A guided-inquiry laboratory pedagogy called Discovery Chemistry, in which students discover chemical concepts in the lab and the instructor uses their pooled data to guide the lecture portion of the course, was developed by this chemistry department. A Discovery Chemistry experiment that reinforces the students' understanding of stoichiometry and allows them to discover neutralization reactions and thermochemistry is described. This experiment examines the neutralization of citric acid, lactic acid, and oxalic acid by sodium hydroxide. The comparison of the three acids facilitates the pooling of data and the ability to include testable hypotheses in pre- and post-laboratory discussions, key components of the Discovery process.
Supplement
Instructions for the students including a data sheet, notes for the instructor, teaching assistant guidelines, and followup exercise are available.
The "Chemistry Teacher Connection" (CTC) is especially for high school chemistry teachers. For only $40/year, it offers an online-only subscription to CLIC along with membership in the Division of Chemical Education, normally $65/year. CTC subscribers receive access to all articles and supplements from 1996 through the current issue.
Through special arrangement with the ACS, JCE High School CLIC is now able to provide subscribers with online access to Chemical & Engineering News articles that have been selected specifically for secondary science instructors and their students.
Occasionally, collections of JCE back issues become available for donation to individual teachers, schools, or libraries. JCE matches collections with interested recipients. Recipients pay shipping costs or pick up the collection.