Journal of Chemical Education最新文献

{"title":"In-Situ Photoreaction Quantum Yield Measurements and Red-Light Actinometry Using Methylene Blue and Ascorbic Acid: Experiments for Analytical and Physical Chemistry","authors":"Torrance L. Bryant,&nbsp; and ,&nbsp;Yisrael M.L. Lamb*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c0115510.1021/acs.jchemed.4c01155","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c01155https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c01155","url":null,"abstract":"<p >In an effort to keep undergraduate chemical education at pace with contemporary interest in photochemical methodologies, we have identified a straightforward system for which steady-state photochemical kinetics may can be tracked via in situ UV–vis spectroscopy: an aqueous solution of methylene blue and ascorbic acid. Under red-light illumination, methylene blue forms a highly oxidizing excited state which is reduced by ascorbic acid, resulting in the colorless leucomethylene blue and the loss of methylene blue spectral features. Using a laser diode of steady output power, the quantum yield of the photoreaction was experimentally determined to be Φ_<i>rxn</i> = 0.106─indicating that about one in ten absorbed photons results in a productive reaction in this system. Φ_<i>rxn</i> is a critical metric in developing efficient photochemical reactions. The reaction was then used as a chemical actinometer to measure the power of an inexpensive red laser pointer and LED. These facile experiments can be employed in analytical and physical chemistry courses to expose students to important photochemical concepts through the familiar lens of UV–vis spectroscopy.</p>","PeriodicalId":43,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Chemical Education","volume":"101 12","pages":"5492–5497 5492–5497"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142843267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chemical Kitchen─A Transdisciplinary Introduction to a Laboratory Practice That Rebalances Students’ Self-Efficacy","authors":"Jakub L. Radzikowski*,&nbsp;Luke Delmas,&nbsp;Eliel Cohen,&nbsp;Julianne Viola,&nbsp;Jozef Youssef,&nbsp;Alan C. Spivey and Roger Kneebone,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c0095010.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00950","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00950https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00950","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Transition from high school to higher education poses a significant challenge for students, particularly in chemistry, where students’ prior laboratory experience is varied. Traditional laboratory education, focusing on chemical knowledge, scientific methodology, and practical skills, does not focus on the development of translational skills and establishing a proper level of self-efficacy, critical for students’ success as future scientists. To address this problem, we developed the Chemical Kitchen, a transdisciplinary simulation utilizing the parallels between professional gastronomy and chemistry laboratory practices. By engaging students in creative food experiments that mimic chemistry experiments, the course aims to enhance practical skills in a less intimidating environment. We evaluated the impact of the Chemical Kitchen on students’ self-efficacy through pre- and postcourse surveys. We found a significant adjustment in students’ self-efficacy: those with initially lower self-efficacy experienced increases, while those with initially higher self-efficacy saw decreases, showing a “leveling of the playing field” among first-year chemistry students. Qualitative feedback highlighted the course’s success in providing a fun, engaging, and meaningful learning experience, underscoring the importance of innovative teaching methods in enhancing practical skills and confidence. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the Chemical Kitchen in establishing students’ self-efficacy and practical and transferable skills, offering a novel approach to laboratory education that could be beneficial across various scientific disciplines. Future research is encouraged to explore the long-term effects of such interventions on students’ engagement with science and their overall development as learners.</p>","PeriodicalId":43,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Chemical Education","volume":"101 12","pages":"5353–5360 5353–5360"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00950","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142850727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficient Colorimetry: Developing an Application to Support Student Digital Colorimetry Experiments","authors":"Hao Zhang,&nbsp;Ruyan Li,&nbsp;Yizhou Ling*,&nbsp;Rongxian Zhang,&nbsp;Guoxing Zhu,&nbsp;Gengtao Fu* and Yawen Tang,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c0052610.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00526","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00526https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00526","url":null,"abstract":"<p >In this study, a new application called “Efficient Colorimetry” was developed to measure solution concentration using digital colorimetry. This app is integrated into the WeChat platform, making it easy to use on a smartphone. The app includes a calibration algorithm that establishes a standard curve by using a standard solution, which is used to prepare solutions of increasing concentration by incremental additions of the standard solution. To analyze sample concentrations, the app takes multiple measurements and uses linear fitting to minimize errors. Additionally, students can complete assignments provided by teachers through online channels. Forty-one ninth-grade students used the app to determine the concentration of Fe³⁺ in three different sample solutions, demonstrating the app’s convenience and accuracy.</p>","PeriodicalId":43,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Chemical Education","volume":"101 12","pages":"5507–5515 5507–5515"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142843037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"College Student Mental Health: Exploring Depression, Anxiety, and Mindsets in First-Year STEM Students","authors":"Elizabeth A. Pfau,&nbsp;Asmira Alagic* and Stuart Slavin,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c0079110.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00791","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00791https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00791","url":null,"abstract":"<p >In this work we show the psychological well-being of first-year students taking a chemistry course, focusing on the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as potentially problematic personal and comparative mindsets, which may lay the groundwork for future investigations of mental health within this population. Data was collected through surveys and in-class worksheets administered during the Spring semesters of 2022 and 2023 in large lecture chemistry courses. Analysis revealed high rates of depression and anxiety among participants, with 49.3% of students experiencing moderate to severe depression symptoms and 56.6% experiencing moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. These numbers are about 20% higher than recently reported values for mixed undergraduate student populations in the United States. Data relating to maladaptive perfectionism shows that 99.3% of students are holding themselves to a high personal standard, while 74.1% of students have a negative self-perception relative to reality. Most students (&gt;70%) scored in the moderate to severe range for seven out of eight mindsets studied, highlighting the widespread prevalence of negative mindsets among first-year STEM students. Correlation analyses highlighted significant relationships between maladaptive perfectionism and both depression (r = 0.67) and anxiety symptoms (r = 0.63). Additionally, strong correlations were found between performance as identity scores and anxiety symptoms (r = 0.60). These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to address negative mindsets and enhance student mental health in higher education settings, particularly in chemistry classrooms.</p>","PeriodicalId":43,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Chemical Education","volume":"101 12","pages":"5288–5296 5288–5296"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142850588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Alice Ball: An African-American Woman to Foster Education in Chemistry","authors":"Stephanie Silva Weigel Gomes,&nbsp; and ,&nbsp;Wilmo Ernesto Francisco Junior*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c0061110.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00611","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00611https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00611","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This paper aimed at analyzing the life story of Alice Ball as a case study for education in chemistry. Alice was a young African-American chemist in the early 20th century who was responsible for the chemical synthesis of derivatives of chaulmoogra oil used in the treatment of Hansen’s disease. Alice’s work has been almost forgotten in chemistry history, but a perusal of her life story may provide clues about the complexity of scientific activities. Historical sources were used to reconstruct aspects of Alice Ball’s life and to analyze science as a cognitive-epistemic and social-institutional system. A survey was then carried out with chemistry students, based on a reading activity of Alice’s biography and research work. The study demonstrated the potential of this case and her biography in shedding light on the practices and social context of science and may also contribute to strengthen the role of Blacks and women in science who have historically been overlooked in the scientific enterprise.</p>","PeriodicalId":43,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Chemical Education","volume":"101 12","pages":"5231–5239 5231–5239"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00611","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142850572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Creating a Chemical Escape Room at the University Level: Innovative Resources for Future Primary School Teachers","authors":"Sergio Fuentes Anton*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c0099410.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00994","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00994https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00994","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Teaching natural sciences can be challenging, especially with unmotivated or disinterested students. The challenge increases when the term “Didactics” appears in the subjects under study, for example, with Didactics of Natural Sciences. The present work details the design and execution process of an escape room experience used as a methodology for teaching and reviewing chemistry at the university level. The manuscript describes the puzzles and experiments carried out in the laboratory, as well as the results obtained from its implementation and the assessment methods used. The experience took place during the academic years 2021–2022 and 2022–2023, with students enrolled in the second year of the Primary Education Teacher degree. In each period, four nonhomogeneous groups with different numbers of students verified the game. Within an hour, participants had to face four main puzzles to gather the necessary information to solve a crime that occurred in the lab. Upon completing the escape room, the students filled out a questionnaire to express their opinions and evaluate the activity. The results obtained from the questionnaire survey showed a high level of satisfaction with the methodology employed.</p>","PeriodicalId":43,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Chemical Education","volume":"101 12","pages":"5369–5375 5369–5375"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00994","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142842899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing Equitable Lab Practices/Culture: A Student-Centered Activity on Alcohol Metabolism and Its Relation to the Black Community","authors":"Dillon King,&nbsp;Rowan R. Katzbaer,&nbsp;Ufana Riaz,&nbsp;S. Catherine Silver Key and Darlene K. Taylor*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c0034610.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00346https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00346","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This lab updates the study of acetaldehyde oxidation in vitro using the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) by presenting the study in a guided inquiry approach that is culturally relevant. Acetaldehyde is a toxic compound that builds up in the liver following the consumption of alcohol, which must be metabolized. We used a spectrophotometer to follow the kinetics of this reaction, determine how substrate concentrations alter the rate of this enzymatic reaction, and screen potential enzyme inhibitors. Students are guided through questions that explore comparatively uncomplicated kinetic and thermodynamic theory that supports the reaction of enzyme catalysis. This inquiry approach was aided by three-dimensional structural models of the enzyme that were explored within the laboratory sessions, enhancing the arcane lab procedures and developing student skills in experimental design. Students can draw from their everyday life experiences based on their cultural norms and knowledge to choose experimental conditions within a provided list of options, such as the alcohol or the reaction inhibitor selection. This was accompanied by written reports and finalized by oral presentations to the class.</p>","PeriodicalId":43,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Chemical Education","volume":"101 12","pages":"5422–5429 5422–5429"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142843372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of Gender in Teachers’ Preparedness to Integrate Digital Technology in Chemistry Instruction in Nigeria","authors":"Benson Ikechukwu Igboanugo*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c0076810.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00768","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00768https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00768","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The use of digital technology in teaching has gained more attention globally because of the overwhelming advantage and breakthroughs in the teaching and learning enterprise credited to it. However, the success of any teaching and learning centers on the teacher’s ability and preparedness. This study sought to find out empirically how gender influences teachers’ readiness to use digital tools in chemistry classes in Nigeria. One research question and one hypothesis guided the study. A quantitative research design was adopted for the study. A sample of 410 in-service secondary school chemistry teachers was used for the study. The instrument used was a self-administered questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that gender has no significant influence on teachers’ preparedness in integrating digital technology in chemistry instruction, and there was no significant difference between male and female teachers’ preparedness in integrating digital technology in chemistry instruction. The author recommends that teacher training programs should ensure equal opportunities for all teachers to develop their digital skills.</p>","PeriodicalId":43,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Chemical Education","volume":"101 12","pages":"5280–5287 5280–5287"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142842777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Bond Enthalpy by Breaking Rope Candy with a Luggage Scale","authors":"Alyssa M. Suzuki,&nbsp;Skylar M.-D. Blattner,&nbsp;Emily Kulaga,&nbsp;Sara McGhee,&nbsp;Jordyn Rosete,&nbsp;Serena M. Salas,&nbsp;Tim Humphry and Amy L. Fuller*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c0047510.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00475","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00475https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00475","url":null,"abstract":"<p >A novel teaching approach is aimed at elucidating the concept of bond enthalpy for general chemistry students. Through the integration of a hands-on candy pulling activity, students in a large lecture class were provided a tangible experience to explore bond strengths using rope candy and a luggage scale. Feedback from students indicated a clear appreciation for the demonstration of bond enthalpy, highlighting the effectiveness of the activity in enhancing comprehension. Furthermore, the involvement of undergraduate learning assistants (LAs) to plan and execute the activity contributed to fostering an engaging learning environment. Overall, the success of this innovative teaching activity underscores its transformative impact on student learning experiences, emphasizing the importance of active engagement and practical applications in chemistry education.</p>","PeriodicalId":43,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Chemical Education","volume":"101 12","pages":"5530–5533 5530–5533"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142843297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing an Organocatalyzed Process in an Undergraduate Laboratory: A Solvent Screening","authors":"Julio Puigcerver,&nbsp; and ,&nbsp;Alberto Martinez-Cuezva*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c0073110.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00731","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00731https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00731","url":null,"abstract":"<p >In this undergraduate organic laboratory study, extensive solvent screening was meticulously designed for the optimization of the <span>l</span>-proline-organocatalyzed intermolecular aldol reaction involving acetone and <i>p</i>-nitrobenzaldehyde. The experimental procedure entailed selecting specific solvents, analyzing the reaction crude through NMR spectroscopy, and subsequently, purifying the aldol adducts to measure their enantiomeric ratios via HPLC provided with the chiral column. Remarkably, this comprehensive investigation was efficiently conducted within two concise 2-h laboratory sessions, together with a 1-h seminar session, rendering it highly suitable for both Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs. Conducted at room temperature, the experiments unveiled significant variations in both yields and enantiomeric excess of the aldol products and the byproducts proportions, depending on the solvent of choice. This experiential learning opportunity empowers students to gain practical insights into organocatalyzed transformations, purification techniques, and chromatographic analysis, enhancing their proficiency as organic chemists.</p>","PeriodicalId":43,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Chemical Education","volume":"101 12","pages":"5444–5448 5444–5448"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00731","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142850794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"教育学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}