ERIC Number: EJ998967
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Jun
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Do-It-Yourself Experiments for the Instructional Laboratory
Craig, Norman C.; Hill, Cortland S.
Journal of Chemical Education, v89 n6 p755-758 Jun 2012
A new design for experiments in the general chemistry laboratory incorporates a "do-it-yourself" component for students. In this design, students perform proven experiments to gain experience with techniques for about two-thirds of a laboratory session and then spend the last part in the do-it-yourself component, applying the techniques to an experiment of their own design. An emphasis on classifying inorganic reactions as acid-base, redox, complexation, and precipitation supports this program. An example is an enthalpy of reaction experiment in which students study an acid-base reaction, a complexation reaction, a precipitation reaction, and a redox reaction. Students perform three of the proven reactions and then do the fourth type with a reaction of their choosing. Other examples of experiments are described. The do-it-yourself component engages students in design and interpretation within a reasonable framework. With this approach, students take chances with new ideas as do working scientists. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Chemistry, Science Experiments, Science Laboratories, College Science, Undergraduate Study, Scientific Concepts, Student Participation
Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A