Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN 46323
One of the chemistry laboratory experiments for a general chemistry course taught at PUC had irreproducible results, not giving the students a good learning experience. A research project was conducted on improving the experimental procedure. The goal was to establish a solubility laboratory experiment that is successful, creative and illustrates the learning objectives. Several different procedural changes were investigated to develop a good procedure. Beyond writing a new procedure from which more meaningful results are produced for the original experiment, the experimental scope was broadened. The original procedure used only one salt to demonstrate the relationship between temperature and solubility, whereas the new experiment now uses several salts. The new procedure was developed, performed by another class of students, and studied to verify that it produced repeatable results. A survey was also developed to determine the importance for the laboratory experience for the students.
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[Abstract (DOC)]