Researching Chemistry: Skills Involved in Experimental Work

Section 1: Practical Skills in the Laboratory

Possessing essential practical skills such as accurate measurement, precise recording, and data interpretation is key for successful experimental work in organic chemistry.
A firm understanding of personal safety and risk assessment is utterly important while working with hazardous components in a laboratory setting.
Chemical tests such as bromine water test, iodoform test or Tollen’s reagent test should be employed to identify functional groups in organic molecules.
Crystallography might be employed to determine the structure of complex molecules.
Rigorous practical work includes appropriate disposal of chemical waste and clean-up procedures.

Section 2: Understanding Chemical Reactions and Mechanisms

Organic reactions often involve the making and breaking of bonds within functional groups to give new products.
An understanding of how arrow diagrams represent electron movement in mechanisms and the rules for writing balanced symbol equations will aid in communicating experimental results.
Distinguishing between exothermic and endothermic reactions, and understanding their impact on energy changes in reactions is important to predict the outcomes of chemical reactions.
Curating reaction pathways can aid in understanding the sequence of chemical reactions needed to synthesise a particular product from given starting materials.

Section 3: Use of Instrumentation and Technology

Spectroscopic techniques, such as ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS), are essential tools for the identification and structural determination of organic compounds.
The principles underpinning chromatographic techniques (such as thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and gas-liquid chromatography (GLC)) will aid in the separation and identification of components within a mixture.
An understanding of calibration and the use of standard solutions is fundamental to accurate quantitative analysis. Utilisation of volumetric apparatus to prepare solutions of accurate concentration is a fundamental skill.

Section 4: Critical Analysis and Evaluation

Being able to interpret and draw conclusions from experimental data, even when incomplete or containing anomalies, is an important skill in experimental work.
Understanding possible sources of systematic and random errors, and how they can be minimised through repeat trials or using more accurate apparatus, is valuable during the evaluation stage of an experiment.
Applying statistical methods to analyse and interpret results fosters precise and accurate results. For instance, calculating mean, range, percentage error, and understanding concepts of precision, accuracy, and reliability.
Demonstrating ability to critically evaluate the methodology and suggest improvements to experimental procedures are important skills for the experimentalist.

Section 5: Reporting, Communicating and Applying Findings

Clear communication of the purpose, method, results, conclusion and evaluation of an experiment is crucial for the validity of experimental work.
Good scientific reporting also involves proper citation of sources, and respecting intellectual property rights.
Understanding the relevance and application of the research in real-world situations, and how this work contributes to the broader field of organic chemistry and instrumental analysis, aids in putting experimental work into perspective.