Laboratory Experiments for Non-Major and General Chemistry Courses
The American Chemical Society has stated: "To learn chemistry, students must directly manipulate chemicals, study their properties and reactions, and use laboratory equipment and modern laboratory instruments." and "This hands-on experience is necessary for students to understand, appreciate, and apply chemical concepts." (ACS Guidelines for Chemistry in Two-Year College Programs, Spring 2009)
Commercial laboratory manuals contain experiments that range from trivial (those dumb measurement labs) to challenging (e.g., applications of thermochemistry to solar energy). Some experiments serve little purpose other than busy work to illustrate a principle and leaves students asking "so, what?". On the other hand, there are a lot of independent experiments developed by individuals and posted on the Internet that are on the cutting edge of today's research (e.g., nanotechnology), apply principles to applications (e.g., build a wind turbine), or explore consumer products (e.g., make a perfume). Don't look for these in commercial manuals. Many school and university teachers tend to be dinosaurs and are reluctant to try something new and are slow to change.
I am a firm believer in integrated lecture-laboratory classes and utilize a range of experiments, some traditional and some non-traditional, in my classes. Some experiments are intended as introductions to course topics, some are used to reinforce concepts taught in class, and some are investigations to accompany course material.. Although I list most experiments on separate course pages for students to download, I am assembling many of those experiments on this page to make them easier to find on my website.
All the following are experiments used, written, or modified, by David A. Katz.
There are additional laboratory experiments that can be found under Chem Courses and Information. Especially look at Pima College CHM 121, Chemistry and Society, and CHM 125, Consumer Chemistry and Wesley College CH150.
These are PDF files
and require Adobe Acrobat Reader
These experiments are copyrighted by David A. Katz. They are not to be reproduced, printed, or distributed without the premission of the author.
Laboratory Safety
Safety in the Academic Laboratory
Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories (SACL), 8th Ed. This is a link to the publication by the American Chemical Society Joint Board-council Committee on Chemical Safety
A sample SDS. This is an SDS for ethanol from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co. This is provided as an example to show what an SDS looks like.
The Safety Song by the Sounds of Science a group of graduate students and alumni at UC Berkeley. Safety doesn't have to be boring.
Identifying and Dealing With Hazardous Materials and Procedures in the General Chemistry Laboratory by David A. Katz. Published in the Journal of Chemical Education, Vol. 59, Page A127, April 1982.
Introductory Experiments
Mystery Powders An introduction to investigating properties of substances. Most often used in preparation courses and with non-majors. These are the teacher notes for this experiment..
An Experiment in Alchemy: Copper to Silver to Gold This is a fun experiment to teach students how to identify samples, use a balance, a hotplate, a Bunsen burner, and some lab techniques. NOTE: This experiment uses granular zinc. Do not substitute zinc powder or zinc dust as the zinc waste may cause a fire.
Economics of a Chemical Product A techniques experiment that includes a lesson on economics
Ink Analysis: An Experiment in Paper Chromatography An introduction to paper chromatography based on a forensics experiment
Chromatography: The Extraction and Identification of Artificial Colors From Foods A newer modification of a former FDA procedure to identify food colors
The Characterization of an Unknown Substance This experiment is written as a Sherlock Holmes mystery
Identification of a Substance by Physical Properties This experiment uses density, solubility and boiling point to identify a substance
Introductory Organic Chemistry
Esters: An Introduction to Organic Chemistry Reactions This is a very rough preparation of some organic esters
Esters: A Microscale Introduction to Organic Chemistry Reactions This is a microscale preparation of some relatively pure organic esters
Preparation of Synthetic Rubber This contains a microscale preparation of Thiokol Rubber and a macroscale preparation of a rubber ball from rubber latex
Calorimetry
Energy of a Peanut: Determining the Caloric Content of Selected Foods
Nuclear Chemistry
Nuclear Chemistry Experiments
Determination of the Half-Life of Potassium-40
Atomic Spectra and Atomic Structure
Build a Spectroscope How does one identify elements? For homework search out element spectra in your environment.
Chemical Compounds
Empirical Formula of a Compound
Hydrates
Recycling a Metal into a Chemical Compound: The Preparation of Alum An experiment in recycling an aluminum can into a chemical compound
The Aluminum Beverage Can. An article by William F. Hosford and John L. Duncan, from Scientific American, September 1994, describing the design and manufacture of aluminum beverage cans.
Growing Alum Crystals This is what we do with the alum we make in the above experiment. Growing crystals is chemical "magic", that is, it's a little art along with a chemical technique. Alum can be purchased in most supermarkets.
Chemical Reactions
Chemical Reactions This is a conceptual introduction to chemical reactions in microscale
Synthesis of Zinc Iodide: Tracking a Chemical Reaction This experiment is meant to be paired with Chemical Reactions, above. Students look at properties of the reactants and product and document a chemical change.
Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz, Limiting Reagents and Determination of NaHCO3 in Alka Seltzer Tablets
Properties of Solutions
Osmosis and Dialysis
Standardization of a Basic Solution and Analysis of Stomach Antacid Tablets Students prepare solutions of HCl and NaOH, standardize the NaOH against the HCl, and titrate stomach antacid tablets. (Used for the introductory chemistry course.)
Preparation of Acid and Basic Solutions and Analysis of Stomach Antacid Tablets Students prepare solutions of HCl and NaOH, standardize the NaOH against a primary standard, standardize the HCl, and titrate stomach antacid tablets. (Used for the general chemistry course.)
Solubility of a Salt in Water at Various Temperatures
Testing the Waters: How Good is That Bottled Water and How Effective is Your Water Filter Testing of drinking water using laboratory apparatus and Hach water test kits.
Kinetics
Alka Seltzer: An Introduction to Kinetics
Acids and Bases
Acids, Bases, and pH Using Red Cabbage Paper Determination of pH of household materials. This can be set up in a classroom.
Acids, Bases, and pH Using Red Cabbage Paper - Teacher notes for preparing this experiment
Atmospheric Chemistry and Gases
How do we Affect the Quality of Our Atmosphere
Determination of the Volume of CO2 in Pop Rocks
Earth Science
Earth Science
Preparation of Malachite
Extracting a Metal From Its Ore
Soil Analysis
Landfills and Recycling Construct a mini-landfill.
Energy
Build
a Wind Turbine This is a link to The Pembina Institute Re-energy.ca
site. You can download the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine instructions from this web site. Also download and print the construction modifications and templates Also look for the water wheel construction plans on that web site.
Build a Solar Oven This is a link to The Pembina Institute Re-energy.ca site. Download the solar oven construction plans from this web site. There will be some modifications made in class.
Batteries Build a range of batteries from a voltaic pile to a dry cell battery.
Construction of a Microscale Fuel Cell
The Synthesis of Biodiesel from Vegetable Oil
Nanotechnology experiments are located at the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Click on this link to go to the entire Video Lab Manual of experiments for Nanoscale Science and Technology. The links below will take you directly to the experiments or will open a modified experiment..
Synthesis of Aqueous Ferrofluid Nanoparticles
Synthesis of Ruby Red Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles
Synthesis of Cholesteryl Ester Liquid Crystals This is a preparation of both pressure sensitive and temperature sensitive liquid crystal mixtures
Investigation of a Liquid Crystal Watch
Calibration of a Liquid Crystal Mood Ring
Make a Liquid Crystal Pixel
Graphene Prepare graphene from graphite with sticky tape
Graphene 2. A new preparation of graphene is under construction.
Nitinol wire Train Nitinol to a desired shape.
Preparation of Surface Conductive Glass
Titanium Dioxide Raspberry Solar Cell
In addition to the above experiments, there is a section of Nanoscale Science and Technology Demonstrations, a series of short movies that demonstrate aspects of nanotechnology. Click on this link to go to the movie page. (Requires Quicktime which can be downloaded at no cost from the link on the movie page.)
The Nano Song by the Sounds of Science a group of graduate students and alumni at UC Berkeley. Nanotechnology can be fun.
Forensics This is a link to forensics experiments on a separate web page
Household Product Experiments:
Soaps and Detergents
The Chemistry of Soaps and Detergents
Evaluation of Detergents and Cleaning Aids Stain cloth to test your detergent
Preparation of a Dye Catcher
Food Experiments
Testing the Waters: How Good is That Bottled Water and How Effective is Your Water Filter Testing of drinking water using laboratory apparatus and Hach water test kits.
Potato Chip Tasting
Determination of Fat in Potato Chips
Popcorn
Microwave Popcorn
Apple Browning: A look at antioxidants
Butter in a Bottle
Size of a Fatty Acid Molecule
Zip-Lock Pickles
Root Beer
Make Your Own Orange Drink
Peanut and Nut Butter
Easy Cheese
How Yeast Works
Esters: The Preparation of Artificial Food Flavors
For additional food experiments go to the Cooking with Chemistry page.
Experiments with personal care materials and cosmetics
Toothpaste Testing
Preparation
of a Skin Cream Prepare a basic skin cream and learn how each ingredient works.
Isolation
of an Essential Oil
Perfume Use essential oils to make perfumes
Preparation
and Evaluation of Sunscreens
Experiments involving over-the-counter drugs
The
Drug Lab: Synthesis of Aspirin and Acetaminophen
Standardization
of a Basic Solution and Analysis of Stomach Antacid Tablets
Standardization of a Basic Solution and Analysis of Stomach Antacid Tablets Students prepare solutions of HCl and NaOH, standardize the NaOH against the HCl, and titrate stomach antacid tablets. (Used for the introductory chemistry course.)
Preparation of Acid and Basic Solutions and Analysis of Stomach Antacid Tablets Students prepare solutions of HCl and NaOH, standardize the NaOH against a primary standard, standardize the HCl, and titrate stomach antacid tablets. (Used for the general chemistry course.)
Metals
Heat Treatment of Iron The Heat treatment of Iron using hair pins.
Cleaning Metals and Metal Polish cleans metals two different ways
Electroplating is currently under development
An
Experiment in Alchemy: Copper to Silver to Gold
Nitinol: Metal with a memory
Polymers
Identification of a Polymer A polymer analysis lab
Polymers includes the preparation of several different polymers
Preparation of Synthetic Rubber This contains a microscale preparation of Thiokol Rubber and a macroscale preparation of a rubber ball from rubber latex
Dyes and Dyeing
Dyes and Dyeing
Natural Plant Dyes
Papermaking
Papermaking
Experiments involving artist materials
Making Wax Crayons
Making Pastels is currently under development
Christmas Experiments Used as end-of-semester experiments, often before Christmas break.
Partial Thermal Degradation of Mixed Saccharides With Protein Inclusions with Teacher Notes
The Silver Mirror Reaction I use old, 50 or 100-mL round bottom flasks. Can be done as a demonstration.
Useful Information
Science Demonstrations, Experiments, and Resources: A Reference List for Elementary through College Teachers Emphasizing Chemistry with some Physics and Life Science
Common Chemicals and Supplies in and Around Your Home
Measurement Equivalents for Science Activities
Mass-Volume Equivalents of Common Chemical Solids
Grades of Purity of Chemicals
Temperature Chart