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| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
1999
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September
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Chemistry Everyday for Everyone
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UV Catalysis, Cyanotype Photography, and Sunscreens
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Glen D. Lawrence
Chemistry Department, Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Stuart Fishelson
Media Arts Department, Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, Brooklyn, NY 11201
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September 1999
Vol. 76 No. 9
p. 1199
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| Abstract |
This laboratory experiment is intended for a chemistry course for non-science majors. The experiment utilizes one of the earliest photographic processes, the cyanotype process, to demonstrate UV catalysis of chemical reactions. In addition to making photographic prints from negatives, the process can be used to test the effectiveness of sunscreens and the relative efficacy of the SPF (sun protection factor) rating of sunscreens. This is an inexpensive process, requiring solutions of ammonium ferric citrate and potassium ferricyanide, with options to use hydrogen peroxide and ammonium hydroxide solutions. Students can prepare their own UV-sensitized paper with the indicated chemicals and watch the photographic image appear as it is exposed to sunlight or fluorescent UV lamps in a light box designed for use in this experiment. The laboratory experiment should stimulate discussion of UV catalysis, photographic processes and photochemistry, sunscreens, and UV damage to biological organisms. The chemicals used are relatively nontoxic, and the procedure is simple enough to be used by groups of diverse ages and abilities.
See Letter re: this article.
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| Supplement |
Student's Laboratory Instructions, a Guide for Instructors, and Useful Web Sites for Cyanotype Photography and UV Damage are provided. These are in the form of WordPerfect for Windows documents and have been compressed as zip (for Windows) and sit (for Macintosh) files. They can also be accessed as a pdf file using Acrobat Reader.
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| More Information |
Citation |
Lawrence, Glen D.; Fishelson, Stuart. J. Chem. Educ. 1999 76 1199.
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Keywords |
Laboratory Instruction; Nonmajor Courses; Photochemistry; Catalysis; sunscreens; ultraviolet radiation; cyanotype photography
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History |
Created:
Last Updated: |
July 30, 1999
November 22, 2005
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Link to Letter added (April 2004).
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| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
1999
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September
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1199
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