Chemistry department ‘poles’ in new NMR machine

The Luther Chemistry Department acquired a new attraction in July with the arrival of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) machine.

“The instrument applies a series of radio wave frequencies to molecules that have been placed inside a strong magnetic field,” Associate Professor of Chemisty Dr. Bradley Chamberlain said. “Based upon which radio frequencies are absorbed by the molecules, chemists can determine their structures–how the atoms within the molecules are connected to each other.”

The machine allows students to examine molecules in great detail.

“For the students in my classes and with whom I conduct collaborative research projects, the NMR spectrometer functions as our eyes, allowing us to determine if we have indeed prepared the molecules that are the targets of our chemical reactions,” Chamberlain said.

Students are excited to find out more about the NMR machine.

Chemistry major Jenni Park (‘14) said that she didn’t know very much about the machine yet, because it is a recent purchase that has gone without much fanfare. However, students like Park will have the chance to check out the instrument in the coming semesters.

Chamberlain wrote the proposal which helped bring the instrument to Sampson Hoffland Laboratories. Three of his summer research students have had a chance to use it so far.

“We used to have to drive to La Crosse, Wisc. to use a machine of this strength,” Chamberlain said. “Now we have easier access and more time to work in the lab.”

Its strength tops that of all other instruments currently in the chemistry lab.

“[The NMR is the] most powerful analytical tool in the chemistry lab and allows for better research,” Chamberlain said.

Nineteen students will work with the machine this semester. It will be used mostly in organic chemistry courses, but Chamberlain said that the chemistry department hopes to incorporate it into general chemistry as well as other upper-level courses so students can become proficient with it.

Chamberlain said that the NMR is similar to the magnetic resonance imagery (MRI) machine commonly used in hospitals in that It allows observers to see the atomic structure of an object by pulsing radio waves onto the object and displaying a series of peaks on a screen. The placement of the peaks is the indicator
of the way in which the item’s atoms are connected.

The technology for the NMR was implemented in low-field strength during the 1960s and ‘70s.

“We have previously had an NMR that was a weaker magnet at 60 megahertz (MHz) and now we have upgraded to one that is 300 MHz,” Chamberlain said. “We can look at more molecules that are biologically relevant.”

This is especially important for Luther biology majors, many of whom take chemistry courses. The research they do in the Chemistry lab will contribute to the knowledge they will need after leaving Luther.

“The line between chemistry and biology is blurring,” Chamberlain said.