In a two-step synthesis starting with Ni(CH[subscript 3]COO)[subscript 2] ·4H[subscript 2]O and salicylaldehyde, students prepare Nethyl and N-isopropyl Ni(II) Schiff base (imine) complexes. After isolation and recrystallization, the products are characterized by room-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements, FTIR spectroscopy, and…

In this work we construct a timer system consisting of both hardware and software to be used in introductory-level laboratory physics courses. The Parallax P8X32A propeller based-microcontroller hardware consist of a board that registers the times of events triggered when IR photogates are blocked and unblocked. The software allows the user to…

A reliable method for bleach-based alcohol oxidation has been developed. Use of sodium bisulfate as the acid additive in the reaction mixture eliminates the various problems associated with acetic acid, which has commonly been used for this type of oxidation. By conducting the reaction in an ethyl acetate/water two-phase reaction mixture,…

A laboratory experiment utilizing locally available Indian Gooseberry ("Phyllanthus emblica" Linn.) extract as a bioreagent to determine iron(III) is described with the goal of providing students with hands-on experience in spectrophotometry and green chemistry. Spectrophotometry was used to measure the concentration of the complex…

A laboratory experiment introducing the concept of chemical bioconjugation of proteins to undergraduate students in a therapeutically relevant context was developed. Initially, students installed an aldehyde functionality into a protein via the oxidation of the N-terminal threonine residue of the cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) protein, which was…

Digital and innovation competencies are nowadays highly required for students and faculty members in higher education institutions. We therefore need environments that incubate innovative learning scenarios to develop these competencies. We conducted a design-based research with the dual objective to develop learning labs in four universities and…

The determination of the speed of sound in air is a classical experiment, usually performed with a resonance tube apparatus. The measured value can be checked against Eq. (1), which describes the temperature dependence of the speed of sound in dry air. A modern implementation of this speed of sound investigation uses an Arduino Uno microcontroller…

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the adoption of online laboratories. The present article discusses the virtual laboratories used by students. The questions posed by students provided targeted teaching opportunities.

The scientific community continues to give conflicting impressions about the contribution of laboratory activities to science learning and yet ignores the views of students who are the focus of learning. In this paper, we reviewed postsecondary school students' experiences in the science laboratories. Students were most concerned about the impact…

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial for an introductory course in biochemistry to move from in-person instruction to total remote learning. There are four transferable skills in the course: problem-solving, laboratory psychomotor skills, data analysis and interpretation skills, and presentation skills. Since all lab buildings were…

Multistep synthesis is a key capstone experience in organic laboratory instruction. Here, a four-step synthesis of avobenzone, an active component in sunscreens, has been developed that can be completed in two 4 h laboratory periods. This synthesis incorporates green principles and includes an aldol condensation, electrophilic addition of bromine…

While debate about the use of--and alternatives to--human cadaveric dissection in medical training is robust, little attention has been paid to questions about timing. This study explores the perspectives of medical students and recent graduates with regard to two key questions: when in the degree program do students prefer dissection…

Single slit diffraction and the thermal expansion of materials are common components of an undergraduate physics course, though these topics are often taught independently in both lectures and laboratory based courses. Higher levels of cognitive domains can be achieved by building on these established topics and combining them into a single…

During the spring of 2020, teaching laboratories worldwide were closed, and teachers quickly prepared online substitute activities. This study investigates the students' experience of the substitution of laboratory teaching with theoretical activities in an instrumental analytical chemistry course in the students' second year of study. Twelve…

Learning and learning goals in undergraduate chemistry laboratory have been a popular research topic for the past three decades due to calls for curriculum reform, cost justification, and overall efficacy of necessary skill development. While much work has been done to assess curricular interventions on students' learning and attitudes towards…