LABS/ EXPERIMENTS

The chemistry laboratory is a place to explore and experiment.  The goal is not to know that a scientific theory exists or a mathematical theorem provides an answer, but why and how.  It is one of many stages that offer a collaborative, team-based setting in producing knowledge and connecting atomic interactions to the natural phenomena that we experience and see on a daily basis. The laboratory is beyond simply learning content, but the environment where students engage in learning from mistakes and problem solving. 

Matter and Measurement

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Atomic & Electronic Structure/ Periodic Table

Percent Copper in Brass

By reacting a sample of brass in acid, students then can use UV/VIS spectroscopy to determine the content due to copper in the sample.

Bonding and Intermolecular Forces (IMFs)

TLC of Analgesics

Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is used to analyze the components of pain relief medications, known as analgesics, to determine the composition of common over-the-counter painkillers.

Nomenclature

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The Mole

Determine the Formula of a Hydrate

Heating the hydrate to remove water allows calculating its formula from the anhydrous compound's mass, demonstrating stoichiometry and water's role in hydrates

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Empirical Formula of MgxOy

By heating magnesium in an open crucible to react with oxygen, students experimentally determine the empirical formula of the resulting compound.

Chemical Reactions

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Stoichiometry

Iron (II) or (III) Determination

An iron nail reacts with copper sulfate, then using gravimetric analysis to collect the copper produced to determine if the reaction involves iron(II) or iron(III), emphasizing stoichiometry.

Gas Behavior

Gas Law Relationships

Multipart lab where students gather data on two variables (with others constant) to graph and derive the gas laws.

Molar Volume of Hydrogen

Hydrogen gas is produced and collected from the reaction of zinc with hydrochloric acid and then the molar volume is experimentally determined.

Solutions

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Molar Mass Determination of Unknown Gas

Gas is collected via water displacement from dust canisters to determine the molar mass of the unknown gas; additionally, students theorize the formula of the gas.

Thermochemistry

Specific Heat of Unknown Metal

Identity of unknown metals are determined by calculating specific heat capacities from data collected and other physical properties

Hess’s Law/ Determining Enthalpy of MgO Formation

Heats of solution are calculated for a couple of reactions from gathered data to then utilize to determine the enthalpy of formation for MgO via Hess's Law.

Kinetics

Kinetics of Crystal Violet

Reaction rate between crystal violet solution and hydroxide ions is determined as a pseudo rate law understand chemical kinetics principles

Iodine Clock Reaction

This lab involves mixing colorless solutions that suddenly turn blue-black, illustrating the impact of reactant concentration on reaction rates. Rate law is determined by collected data.

Designing a Hand Warmer

Challenges students to create an efficient, eco-friendly hand warmer. It involves measuring heat release through calorimetry plus other considerations.

Equilibrium

Applications of Le Chatelier’s Principle

Experiment engages students in altering chemical equilibria through changes in concentration, temperature, and pressure to visually demonstrate the principle's effects.

Acids & Bases

Titration of Coca-Cola

Through acid-base titration, students determine the concentration of phosphoric acid in the popular soft drink, Coca-Cola®.

Properties of a Buffer

Students create a buffer solution and test its ability to resist pH changes upon adding strong acids or bases.

Entropy and Free Energy

Ksp of Borax

Titrations of saturated borax solution at different temperatures are conducted with HCl. The relationship between solubility and temperature used to derive a solubility product constant.

Other

Investigation of Carbon Cycle

Multi-part experiment to get an understanding of the carbon cycle, particularly focusing on the role of plants in carbon sequestration; it combines botanical fieldwork with chemical analysis.

Gravimetric Analysis of Calcium Carbonate in Antacid

Quantitatively determining the amount of calcium carbonate present in an antacid sample through the measurement of its mass change during a chemical reaction.

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