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Organic Chemistry Laboratory

The organic chemistry laboratory contains eight oversized fume hoods as well as several point exhausts for adequate ventilation. It also contains chemical cabinets and a refrigerator/freezer for chemicals, as well as an oven for drying glassware. The laboratory houses a Smiths ChemID ATR FT-IR Spectrometer, an Enwave Optronics EZRaman M Spectrometer and a Vernier Polarimeter (along with a LabQuest Mini interface). LoggerPro is used on a dedicated laptop to acquire and process the data. The laboratory also contains many glassware items (beakers, flasks, funnels, distillation kits, etc.) and is adjacent to a room containing only balances and GC units as well as to the Instrumental Analysis Laboratory, allowing students easy access to these instruments.


Organic Chemistry Laboratory is a one semester course required for all chemical engineering students, typically taken in the sophomore year. Students are shown how to use the equipment in the laboratory by their lab instructor

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

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  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.