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Online Undergraduate Analysis of Rosemary Essential Oil Using Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID)

In this experiment, rosemary essential oil will be analyzed using Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) and its three main components will be determined. 

The evaluation of essential oils is important in agricultural science and food chemistry. Determining their composition is necessary for the quality control of breeding parameters, cultivation, and production of aromatic plants. 

Introduction

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Gas Chromatography

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Flame Ionization Detection

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Intermolecular Forces

Learning Objectives 

1. Understand and explain how GC separation is performed.

2. Predict how molecular forces (molecular weight, polarity, boiling point, etc.) affect GC separation.

3. Draw a schematic of GC.

4. Become familiar with reading a scientific paper and use it to extract useful information.

At the end of this experiment students will be able to: 

Experimental Structure

Students will make a prediction for the three main volatile components in rosemary essential oil.

Students will analyze Rosemary oil and up to four standard solutions of possible components using GC-FID through the BC-ILN.

Students will use the resulting retention times to qualitatively determine what two of the three main volatile components in rosemary essential oil are.
 

Students will predict what the third compound might be using a scientific paper and justify it by explaining their reasoning and relating to molecular characteristics. 

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Experiment Glog Poster

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