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Applying Statistics in the Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratory: Experiments with Food Dyes
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Abstract
Simple experiments have been developed using visible spectroscopy to introduce students to statistical analysis of data. Students in chemistry often gain their first substantial experience with statistics in undergraduate chemistry laboratories (Quantitative Analysis and Physical Chemistry). Simple experiments using Beer's Law of absorption spectroscopy help introduce students to applying statistics. We have chosen two food coloring dyes found in many household items: FD and C Red #40 and FD and C Blue #1. To learn to evaluate their data, the students determine the concentration of a solution at a variety of confidence limits, and treat their data for suspicious values using the Q-test. Other experiments can be done to learn the concept of pooled variance. For example, students compare solutions they make themselves to determine if they are the same to what confidence level. Furthermore, Beer's Law can be used to teach linear least squares fitting by using a serial dilution of a colored compound and measuring absorbance for each concentration. Finally, by using common household substances and a simple analysis technique, students find that statistics can be considerably less threatening, and in some cases even fun.
Keywords (Audience):
Upper-Division UndergraduateKeywords (Domain):
Physical ChemistryKeywords (Pedagogy):
Hands-On Learning / ManipulativesKeywords (Subject):
Dyes / PigmentsCiting Articles
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This article has been cited by 14 ACS Journal articles (5 most recent appear below).
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- Received: August 03, 2009
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