Chemistry in the kitchen: A laboratory adventure for liberal arts students

CHED 401

Rosa E Rivera-Hainaj, rhainaj@pnc.edu, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Purdue University - North Central, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville, IN 46391
Liberal arts students usually have a hard time understanding chemical concepts as usually presented. To overcome their fears, the common kitchen has been used as a chemical playground. Students not only are able to understand the chemical concepts in layman terms, but they also learn how to cook! For this reason the contents of the Chemistry and Society course have been changed to include kitchen chemistry. Subjects covered in the course include exercises the demonstrate topics like solution chemistry, chromatography, pH, etc. The liberal arts students at Purdue North Central are encouraged to explore basic chemical concepts and to have them relate what is observed or discussed in the classroom to the world outside the classroom.