Baar, M. R. (2018). Research Experience for the Organic Chemistry Laboratory: A Student-Centered Optimization of A Microwave-Enhanced Williamson Ether Synthesis and GC Analysis. Journal of Chemical Education, 95(7), 1235鈥�1237.
This example of an Organic Chemistry experiment moves a 鈥榗ook book鈥� laboratory to a discovery-based one through rapid analysis. The author is a Chemistry Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Muhlenberg College, Pennsylvania, USA. Using one monomode microwave oven and one GC instrument for every 5 students, data (related to Williamson ether synthesis) can be reviewed, new variables proposed, and the experiment run and re-analysed under revised conditions, all within a 3 hour laboratory period. Formal assessment of students鈥� initial and revised plans showed improvement. In their laboratory reports, students explained the reasoning behind their team鈥檚 plans and their success or lack thereof. They were asked questions concerning their understanding of the experiment鈥檚 goals in their weekly lab quiz. Individually, students also had to analyze data from the entire class and propose a new trial. Supporting Information of the experimental procedures is included as well as student report guidelines and complete results from student experiments over a 3-year period.