CHED 1493

Microscale experiments minimize the amount of waste generated in teaching laboratories and reduce the cost of chemicals and waste disposal. They are an excellent way of introducing and reinforcing the concept of waste minimization, a key tenet of green chemistry. Also, working with small quantities of chemicals trains students in dexterity, a desirable learning outcome in laboratory courses.

Two new experiments that have been successfully implemented at the microscale in a 300 level environmental chemistry laboratory course will be discussed. In one of the experiments, students explore the structure and solvent properties of microemulsions. These are microheterogenous mixtures of water, oil and surfactant that are important green solvents. They may also contain a co-surfactant. In the second experiment, students investigate the ability of sunscreens to block ultraviolet radiation by studying their absorption spectra. The design and implementation of the experiments will be discussed.