Computational chemistry is a rapidly evolving specialty within the field of chemistry. Computational chemistry utilizes theoretical calculations to simulate properties of molecules and chemical reactions. Computation is vital to many different industries like medicine, engineering, and environmental. Despite its significance, there are currently no computational chemistry courses offered at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). This study investigates the integration of computational chemistry into the undergraduate laboratory curriculum using WebMO. Computational laboratory exercises were developed for Organic Chemistry I and II laboratories. The first lab was designed to help students visualize molecular shape and structure and includes Newman projections, dipole moments, functional groups, and isomers. The second lab is to aid students in viewing key molecular orbitals as they play a significant role in reactions such as electrophilic aromatic substitutions. These exercises were administered to students in conjunction with their regular laboratory content as a hybrid lab, with the computational exercises added as bonus. Surveys were administered both pre- and post-lab. This presentation will detail the exercises, describe the impact on student learning, and give suggestions for how to improve in the future. The ultimate goal of the research is to incorporate computational chemistry throughout the curriculum and within the research group.
Using WebMO to Introduce Computational Chemistry at the University of Southern Mississippi
Category
Student Abstract Submission