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The Isolation of Rubber from Milkweed Leaves. An Introductory Organic Chemistry Lab

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Lisa Volaric and John Hagen

Department of Chemistry, Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA 15232

J. Chem. Educ., 2002, 79 (1), p 91

DOI: 10.1021/ed079p91

Publication Date (Web): January 1, 2002

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

We present an introductory organic chemistry lab in which students isolate rubber from the leaves of milkweed plants (Asclepias syriaca). Students isolated rubber with a recovery of 2.4 ± 1.8% and 1.8 ± 0.7% for the microscale and macroscale procedures, respectively. Infrared spectra of their products were compared with the spectrum of synthetic rubber, cis-polyisoprene. Students tested for elasticity of their product by twisting it on a spatula and pulling; all students found some degree of elasticity.

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Organic Chemistry

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

IR Spectroscopy

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This article has been cited by 1 ACS Journal articles (1 most recent appear below).

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  Journal of Chemical Education2006 83 (10), 1531
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