity are the solutions, how many milliequivalents of each substance do I need, what form do each of the starting materials need to be in (solid, liquid, gas), do I make solutions of the solids, what are the physical constants (melting point, color, mwt, etc) or solubility behavior of my substances?

In Part 2, the manipulation stage, you determine what to do with the materials you have assembled for this lab. Do I reflux them for an hour? Do they need to be separated on the basis of their densities or their solubility in water? Do I need to wash the materials at some stage in the reaction? Do I separate by chromatography (flash, or column, or TLC). See the Lab Techniques booklet for specific ideas and help.

In Part 3, the Identification stage, you attempt to characterize your product(s) by selecting appropriate techniques. Some of the techniques are: Infrared or UV/VIS spectroscopy, melting/boiling points, mixed melting points, NMR, chromatograpic methods, and physical characteristics.

The more thought that you put into the initial design of your experiment, the easier it will be for you to anticipate potential problem areas. This should help you overcome any problems with less worry and aggravation, as well as hopefully learn something interesting!...