COURSE OUTLINE & SYLLABUS

Students will learn and practice the skills necessary to rapidly identify substances by recognizing their optical and morphological qualities. Instruction will include a review of microscope set-up, Koehler illumination, PLM techniques [single polar: shape, size, surface, homogeneity, association, transparency, color, pleochroism, image contrast, refractive indices, dispersion staining; crossed polars: retardation, birefringence, extinction characteristics, sign of elongation, interference figures, correlation of optics and morphology, etc.].

Observations will be applied to a wide variety of common, and not-so-common, substances.

Prerequisite: 1201 or equivalent.

Day 1:

• Review of polarized light microscope, Koehler illumination, calibration of the ocular micrometer

Day 2:

• Review of particle description, characterization and crystal optics using one polar
• Crystal morphology, microcrystal tests, chemical reactions

Day 3:

• Review of particle description, characterization, and crystal optics using two polars
• Isotropy/Anisotropy, extinction, retardation, birefringence, interference figures

Day 4:

• Interference figures contd, fusion methods, phase transitions, identification methods, one and two-component methods

Day 5:

• Study and characterization of known and unknown substances

Note: This course runs Monday-Friday with class ending at noon on Friday