Development of laboratories for teaching basic chemical principles using techniques of radio astronomy

CHED 1765

DeWayne T. Halfen, halfendt@as.arizona.edu1, Aldo J. Apponi1, and Lucy M. Ziurys, lziurys@as.arizona.edu2. (1) Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 N. Cherry Ave., Tucson, AZ 85721, (2) Department of Chemistry, Astronomy, Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 N. Cherry Ave., Tucson, AZ 85721
Laboratory exercises have been developed for undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry, astronomy, biology, and biochemistry to teach basic principles in physical chemistry using the interstellar medium as the laboratory. Using a radio telescope, in this case, the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO) 12m antenna, the physical and chemical properties of interstellar gas are investigated by observing spectra of molecules such as CO, HCN, HC3N, CH3CN, SiO, and H2CO. Laboratory exercises have been created, for example, that investigate the nature of organic chemistry in interstellar clouds, for biology graduate students interested in astrobiology. Additional laboratories are being developed to teach astronomy graduate and undergraduate students about practical aspects of molecular astrophysics and spectroscopy. Basic chemical principles are thus illustrated by an interesting, non-traditional approach.