The concept of co-amorphous systems is introduced in an integrated laboratory experiment, designed for advanced chemistry students, using solvent-free, environmentally friendly mechanochemistry. The dual-drug naproxen-cimetidine co-amorphous system (NPX-CIM) is investigated as an example of the emergent field of medicinal mechanochemistry.…

Background: Developing upper secondary school students' understanding of the nature of science and technology are important priorities in educational systems worldwide. More research is needed to better understand the conditions under which teaching and learning of epistemological insights become possible, as well as the tools that are necessary…

Nanotechnology has been recognized as an important driver of the future economy, and so nanoscience is increasingly being incorporated into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. This experiment includes the chemical synthesis, optical and chemical testing, and microscopic imaging of gold nanoparticles. Since nanoparticles are too small to…

In scientific practices, students are frequently asked to conduct investigations to produce data that will serve as the basis for evidence that meets the goals of an investigation. But however, assisting in the formulation and implementation of students' investigations is often a difficult task for many teachers because authentic investigations…

Gold nanoparticles are exciting materials in nanotechnology and nanoscience research and are being applied across a wide range of fields including imaging, chemical sensing, energy storage, and cancer therapies. In this experiment, students will synthesize two sizes of gold nanospheres (~20 and ~100 nm) and will create gold nanostars utilizing a…

Nanoparticle synthesis is an important area of nanotechnology and has been performed by undergraduate students from various universities across the globe. Due to the availability of massive data on the synthesis of a wide variety of metallic nanoparticles, including silver, gold, selenium, zinc, copper, iron, palladium, platinum, titanium, etc.,…

To promote students' value-based agency, responsible science and sustainability, science education must address how students think about their personal and collective futures. However, research has shown that young people find it difficult to fully relate to the future and its possibilities, and few studies have focused on the potential of science…

This paper reports on a transdisciplinary approach to science with a Year 4/5 class incorporating citizen science through the Birds in Backyards project. This transdisciplinary approach created opportunities for student engagement through science, mathematics, design and technology, humanities and social sciences (HASS), arts and English, while…

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are exciting nanoparticles used for transporting therapeutic drugs into an organism. In this laboratory work, a simple experiment is performed to introduce master's students into the field of nanotechnology, here applied to health including the applications in the healthcare/pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.…

Nanoparticle Zn[subscript 2x] Cu[subscript 1-x] In[subscript 1-x] S[subscript 2] is a promising and safer alternative to lead- and cadmium-containing quantum dots. Students prepare Zn[subscript 0.44] Cu[subscript 0.78] In[subscript 0.78] S[subscript 2] quantum dots in a one-pot synthesis without an inert atmosphere and investigate how the color,…

A simple bioassay was designed for the detection of adenosine, a human metabolite involved in several physiological processes, on the basis of the functionalization of gold nanoparticles with DNA oligonucleotides selectively binding adenosine. The test was possible thanks to the selective and sensitive binding of adenosine by two DNA…

Nanochemistry is an important aspect of modern chemical science. Though few educational institutions teach nanochemistry as a formal course, general exposure of students to nanoscience is yet important. Thus, we present a nanochemical activity that could be used as part of many chemistry courses or laboratories based on ChemToy2. This activity is…

Synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials yields opportunities for instruction of related topics in solution chemistry and materials science, as well as spectroscopy connecting to band theory, the "particle in a box" quantum mechanical model, and thermodynamics. In collaboration with an undergraduate research assistant, we have…

We describe a 2 h general-chemistry experiment that introduces college students not only to the concepts, synthesis, and applications of nanomaterials at an early stage but also the use of a spectrophotometer for quantification and unknown determination based on Beer's Law. The procedure involves students (1) preparing a nanocomposite by…

The increasing industrial and biomedical applications of nanomaterials have enhanced the need to educate a well-trained nanotechnology workforce. This need has led to efforts to introduce hands-on, nanotechnology-based, experimental modules into high school and college level courses in science and engineering. However, the majority of such efforts…