ERIC Number: EJ820866
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Nov
Pages: 3
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
GC-MS Analysis of [gamma]-Hydroxybutyric Acid Analogs: A Forensic Chemistry Experiment
Henck, Colin; Nally, Luke
Journal of Chemical Education, v84 n11 p1813-1815 Nov 2007
An upper-division forensic chemistry experiment is described. It involves using glycolic acid and sodium glycolate as analogs of [gamma]-hydroxybutyric acid and its sodium salt. The experiment shows the use of silylation in GC-MS analysis and gives students the opportunity to work with a commonly used silylating reagent, N,O-bis[trimethylsilyl]trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA). GC-MS is used to show the problem with analyzing an organic acid without derivatization and to analyze the products of silylation. (Contains 4 figures.)
Descriptors: Crime, Chemistry, Drug Abuse, Narcotics, Laboratory Equipment, Laboratory Experiments, Laboratory Procedures, College Science, Science Instruction, Undergraduate Students, Undergraduate Study, Molecular Structure
Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society. Subscription Department, P.O. Box 1267, Bellmawr, NJ 08099-1267. Tel: 800-691-9846; Tel: 856-931-5825; Fax: 856-931-4115; e-mail: jchemed@egpp.com; Web site: http://www.jce.divched.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A