The Preparation of a UV-Light-Absorbing Polymer: A Project-Oriented Laboratory Experiment for the Introductory Organic Chemistry Curriculum

• Published in: Journal of chemical education Vol. 76; no. 11; p. 1523
• Main Authors: Poon, Thomas, Eller, Crystal F, Eller, Leah R, Jones, Kenya M, Massello, William, Norris, Cynthia M, Oelrich, Jeffrey A, Pluim, Thomas A, McIntyre, Jean P, Dorigo, Andrea E, Davis, Drew J, Davis, Matthew A, Izumi, Heather K, Kelley, Kurt H, Melamed, Megan L, Poplawski, Sarah E, St. Clair, Jason M, Stokes, Matthew P, Wheeler, Wells C, Wilkes, Erin E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Easton Division of Chemical Education 01.11.1999; American Chemical Society
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis; Curricula; Irradiation; Light; Organic chemistry; Polymers; Projects; Research Methodology; Science Curriculum; Science education; Scientific method; Ultraviolet radiation; Second-Year Undergraduate; Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives; Synthesis; Organic Chemistry
• ISSN: 0021-9584; 1938-1328
• DOI: 10.1021/ed076p1523

A laboratory experiment is described that combines organic synthesis, spectroscopy, and polymer chemistry and is suitable for the sophomore organic chemistry curriculum. In this three-week sequence, students synthesize and characterize the UV-absorber 2-(2',4'-dimethylbenzoyl)benzoic acid and incorporate it into films of polymethylmethacrylate. The project exposes students to a variety of techniques and topics including UV-vis, nuclear magnetic resonance and IR spectroscopy, free radical polymerization, vacuum filtration, use of a separatory funnel for extraction and washing, melting point determination, recrystallization, reflux, and Friedel-Crafts acylation.