LAUSR

An undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory that provides an introduction to various spectroscopic techniques is reported. Whereas organic spectroscopy is most often learned and practiced in the context of reaction analyses, this laboratory experiment allows students to become comfortable with 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and IR spectroscopy, in addition to mass spectrometry. The laboratory experiment also teaches students how to perform thin-layer chromatography. The specific compound analyzed is isoamyl acetate, commonly known as “banana oil”. With the skills acquired from completing this laboratory experiment early in a given course, students are well-prepared to perform spectroscopic analyses in subsequent experiments encountered in their organic chemistry laboratory course.