N-(Phosphonomethyl)glycin (glyphosate), known by the trade name of Roundup^®, is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide used to kill several types of grass weed. It was first synthesized in 1970 by J. E. Franz, a chemist at the agrochemical corporation Monsanto. Glyphosate's mode of action is to inhibit a plant enzyme involved in the synthesis of some aromatic amino acids. There is some controversy at present about the use of Roundup^® because its hazard potential is not clear. In this article, we present some reliable and easily performed spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements to identify glyphosate isolated as well as in some commercial products. The analogous experiments apply to (Aminomethyl)phosphonic acid (AMPA), the hydrolysis product of glyphosate.

Four year undergraduate/beginners of PhD students, analytical, electrochemistry, IR, MS, UVVISspectroscopy, hands-on learning/manipulatives