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Laboratory Experiments for Non-Major and General Chemistry Courses The American Chemical Society has stated: "To learn chemistry, students must directly manipulate chemicals, study their properties and reactions, and use laboratory equipment and modern laboratory instruments." and "This hands-on experience is necessary for students to understand, appreciate, and apply chemical concepts." (ACS Guidelines for Chemistry in Two-Year College Programs, Spring 2009) Commercial laboratory manuals contain experiments that range from trivial (those dumb measurement labs) to challenging (e.g., applications of thermochemistry to solar energy). Some experiments serve little purpose other than busy work to illustrate a principle and leaves students asking "so, what?". On the other hand, there are a lot of independent experiments developed by individuals and posted on the Internet that are on the cutting edge of today's research (e.g., nanotechnology), apply principles to applications (e.g., build a wind turbine), or explore consumer products (e.g., make a perfume). Don't look for these in commercial manuals. Many school and university teachers tend to be dinosaurs and are reluctant to try something new and are slow to change. I am a firm believer in integrated lecture-laboratory classes and utilize a range of experiments, some traditional and some non-traditional, in my classes. Some experiments are intended as introductions to course topics, some are used to reinforce concepts taught in class, and some are investigations to accompany course material.. Although I list most experiments on separate course pages for students to download, I am assembling many of those experiments on this page to make them easier to find on my website. All the following are experiments used, written, or modified, by David A. Katz: These are PDF files and require Adobe Acrobat Reader Laboratory Safety Safety in the Academic Laboratory Introductory Experiments Mystery Powders An introduction to investigating properties of substances. Most often used in prearation courses and with non-majors. An Experiment in Alchemy: Copper to Silver to Gold This is a fun experiment to teach students how to identify samples, use a balance, a hotplate, a Bunsen burner, and some lab techniques. Economics of a Chemical Product A techniques experiment that includes a lesson on economics Ink Analysis: An Experiment in Paper Chromatography An introduction to paper chromatography based on a forensics experiment Chromatography: The Extraction and Identification of Artificial Colors From Foods A newer modification of a former FDA procedure to identify food colors The Characterization of an Unknown Substance This experiment is written as a Sherlock Holmes mystery Identification of a Substance by Physical Properties This experiment uses density, solubility and boiling point to identify a substance Calorimetry Energy of a Peanut: Determining the Caloric Content of Selected Foods Nuclear Chemistry Atomic Spectra and Atomic Structure Chemical Compounds Empirical Formula of a Compound Recycling a Metal into a Chemical Compound: The Preparation of Alum An experiment in recycling an aluminum can into a chemical compound
Growing Alum Crystals This is what we do with the alum we make in the above experiment Chemical Reactions Chemical Reactions This is an introduction to chemical reactions in microscale Synthesis of Zinc Iodide: Tracking a Chemical Reaction This experiment is meant to be paired with Chemical Reactions, above. Students look at properties of the reactants and product. Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz, Limiting Reagents and Determination of NaHCO3 in Alka Seltzer Tablets Properties of Solutions Standardization of a Basic Solution and Analysis of Stomach Antacid Tablets Students prepare solutions of HCl and NaOH, standardize the NaOH against the HCl, and titrate stomach antacid tablets. (Used for the introductory chemistry course.) Preparation of Acid and Basic Solutions and Analysis of Stomach Antacid Tablets Students prepare solutions of HCl and NaOH, standardize the NaOH against a primary standard, standardize the HCl, and titrate stomach antacid tablets. (Used for the general chemistry course.) Solubility of a Salt in Water at Various Temperatures Testing the Waters: How Good is That Bottled Water and How Effective is Your Water Filter Testing of drinking water using laboratory apparatus and Hach water test kits. Kinetics Alka Seltzer: An Introduction to Kinetics Acids and Bases Acids, Bases, and pH Using Red Cabbage Paper Determination of pH of household materials. This can be set up in a classroom. Atmospheric Chemistry and Gases How do we Affect the Quality of Our Atmosphere Determination of the Volume of CO2 in Pop Rocks Earth Science Extracting a Metal From Its Ore Energy Build a Wind Turbine This is a link to The Pembina Institute Re-energy.ca site. You can download the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine instructions from this web site. Also download and print the construction modifications and templates Build a Solar Oven This is a link to The Pembina Institute Re-energy.ca site. Download the solar oven construction plans from this web site. There will be some modifications made in class. Construction of a Microscale Fuel Cell Nanotechnology experiments are located at the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Click on this link to go to the entire Video Lab Manual of experiments for Nanoscale Science and Technology. The links below will take you directly to the experiments or will open a modified experiment.. Synthesis of Aqueous Ferrofluid Nanoparticles Synthesis of Cholesteryl Ester Liquid Crystals This is a preparation of both pressure sensitive and temperature sensitive liquid crystal mixtures Preparation of Surface Conductive Glass Titanium Dioxide Raspberry Solar Cell In addition to the above experiments, there is a section of Nanoscale Science and Technology Demonstrations, a series of short movies that demonstrate aspects of nanotechnology. Click on this link to go to the movie page. (Requires Quicktime which can be downloaded at no cost from the link on the movie page.) Forensics This is a link to forensics experiments on a separate web page Household Products The Chemistry of Soaps and Detergents Cleaning Metals and Metal Polish is currently under development Preparation of a Skin Cream A determination of how the different components work in a basic skin cream Isolation of an Essential Oil The products can be used to prepare a perfume Perfume Preparation of some simple perfumes using essential oils Preparation and Evaluation of Sunscreens Prepare a sunscreen lotion and evaluate it using a Spectronic 20 The Drug Lab: Synthesis of Aspirin and Acetaminophen Standardization of a Basic Solution and Analysis of Stomach Antacid Tablets Students prepare solutions of HCl and NaOH, standardize the NaOH against the HCl, and titrate stomach antacid tablets. (Used for the introductory chemistry course.) Preparation of Acid and Basic Solutions and Analysis of Stomach Antacid Tablets Students prepare solutions of HCl and NaOH, standardize the NaOH against a primary standard, standardize the HCl, and titrate stomach antacid tablets. (Used for the general chemistry course.) Food Experiments Testing the Waters: How Good is That Bottled Water and How Effective is Your Water Filter Testing of drinking water using laboratory apparatus and Hach water test kits. Determination of Fat in Potato Chips Apple Browning: A look at antioxidants Esters: The Preparation of Artificial Food Flavors Polymers Identification of a Polymer A polymer analysis lab Preparation of Synthetic Rubber Dyes and Dyeing Christmas Experiments Used as end-of-semester experiments, often before Christmas break. Partial Thermal Degradation of Mixed Saccharides With Protein Inclusions with Teacher Notes The Silver Mirror Reaction I use old, 50 or 100-mL round bottom flasks. Can be done as a deomonstration. Useful Information Common Chemicals and Supplies in and Around Your Home Measurement Equivalents for Science Activities Mass-Volume Equivalents of Common Chemical Solids
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