Science education at different levels can be supported by various mobile applications that can be downloaded for free onto mobile phones, tablets, and other devices. Such applications can also be used in laboratory work, but it must be said that their use in science laboratories is a relatively new approach. This study is aimed at determining the…

We present a simple and affordable method for making a surface electrodynamic trap for microparticles. The principles of electrodynamic trapping of charged particles are discussed and step-by-step instructions on how to make a surface trap are given. In addition to the electrodynamic trap implementation and operation process, options for its…

Chemistry includes observable phenomena and materials related to daily life, but learners sometimes have difficulties understanding the theoretical and abstract nature of chemistry as well as its applications and relating it to everyday experiences. In this manner, the aim of the study is to determine and assess whether pre-service science and…

A student experiment that uses QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) methodology for extraction and HPLC for quantitative determination of tocopherols from seeds and nuts is described here. Chromatographic separation is achieved by using a pentafluorophenyl stationary phase which gives enhanced separation of the tocopherols…

Oxidation reactions are critical components of the synthetic toolbox taught to undergraduate students during introductory organic chemistry courses. However, the oxidation reactions discussed in the undergraduate curriculum are often outdated as many organic chemistry textbooks emphasize chromium-based oxidants that are no longer in regular use by…

Organic chemistry students often struggle with reaction mechanisms, particularly in how they are proposed and justified. In this activity targeting second year organic undergraduates, students used infrared spectroscopy (IR) to track the reaction progress of two distinct aldol reactions and used polarimetry to analyze the stereoselectivity of…

A community-engaged learning experiment was developed for an introductory analytical chemistry course at the University of Toronto Scarborough in collaboration with Campus Farm. The experiment introduced students to the application of analytical techniques to studying environmental samples. More specifically, students investigated the potential of…

A Maker-oriented experimental course in general chemistry has been created by using digital tools, such as a computer, a pressure sensor, and data processing software, in combination with a new multiple expansion method and laboratory equipment to determine the vapor pressure precisely. In this Maker chemistry experiment, the pressure sensor…

The preparation of ethyl acetoacetate is a distinctive, century-old classic organic chemistry laboratory project. Ethyl acetate and sodium metal (sodium ethoxide) are reacted by Claisen ester condensation to produce the sodium salt of ethyl acetoacetate and then obtain the refined product by acidification as well as washing, drying, and…

The dissolution of cobalt­(II) chloride in an appropriate binary alcohol solvent yields an equilibrium mixture, consisting of the differently colored octahedral (pink in color) and tetrahedral (blue in color) cobalt­(II) coordination complexes, which can exhibit a brilliant and reversible pink-to-blue color transition over a ~10 °C window - i.e.,…

Bacteria have developed a cell-to-cell communication system called quorum sensing (QS), allowing them to regulate group behavior and synchronize the expression of virulence factors, responsible for increasing their infection capacity and resistance to antimicrobials. Although the control of microbial infections through the inhibition of microbial…

Paal--Knorr reactions are a classical method for synthesizing pyrroles, using 1,4-dicarbonyl compound and amine as reactants. It has the characteristics of green chemistry, as only two molecules of water are lost. In this teaching and learning experiment, 2,5-hexanedione and 4-"tert"-butylaniline were used to synthesize…

This article's author describes an upper-level economics course that introduces students to experimental economics. The course, built around a term-long project requiring students to develop experiments in small groups, has two main objectives: (1) solidify students' learning of key economic concepts, and (2) introduce students to experimental…

For educational institutions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas, the provision of practical learning scenarios is, traditionally, a major concern. In the 21st century, the explosion of information and communication technology (ICTs), as well as the universalization of low-cost hardware, has allowed the proliferation…

A major challenge when designing new experiments for the general chemistry laboratory is introducing students to the necessary techniques while keeping the experiment engaging and accessible. This work presents a new multiweek activity designed to introduce students to advanced instrumentation in the form of high-performance liquid chromatography…