Week 6

New project! Woo! With only 4 weeks left I’ve again started a new project. After numerous experimental setups, each more extravagant than the last we discovered that indigo carmine is extremely sensitive to oxygen and it is impossible to keep it in an entirely anoxic environment while still monitoring the reaction. Short of running the entire experiment in the glove box, there was no way to stop oxygen from entering my cuvette and reacting. After seeing this, we decided to switch to nitrobenzene as our model compound. Ntrobenzene is a contaminant that is much more applicable than indigo carmine, due it being more prevalent in the environment. This week I’ve started characterizing the kinetics of the reaction and the major advantage to this reaction is that it is non reversible, which means that oxygen will not cause the reaction to go backwards.
    On Saturday a bunch of the interns went hiking with Ethan on Mt Hood. I had a great time and would do it again in an instant. The highlight for me would have to be glissading (sliding down steep snowfields either on your feet or butt, depending on your coordination). I’ve only been to the ski park on the other side of the mountain and have never seen this side of the mountain up close. I’ve attached a couple of pictures from the hike. Thanks Vanessa & Ethan!

Off to the glove box!