Abstract:

We present an innovative insight into chemistry laboratory teaching: Computer-assisted experimental work (CAEW), and we compare it to the traditional methodology usually applied, where all the operations are hand-performed by the student. This innovative strategy introduces the use of new technologies at a more accessible level to students, does represent involve a complete break with traditional work methods, as classical experimental designs are still assembled in the laboratory, and uses specific software to instantaneously visualize, register, and analyze the results obtained from the mathematical processes. In the current work, we implement the CAEW methodology to the Laboratory of Chemistry for Engineering; which is taught at the first semester of the first academic year in Chemical Engineering. The selected practical was the titration of acetic acid in vinegar (monoprotic acid/base titration): “Determination of the acidity of a vinegar sample”. In order to detect the final point of the considered titrations: a couple of students used a pH sensor connected to a computer, another utilizes pH sensor, but hand-manipulated, and the other one a visual indicator. The results were comparable, but the computer-assisted methodology offered significant improvements, like the minimization of unintentional errors, possibility of directly following the titration, as the curve was gradually being drawn on the screen as the titration was conducted, and the final calculations are directly performed.

References:
This work was supported by the University Jaume I [research project number: UJI-B2018-20].

Keywords:

Automation, Chemistry, Computer, Practical, Student, University.