Equipment
Biochemistry Equipment Cluster
The biochemistry equipment cluster includes an ultracentrifuge, refrigerated centrifuge, various microcentrifuges, protein and nucleic acid gel electrophoresis equipment, thermal cycler, speed vac concentrator, -80ÂșC freezer, autoclave, luminometer, shaker/incubator and UV crosslinker.
Digital InGaAs IR Camera
The Goodrich Digital InGaAs IR camera allows photographs to be taken between 900 nm - 1700 nm. This capability allows underdrawings in paintings to be imaged along with pentimenti. It is used in research in the Departments of Chemistry, and Archeology, as well as in the study of materials from the University Collections of Art and History. It has also been used in collaboration with several museums.
Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer
The Agilent Technologies Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) allows the separation of volatile mixtures of compounds by gas chromatography and analysis of each component by mass spectrometry.
The Glove Box
The Chemistry Department operates and maintains a state of the art Vacuum Atmospheres Nexus One inert atmosphere glove box. The glove box has moisture and oxygen sensors, variable speed dry train blowers, automatic computer controlled valve switching, low temperature freezer, cold well, atmosphere cooling unit, antechamber and mini antechamber, vacuum port, and automatic regeneration control.
Infrared Spectrometer
The Perkin Elmer Spectrum 100 Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectrometer with the Diamond Attenuated Total Reflectance sampling accessory (FT-IR) uses infrared light to determine the functional groups in organic molecules.
The Nicolet Impact 410 Infrared Spectrometer (IR) uses infrared light to probe the functional groups in organic molecules and is capable of analyzing solid and liquid samples. Students in Organic Chemistry and Organic Spectroscopic Methods courses and those involved in research use the IR to aid in the identification of compounds.
Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer
The Agilent Liquid Chromatograph Accurate Mass Electrospray Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS TOF) separates mixtures of molecules using high performance liquid chromatography and accurately determines the mass of each one using the mass spectrometer. The mass of relatively large organic molecules, small biomolecules, and proteins can be accurately determined by this instrument. This instrument was purchased using a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer
The JEOL Eclipse+ 400 MHz multinuclear NMR is used to determine the structures of organic and organometallic molecules. This instrument was purchased using a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Phosphorimager
The Bio-Rad Personal Molecular Imager system is a high-resolution laser scanning system for radioisotopic imaging. This system accommodates both large (35 x 43 cm) and small (20 x 25 cm) storage phosphor screens for the imaging and quantitation of 32P, 33P, 35S, 14C, and 3H. Analysis is done using the Quantity One 1-D software package.
Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer
The Bruker Tracer III SD pXRF Spectrometer allows the determination of element composition of materials Aluminum and heavier on the periodic table. It is used by students in the CHEM110 lab and in research in the Departments of Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Geoscience, and Archeology, as well as in the study of materials from the University Collections of Art and History. It has also been used in collaboration with several museums.
Hewlett Packard UV-Visible Spectrophotometer
The Hewlett Packard Company donated the UV-Visible Spectrophotometer to Washington and Lee University. This instrument measures the wavelength and intensity of near UV and visible light absorbed by a sample. Housed in a room connected to the General Laboratory, the UV-Vis gives First-Years, as well as upperclassmen, hands-on access to this powerful analytical tool. General chemistry students are instructed in colorimetric analysis and apply the Beer-Lambert Law to determine the amount of copper in an unknown sample. The LaRiviere group uses the instrument to determine amounts and types of ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) in samples.
Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
Department Info
- P: 540-458-8872
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Science Addition
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia 24450