From Breaking Bad to Breaking Bonds-Mass Spectrometry in the Classroom

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Forensic Science Education

Background:

• Secondary school chemistry curricula often lack practical application of advanced analytical techniques.
• Engaging students with real-world forensic scenarios enhances learning and problem-solving skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a workshop for final-year secondary school chemistry students.
• To apply modern analytical chemistry methods to determine the structure of an illicit compound.

Main Methods:

• Students utilized infrared (IR) spectroscopy, liquid chromatography (LC), high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
• Data analysis focused on mass-to-charge ratio (m/z), isotope patterns, elemental composition, and product ion data from MS.
• NMR spectroscopy was employed to differentiate between plausible isomeric structures.

Main Results:

• Students successfully determined the structure of the illicit compound, Revisomed (methamphetamine).
• The workshop facilitated the application of the scientific method and hypothesis generation.

Conclusions:

• The workshop effectively integrated advanced analytical chemistry techniques into secondary education.
• This hands-on approach enhances students' understanding of forensic science and chemical structure elucidation.