The new, state-of-the-art instruments  used by all our chemistry students, even in their first two years, are some of the best available. Facilities are bright, new, clean, safe and well-equipped. All students carry out their experiments in state-of-the-art fume hoods to ensure their safety.

For the first two years, typically, chemistry labs at Connecticut College are held in the new F.W Olin Science Center. Twelve students work under the direction of one faculty member. The small lab class size allows each student to have close personal interaction with faculty and hands-on use of our sophisticated equipment

Upper-level labs, including biochemistry, advanced synthetic organic, physical, inorganic and instrumental chemistry, are divided up into small groups of 12 students or less in the newly renovated Hale Laboratory

In the next two years, advanced instruments typically used by students for structural analysis of their own products synthesized in the lab include:

  • Infrared and UV-Visible spectrophotometers
  • A tandem Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer
  • A 500 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometer
  • Molecular modeling software on the computers in labs
  • Fluorometers

In advanced organic chemistry, students learn in detail how complex organic molecules, including pharmaceuticals, are synthesized.  Biochemistry students perform a semester-long research-like project in which they isolate, purify and characterize an enzyme, just as they would in a research or graduate program. For this research, they have access to:

  • Three dimensional molecular modeling capabilities
  • A high speed centrifuge
  • A high pressure liquid chromatograph
  • Multiple electrophoresis systems UV-visible spectrophotometers, a lyophilizer to freeze-dry proteins and a polarimeter

In the physical chemistry courses (CHM 307 and 309), students use lasers, high resolution spectrometers and other modern analytical and diagnostic instruments to probe the energies and dynamic behavior of atoms and molecules.

In advanced classes in inorganic chemistry (CHM 402) and instrumental methods of analysis (CHM 414), students experience hands-on learning with synthetic and instrumental techniques routinely used in cutting-edge research with major equipment:

  • a scanning electron microscope
  • inert atmosphere glove box and other air-free synthetic apparatus,
  • powder X-ray diffractometer
  • thermal analysis instrumentation
  • electrochemical analyzer
  • chromatography instrumentation