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CHEM 453(G)

Forensic Mass Spectrometry

Western Illinois University

Spring 2020 Semester

Instructor: Dr. Liguo Song

Lab (Section/021; STAR Number/58298): T./08:00 -10:50 am; Currens 419. The first hour will

be the pre-lab lectures in Currens 206.

Course prerequisite: CHEM 332 Organic Chemistry II and CHEM 341 Quantitative Analysis.

Course description: CHEM 453 Forensic Mass Spectrometry is a three-credit hour science course

that explores mass spectrometry being the one and only analytical technique for the unambiguous

identification of forensically significant compounds such as fire accelerants, explosives, illicit

drugs, and all the poisons ranging from small organic molecules to biological macromolecules.

macromolecules.

3. Comprehend the scientific basis of mass spectrometry, including gas chromatography mass

spectrometry and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.

4. Utilize mass spectrometry in not only forensic and toxicological analysis, but also

biochemical, biological, clinical, environmental, pharmaceutical, and organic analysis.

5. Explore the broad application of mass spectrometry in not only Forensic Chemistry and

Forensic Toxicology, but also Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Clinical

Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Pharmacy and Organic Chemistry.

6. Become prepared to enter modernized analytical facilities such as crime, clinical,

environmental, biotechnological and pharmaceutical labs.

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quizzes. If you need technical assistance at any time during the course or to report a problem with

Western Online you can:

1. Call uTech support center 309-298-2704

2. Use Desire2Learn Help 10.1

Martials:

1. Course contents: mainly derived from https://www.chromacademy.com/ (not required to

be purchased).

2. Supplemental textbooks (not required to be purchased):

3. Lab Manual: handouts.

4. Peer-reviewed journals in the fields of chromatography, forensic chemistry, forensic

toxicology, and mass spectrometry.

Supplies (required):

1. Protective eyewear (safety goggles) for use in the laboratory experiments

2. Official lab research notebook-50 pages from the WIU bookstore.

Grade determination

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1. Laboratory experiments (18%): A total of 10 laboratory experiments will be performed

during the semester. Labs are given as scheduled in the syllabus (or announced in class in

the unlikely case that it must be rescheduled). Students may work in lab groups of a few

people, but each student must complete his/her own lab reports. No credit will be given to

any student who did not physically complete the lab as instructed or turn in the lab report.

To accommodate absences only your 9 best labs will be counted toward your final grade.

in the laboratory experiments to pass this course. There is a penalty for turning in a

lab report late: 20% will be deducted for each day. Assignments of lab reports over

five days late will not be accepted and will receive zero point.

To participate in the laboratory experiments, students must pay $35 charge and sign

the Chemistry Laboratory Safety Agreement.

To prepare for the lab, students must read through each lab in advance and also attend the

pre-lab lecture.

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The lab reports are to be typewritten (Font-12 and Times New Roman is preferred,

margins 1 inch). Lab reports must include the cover page, the objective of the experiment,

theory/background relates to the experiment, materials for the lab, and the procedures (in

your own words), experimental results (including calculations), discussions and

conclusions, and reference(s). The report must be completed and submitted electronically

as a single “word file” to the Western Online class dropbox by 11:30 pm on the day of

the same week when the next lab starts on the next day (see schedule below). Lab

reports should represent the individual student's work. Discussion with your lab partner

and classmates on the report is fine, but you must not copy the content of the report from

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2. Pre-lab assignments (4%): There will be 10 pre-lab assignments; each is designed to get

you prepared for a lab experiment. Each pre-lab assignment will appear in Western Online

one week before the corresponding lab experiment to be performed. In order to receive a

grade of each pre-lab assignment, it must be completed and submitted electronically

before the corresponding lab experiment to be performed on the next day (see

schedule below). Each pre-lab assignment will be worth 4 point. Your total number of

points possible from the 10 pre-lab assignments will be 40 points.

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5. Quizzes (10%): There will be 6 online quizzes periodically during the semester. Each

online quiz will be released right after your completion of a homework assignment. Each

quiz will consist of approximately 10 questions and each question will be worth 2 point.

You will have 30 minutes to complete each quiz, which will be automatically graded. In

order to receive a grade of each quiz, you must do it within the available time window,

which is usually a couple of day. In order to accommodate absence only your five best

quizzes will be used to determine your final grades. Your total number of points possible

from the quizzes will be 100 points.

trips, field trips in other WIU classes, WIU athletics, and etc.) and an emergency that

requires that the student miss an examination. In addition, documentation is required,

and must be submitted to the instructor in advance or within a week. There can be only one

possible makeup exam per semester for all students and it has to be comprehensive. All

other absences will receive zero point for the missed exam.

7. Final Exam (15%): The final exam is comprehensive. It will consist of approximately 51

questions and each question will be worth 3 points. The final exam will be worth 153 points.

No incomplete grade will be given to a student without documented evidence of an

emergency that requires that the student be away from the university or requires that

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instructor is speaking. If you have questions, raise your hand and/or politely say “excuse

me” to get the instructor’s attention. Phrase your questions using professional, respectful

words and tone of voice. Turn your cellphone ringer off, and put it away. Your instructor

should not be able to see your cell phone at any time during class. Laptops and tablets may

only be used with special permission. Use the restroom before class. Leaving the classroom

during class should only happen in very rare circumstances of dire emergency. Failure to

follow these rules may result in being required to leave the classroom for the remainder of

the class period.

5. Email correspondence must also be professional. This means that messages should be

written clearly, using proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Address the instructor

using the appropriate title (i.e., Dr. or Professor). Before sending an email, check to see

http://www.wiu.edu/provost/students.php.

8. Each student must complete their own individual course assignments and take their own

exams. All exams and the assignments are the responsibility of the individual student. If it

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can be demonstrated that two students have collaborated in an assignment, they will both

lose the opportunity to earn a grade for that assignment. (This does not exclude students

from group study). Academic dishonesty in any form, including cheating and

plagiarism, will not be tolerated. Potential penalties will be decided on an individual case

basis. Please see the WIU Academic Policy for Undergraduate Students for further

information: http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php.

request academic accommodations where there are aspects of a course that result in

barriers to inclusion or accurate assessment of achievement. To file an official request for

http://www.wiu.edu/equal_opportunity_and_access/request_form/index.php. If you

disclose an incident to a faculty member, the faculty member must notify the Title IX

Coordinator. The complete Title IX policy is available

at: http://www.wiu.edu/vpas/policies/titleIX.php.

11. The WIU Office of Risk Management and Emergency Preparedness provides resources

on how to respond to emergency situations. Please view the video resources at

www.wiu.edu/rmep (click “Resources” on the right side of the page). If the fire alarms

sound and/or students are asked to evacuate the building all students should proceed

immediately to the nearest exit and gather at the southwest corner of the Higgins parking

lot (near the fence) until the “all clear” is given.

Tentative class schedule*: