We present a novel first-year chemistry laboratory experiment that connects solubility, equilibrium, and chemical periodicity concepts. It employs a unique format that asks students to replicate experiments described in different sample lab reports, each lacking some essential information, rather than follow a scripted procedure. This structure is designed, based on research findings on the science of learning, to promote development of students' experimental design and data analysis skills as well as their understanding of the importance and essential qualities of written and verbal communication between scientists. The experiment begins with titration of saturated solutions of magnesium, calcium, and strontium hydroxides followed by the calculation of the solubility product of each compound. Students use their results to determine a periodic trend in the solubility of the group 2 compounds they titrated, apply the trend to predict the solubility of other, toxic group 2 hydroxides, and examine the value of the experiment within the context of a green chemistry philosophy.
Supplement
All student handouts as well as a complete instructor's guide with detailed teaching tips, sample data, and a grading rubric 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.
Always in the