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Environmental Projects in the Quantitative Analysis Lab

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Jeffrey D. Weidenhamer

Ashland University, Department of Chemistry, 401 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805

J. Chem. Educ., 1997, 74 (12), p 1437

DOI: 10.1021/ed074p1437

Publication Date (Web): December 1, 1997

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

This article describes a revised design of the Quantitative Analysis course that includes a laboratory emphasizing teamwork, experimental design and hands-on exposure to instrumentation for environmental analysis. In the laboratory, spreadsheet use is introduced during the first week. Over the next six weeks, students individually conduct one gravimetric and three titrimetric analyses. Five investigative rotations are conducted using instrumental methods such as HPLC, GC, IC, FTIR, AA and UV-VIS over a seven week period, with students working in groups of three. Such an approach allows efficient and intensive use of expensive instruments that have traditionally not been a major component of the Quantitative Analysis laboratory. In the rotation experiments, there is strong emphasis on development of hypotheses, experimental design and environmental sampling. It is required that one experiment utilize solid phase extraction for sample preparation. Within groups, each person has the specific duties of project manager, chemist or instrument specialist. Evaluation emphasizes data analysis and interpretation. These changes in the laboratory have been facilitated by modifications to the traditional lecture sequence. Methods of analysis are now discussed in the first nine weeks of the semester, and chemical equilibria are the focus of the final six weeks.

Keywords (Audience):

Upper-Division Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Laboratory Instruction

Keywords (Subject):

Quantitative Analysis

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