This study introduces a methodological framework for integrating STEM technologies into secondary school chemistry through project-based learning. The research aimed to boost students' interest and engagement in chemistry by involving them in a scientific project called "Water Purification Methods." Eighth-grade students from Kazakhstani…

Introductory organic chemistry laboratory is often a difficult course for students in terms of translating the structural information and reactivity learned in lecture to the practical applications found in the laboratory. These concepts are even more difficult when presented through distance learning when a student cannot get hands-on experience.…

In a well-known bronze plating experiment, a Cu coupon is subjected to Sn plating and heating with a Bunsen burner. Currently, aqueous NaOH or HCl is typically used as the plating solution; however, the use of a strong acid or base provides operational risks, particularly in educational settings (e.g., schools). Herein, we introduce a modified…

Joseph Priestley, discoverer of oxygen, lived in Nantwich, Cheshire, UK, from 1758 to 1761. In 2019, an exhibition featuring his life and achievements, and also celebrating the International Year of the Periodic Table, was developed by the Nantwich Museum. The historical research of Priestley's life, development of the exhibition, and rationale…

This paper demonstrates the use of a smartphone's sensors in recording experimental data for investigating the large angle of a physical pendulum. The smartphone (iPhone 5s) was attached to a beam to record simultaneously both the angular position and the angular speed of the beam oscillating about the pivot. The period and phase space of the…

Multitouch experiment instructions (MEIs), implemented as interactive eBooks, are learning tools for pupils that offer various digital support tools and enable pupils to individualize their learning. They may be applied to contexts such as inquiry-based experiments in school laboratories, which involve highly demanding cognitive processes and…

By building a schlieren optical system, the visualization of a 40 KHz sound wave is realized. By using the schlieren system, the demonstration of acoustic reflection, interference and diffraction can be easily realized. At the same time, the visual acoustic field provides another simple way for the measurement of sound velocity. In this paper, the…

A common procedure when conducting physics experiments is to repeat a measurement several times to calculate the mean and standard deviation. That might be the only instruction we give to students as a means to minimize random errors. However, that technique does not guarantee that the answer will be correct. It might give the same wrong answer…

Kundt's tube is a popular experiment commonly used in schools, in which standing sound waves are made visible inside a glass tube. A fine powder is stirred up in areas of high sound particle velocities, so that one can measure the wavelength of the sound waves by examining the patterns created. In this way, the 'invisible' can be made visible.…

Chemical screening libraries often feature natural product extracts (NPEs) due to the intriguing biological activities they possess and the structural diversity found in their individual components. A research project originally designed to create an extract library of every specimen in the University of Rhode Island (URI) Heber W. Youngken Jr.…

X-ray crystallography provides structural information of molecules at the atomic level, being a central technique at the forefront of science and technology. However, crystallography teaching is not usually implemented in biochemistry lab classes due to its complex execution by nonexpert users. Here, we report the basic step-by-step workflow…

This laboratory experiment, designed for undergraduate nonmajors or advanced high school students, attempts to demystify the technique of spectrophotometry by utilizing a hands-on, real-world approach. Modification of the reaction for the formation of Fe[(bpy)[subscript 3]][subscript 2+] allows students to interact with vitamin C, a compound with…

Picture boards as a visual support aid for in-lab demonstrator briefings were deployed for a single experiment in both the first and second year undergraduate practical classes. The boards are easy to create and provide an alternative, more accessible and 'presentation friendly' perspective of the laboratory manual associated with an experiment.…

Flavonoids have been studied extensively for their antioxidant properties. Specifically, the flavonoids in tea, such as catechin and epigallocatechin gallate, have been shown to have positive health effects. These compounds are also oxidizable, so the concentrations of these compounds in a given kind of tea can be determined using cyclic…

This innovative comprehensive experiment is a compulsory course for third-year undergraduate students in the eight-year training program leading to a Doctor of Medicine degree or Doctor of Philosophy degree at Peking University Health Science Center (PKUHSC). There is a critical educational need to prepare these students for the increasing…