CHED 163 |
| It is uncommon for general chemistry students to use a gas chromatograph (GC) and/or a CHN elemental analyzer. This presentation describes a series of GC mini-laboratories in which students determine experimentally how molecular weight, boiling point, and oven temperature influence retention time. The GC mini-laboratories, student answers to pre- and post-lab assessment questions, and the extension of the mini-laboratories to qualitative analysis of petroleum products will be discussed. Two successful activities that use the CHN analyzer include: 1) a comparative chemical analysis of bituminous and anthracite coals, and 2) a field-based laboratory in which students use CHN data to compute the theoretical volume of liquid ethanol produced from post-harvest cellulosic biomass of an acre of wheat. The latter laboratory was developed because ethanol is touted as an alternative biofuel for gasoline. The author gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the NSF (DUE-0310264) to support this project. |
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NSF Catalyzed Innovations in the Undergraduate Curriculum
1:30 PM-5:05 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 Seaport -- Flagship Room, Oral
Division of Chemical Education |