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The Chemistry of Self-Heating Food Products. An Activity for Classroom Engagement

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Maria T. Oliver-Hoyo

Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695

Gabriel Pinto

E.T.S. de Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain

Juan Antonio Llorens-Molina

E.T.S. del Medio Rural y Enología, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain

J. Chem. Educ., 2009, 86 (11), p 1277

DOI: 10.1021/ed086p1277

Publication Date (Web): November 1, 2009

Abstract

Two commercial self-heating food products have been used to apply chemical concepts such as stoichiometry, enthalpies of reactions and solutions, and heat transfer in a classroom activity. These products are the self-heating beverages sold in Europe and the Meals, Ready to Eat or MREs used primarily by the military in the United States. The main goal of the activity is to propose a real-life chemistry problem for which students calculate the heat produced by the chemical reaction or the dissolution process, the accompanying theoretical change in temperature, and finally compare the theoretical change to the temperature observed. The activity is designed to use five minutes of class time and allow students to work in groups, outside the classroom, to solve the posted problems. We have used two different methodologies with this activity: problem-based learning and inquiry-guided instruction. The context of these activities connects a variety of chemistry topics and provides the opportunity to practice common operations such as unit conversion and algorithmic problem solving in the context of a real-world scenario. The key element is the evaluation process that students must conduct at every stage, which includes examining food products promotion information.

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Demonstrations

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Inquiry-Based / Discovery Learning

Keywords (Subject):

Applications of Chemistry

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

Laboratory Inquiry for Determining the Chemical Composition of a Component in a Daily Use Detergent: Sodium Sesquicarbonate
Nobuyoshi Koga, Tomoyasu Kimura, and Kana Shigedomi
Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (9), 1309-1313
- Laboratory Inquiry for Determining the Chemical Composition of a Component in a Daily Use Detergent: Sodium Sesquicarbonate
  Nobuyoshi Koga, Tomoyasu Kimura, and Kana Shigedomi
  Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (9), 1309-1313
  An inquiry-based laboratory activity to determine the chemical composition of a component in alkaline detergents, sodium sesquicarbonate (SSC), is proposed. On the basis of introductory demonstrations by the instructor on the chemical properties and ...
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