Table 1 Overview of the laboratory experiences for the course
Meeting Number | Dates | Content Theme | Activity Description | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | January 20–24 | Density | Measurements, use of volumetric glassware, accuracy, precision, introduction to Excel (generation of calibration curve, trendlines), determination of an unknown concentration of a solution based on density, and density determination of a solid. | Physical, Face-to-Face |
2 | January 27–31 | Hydrates | Use of a Bunsen burner, safe handling of hot objects. Identification of hydrates and determining percent error; error analysis. Safety focus: safe handling of hot objects, use of Bunsen burner. | Physical, Face-to-Face |
3 | February 3–7 | Stoichiometry | Introduction to micropipettes. Redox titration using ORP probe; rough titration and fine titration. Interpretation of graphs. Advanced graphing in Excel (formulas for first and second derivative curves). Error analysis. | Physical, Face-to-Face |
4 | February 10–14 | Gases | Collection of a gas over water, reaction stoichiometry, reading a barometer, error analysis. Safety focus: interpreting an SDS. | Physical, Face-to-Face |
5 | February 17–21 | Calorimetry | Experimental determination of heat of solution, heat of neutralization, heat of reaction, and of specific heat of a metal using coffee cup calorimetry. Error analysis. Safety focus: hazards and risks. | Physical, Face-to-Face |
6 | February 24–28 | Dilution and Beer’s Law | UV-VIS spectroscopy, serial dilution, generation of calibration curve of absorbance vs concentration, determination of concentration of an unknown. Graphing and error analysis. Safety focus: pictograms on SDS. | Physical, Face-to-Face |
7 | March 2–6 | None | Spring Break |  |
8 | March 9–13 | None | Preparation for mandatory online |  |
9 | March 16–20 | Reaction Kinetics | Qualitative and quantitative exploration of reaction kinetics. What factors affect the rate of a reaction (qualitative), determination of the rate constant for a reaction using graphical techniques (quantitative). Graphing and error analysis. Reproducible use of micropipette and UV-VIS. Safety focus: CAS registry numbers, definitions of key safety terms. | Mandatory Online |
10 | March 23–27 | Ions and Electrolytes | Flame tests of metal ions, energy/wavelength calculations, discussion of electronic transitions. Use of a conductivity probe to measure conductivity of solutions; discussion of what factors affect conductivity. Preparation and observation of microscale single- and double-displacement reactions, net ionic equations, classification of type of reaction. Safety focus: the NFPA diamond; differentiating between flammability and combustibility; definitions of key terms. | Mandatory Online |
11 | March 30–April 3 | Lewis Structures | Lewis structures, wedge and dash 3D representations of molecules, polarity, building 3D models. Safety focus: types of goggles. | Mandatory Online |
12 | April 6–10 | None | Make-up days for the staggered start to the semester. | Mandatory Online |
13 | April 13-17 | Colligative Properties | Use of a temperature probe. Determination of boiling point elevation and freezing point depression. Determination of an unknown based on freezing point. Van’t Hoff factors. Graphical analysis and error analysis. | Mandatory Online |