ELABORATION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL FOR THE STUDENT’S SUPPORT IN THE SUBJECT OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY IN THE CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE

Analytical Chemistry subject (N07) is studied in the first academic year of the Chemical Engineering degree at the University Jaume I. The number of students that have failed this subject in the last years is high (more than 50 %), probably due to the scarce level of knowledge achieved before starting University. The academic failure even occurs by proposing exams based on similar problems to those studied in the classroom, which requires an imperative solution.
One of the proposals has consisted in the development of a collection of resolved problems that contains an introductory chapter on basic principles of Analytical Chemistry and the following 7 blocks: ionic equilibrium, acid-base equilibrium, complex equilibrium, precipitation equilibrium, redox equilibrium, volumetric titration and gravimetric analysis. The problems have been resolved step by step in order to get a better understanding by students. Each simplification has been clearly reasoned. The clarity and simplicity in the resolution of problems should be the key for better student understanding of each problem.
In the classroom, some of the proposed problems will be resolved but the others will be raised for self-resolution following the model of the previously resolved problems. The student will have a limited time to resolve the problems in the classroom. This help, together with the explanation of other problems proposed in the classroom, should be positive enough to learn more straightforward the subject under study. The number of resolved exercises should be in agreement with the time dedicated to each one of the above-mentioned blocks in the educational programming.
The main objective of this work is to facilitate students' Analytical Chemistry learning that start higher education with scarce scientific skills. This will be accomplished by personal work in the classroom and resolution and exposition of similar problems to those explained by the professor. Some problems will be also proposed to be solved by the students on the blackboard in front of their partners, following the model previously applied in the classroom. In order to motivate students, the final exam score will be enhanced depending on the number of resolved problems.