The solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) study of nearly intact plant cell walls along with the computational study of glucose and malonic acid are presented. Previously unassigned ¹³C chemical shifts are presented for the various carbohydrates in the primary plant cell wall of Arabidopsis thaliana. A continuation of the SSNMR study involved the computational determination of glucose chemical shifts, a model compound for the study of larger carbohydrates. Additional computational studies determined the energy relationship between hydrated tautomers of malonic acid, a commonly occurring atmospheric dicarboxylic acid. In the malonic acid study, agreement between experiment and calculated frequencies verified the presence of the enol form of malonic acid. The development and analysis of a chemical education tool, a quantum chemistry concept inventory, whose aim is to understand misconceptions is also included in this dissertation.