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Wheeler and Sigmann express concern over the calibration curves in my article (1) and feel that they will be in error unless use is made of pure food dyes, as they suggest. I was able to get around this issue simply by using Kool-Aid packets from the same lot number.
I did not feel it necessary to list the food dyes found in the Kool-Aid flavors, as this is stated on the packets themselves. Therefore, it seemed obvious that an absorption spectrum for a Kool-Aid flavor such as Black Cherry would be due to the mixture of the Red 40 and Blue 1 dyes contained in it, rather than for any individual dye. The intent of my article was not to differentiate the Red 40 from the Blue 1, but rather to have students understand how to make calibration curves using the principles of visible absorption on the Kool-Aid samples given to them. Wheeler and Sigmann were also dismayed that their own article (2) was not referenced in mine. This is an artifact of the long manuscript revision process. My article was submitted to this Journal in June of 2004. The Wheeler and Sigmann article did not appear in print until October of that same year. Thus, it was impossible for me to know of its existence when I submitted the manuscript. It is unfortunate that their article and mine crossed in the review process. I certainly would have referenced it if I had known of its existence, since it is very similar in some ways. Literature Cited
- Stevens, K. E. J. Chem. Educ. 2006, 83, 1544–1545.
- Sigmann, S. B.; Wheeler, D. E. J. Chem. Educ. 2004, 81, 1475–1478.
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