Teaching Laboratories

The Science building houses three chemistry laboratories used for general, inorganic, organic, analytical, physical and environmental sciences. All laboratories are limited to a maximum of 24 students, each with their own work station.

Research Laboratories

Our faculty are involved in various research programs in their individual labs. Undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to participate in faculty mentored research.

UV-Vis Spectrophotometer (UV-Vis)

The Cary 100 UV-Vis spectrophotometer is a double beam, dual chopper, ratio recording, Czerny-Turner 0.28 monochromator UV-Vis spectrophotometer with single dispersion and a dual cell peltier (type SPV IXI).  The spectrophotometer is centrally controlled by a PC with Windows interface. High light throughput optical system with all reflective optical design, high speed accurate scanning. High performance R928 photomultiplier tube, tungsten halogen visible source with quartz window, deuterium arc ultra violet source.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR)

The ATI Mattson Genesis Series FTIR features 1 cm^-1 resolution in either near or mid-infrared configurations with a room temperature detector.  The detector is mounted in the source tower with conductive cooling that stabilizes source temperature and provides long term high-energy mid-infrared output. The special optical design characteristics and single investment-cast housing of the Quadrascan interferometer provide extra energy throughput and stability. For fast data acquisition and calculations, the Genesis is controlled from a PC running Mattson's WinFIRST software.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

Bruker AC 300 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (300 MHz FT-NMR).   This instrument has a Techmag upgrade that allows it to interface with a PC.  It is an extremely versatile instrument with a multinuclear probe and variable temperature capability.

Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS)

The Varian CP-3800 GC equipped with the CP-8400 autosampler and Saturn 2200 ion trap mass spectrometer is used for separating and identifying organic compounds within a mixture of compounds. The autosampler provides maximum sample throughput with a standard 100 sample carousel for 2 mL vials.

The primary source of funding for the Varian CP-3800 GC came from the National Science Foundation, through the Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement program (0633646). Supplemental funding has also been provided by the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Penn State Altoona.

Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS)

Perkin-Elmer model 2380 atomic absorption spectrophotometer with air-acetylene and NO₂ acetylene flame systems (both 5 and 10 cm 1-slot burners). We have a variety of hollow-cathode lamps for the trace detection of metals.

Flame/Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS)

Smith-Hieftje 12 (Thermo Jarrell Ash Corp. model 857) atomic absorption spectrophotometer with air-acetylene and NO₂ acetylene flame systems (both 5 and 10 cm 1-slot burners).  It also has the furnace atomizer (model 188) that can be used in place of the flame.  We have a variety of hollow-cathode lamps for the trace detection of metals.

Scanning Electron Microscope (LaB6 - SEM)

The Hitachi S-570LB scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a robust, relatively easy to use instrument capable of imaging a wide range of biological and materials samples.  It is quite versatile with a magnification of ~10 X to over 100,000 X, great depth of field and resolution of a few nanometers that is unequaled by other forms of microscopy. Using a crystal of lanthanum hexaboride (LaB₆) as the electron emitter instead of tungsten wire produces a brighter beam with a smaller sized electron source. This increases the resolution of the SEM, and allows the use of lower accelerating voltages, which helps prevent beam damage and penetration, and reduces charging artifacts.  A secondary electron detector is used for imaging the samples.  The image appears on a CRT screen but can be collected digitally using the Quartz PCI digital imaging system.

Optical Microscope

The Leica MZ12.5 is a high-performance stereomicroscope with 12.5:1 zoom and magnifications up to 640x.  The microscope has a 360-degree rotatable optics carrier, a field of view diameter of up to 33.3 mm, and a basic working distance of up to 135 mm.  It also includes integrated video camera and software for archiving and image processing.