Extending the Marine Microcosm Laboratory

Hal Van Ryswyk , Eric W. Hall , Steven J. Petesch and Alice E. Wiedeman
Department of Chemistry, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711-5990
J. Chem. Educ., 2007, 84 (2), p 306
DOI: 10.1021/ed084p306
Publication Date (Web): February 1, 2007
History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

The marine microcosm laboratory has been adopted in a range of analytical chemistry laboratory courses. Originally devised as a means to promote appreciation, understanding, and historical awareness of classical analysis while bringing real-world motivation into the instructional laboratory, the marine microcosm laboratory allows students to consider the entire analytical process from beginning to end within the context of a complex, self-contained laboratory ecosystem. We present three extensions to bring pedagogically useful chemistry emphasizing material typically taught in the chemical analysis, instrumental methods, and biochemistry courses into the marine microcosm laboratory while mitigating chemical hazards associated with one of its venues. Specifically, we incorporate the determination of ammonia via ion-selective electrode using the method of standard additions; sulfate via ion chromatography with an internal standard; and nitrate via enzymatic reduction with spectrophotometric detection.

Keywords (Audience):

Upper-Division Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Analytical Chemistry

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Student-Centered Learning

Keywords (Subject):

Aqueous Solution Chemistry
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  • Received: August 03, 2009

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