Laboratory Chemistry
An MIT OpenCourseWare lab course in experimental chemistry designed for non-chemistry majors who need hands-on skills. The materials cover preparation and analysis of chemical samples, pH measurement, gas and liquid chromatography, visible-ultraviolet spectrophotometry, infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, polarimetry, X-ray diffraction, reaction kinetics, data analysis, and organic synthesis. The course is built around laboratory technique rather than lecture theory, giving students practice with the instruments and methods used to identify and characterize chemical compounds. As with other MIT OCW offerings, the site provides the course's readings, lab materials, and assignments for free self-study, though there is no formal instructor interaction or official certificate. It suits students who want a structured, methods-focused introduction to analytical and instrumental chemistry outside a chemistry major track.