General Chemistry 1 Labs using Argument-Driven Inquiry

Introduction

Argument-Driven Inquiry
- Argument-Driven Inquiry
  
  This lab course is taught using a new and innovative instructional model called Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI)...
- An Introduction to Scientific Argumentation
  
  Over the course of human history, people have developed many interconnected and validated ideas about the natural world...
- Interactive Poster Session
  
  Once your group has completed your work, prepare a whiteboard (Figure 1) that you can use to share and justify your ideas...
- Lab Reporting Scoring Rubric
  
  Lab Reporting Scoring Rubric printable form
- Lab Report Review and Score
  
  Lab Report Review and Score printable form
Lab Safety and Practices
- Lab Safety
  
  The lab instructor will provide a statement to be signed by the student confirming that the following rules and regulations have been read by the student and summarized by the lab instructor...
- Good Lab Practices
  
  Much of this course involves obtaining accurate data. Careful work usually leads to good results...
- Measurements
  
  Chemistry is an experimental science that requires the use of a standardized system of measurements...
- Preparing Graphs
  
  Graphs are often used to organize data so that relationships between numbers can be visualized...
Laboratory Equipment
- Laboratory Equipment and Glassware
  
  Goggles, Plastic/Glass Ruber Policemen, Tongs, Test Tube Holder, Erlenmeyer Flasks, Beakers, Graduated Cylinders...
- Vernier Calipers
  
  The vernier consists of a main scale engraved on a fixed ruler and an auxiliary vernier scale engraved on a movable jaw...
- Analytical Balance
  
  Analytical balances are used for very accurate, quantitative measurements of mass to the nearest 0.001 g...
- Volumetric Glassware
  
  In quantitative chemistry, it is often necessary to make volume measurements with an error on the order of 0.1%, one part per thousand...
- Bunsen Burner
  
  A bunsen burner is one of the primary means of heating in the laboratory...
- Centrifuge
  
  Centrifugation (high-speed rotation) will be used to rapidly settle precipitates in solution...
Instructional Videos
- Instructional Videos
  
  Chemistry Lab Safety, Argument-Driven Inquiry, Handling Liquids, Handling Solids, Bunsen Burner, Spec 20
- Additional Instructional Videos
  
  Cleaning & Conditioning a Buret, Titration, Cleaning a Buret, Using an Analytical Balance, Using a Volumetric Flask, Pipeting Techniques
Resources
- Periodic Table
  
  Periodic Chart of the Elements
- Statistical Analysis of Data Collected
  
  When performing laboratory experiments, a certain variation in results will always occur regardless of the care taken in measuring...

Lab Investigations

Printable Worksheets and Pre-Laboratory Exercises
- Worksheet for Investigation 3
  
  Hydrate Investigation Design...
- Pre-Laboratory Exercises for Investigation 4
  
  Beer-Lambert Calibration Curve...
- Pre-Laboratory Exercises for Investigation 5
  
  Moles and Mass Calculations...
- Worksheet for Investigation 6
  
  Experimental Design...
- Worksheet for Investigation 7
  
  Quantitative Heat Data for Salts...
Lab Investigation 1 - What is the best practice for laboratory measurement?
- Using Laboratory Equipment and Glassware
  
  The chemistry laboratory is equipped with top loading balances and analytical balances...
Lab Investigation 2 - Are these materials made of the same substance?
- An Introduction to Physical Properties
  
  Are the samples provided made of the same material?
- Introduction
  
  A physical property can be observed or measured without changing the identity of the material...
- The Problem
  
  Matter, the "stuff" of which the universe is composed, has two characteristics: it has mass, and it occupies space...
- Materials Available for Use
  
  Water, Spill Can, Tongs, Graduated Cylinders, Beaker Top Loader Electronic Balances, Vernier Calipers
- Safety Precautions
  
  Carefully add the samples into the glass cylinders to avoid cracking the glass...
- Getting Started
  
  You will need to determine a way to gather the data so that you produce evidence that can be used to justify your answer to the guiding question...
- Procedure
  
  It is good scientific practice to determine values in more than one way...
- Interactive Poster Session
  
  Once your group has completed your work, prepare a whiteboard that you can use to share and justify your ideas...
- Report
  
  Once you have completed your research, you will need to prepare an investigation report that consists of three sections...
Lab Investigation 3 - What is the identity of this hydrate?
- Identification of Hydrates Based on Percent Water in an Unknown
  
  What is the identity of your unknown hydrate?
- Introduction
  
  When an ionic compound (such as salt) is crystallized from an aqueous solution (such as salt water), the resulting solid crystals may appear to be perfectly dry....
- The Problem
  
  You will be given an unknown hydrate to identify this hydrate from a list of possible unknowns by determining the percent water in the hydrate.
- Materials Available For Use
  
  Test tubes, Test Tube clamp, Beaker, Top Loader Electronic Balances, Bunsen Burner, 0.5 to 1.0 gram of unknown hydrate
- Safety Precautions
  
  Never point the heating test tube at a person...
- Getting Started
  
  The unknown hydrate may be any of the compounds in the table on the design page...
- Procedure
  
  Be sure to weigh your empty test tube, so you do not lose material transferring between containers...
- Interactive Poster Session
  
  Once your group has completed your work, prepare a whiteboard that you can use to share and justify your ideas...
- Report
  
  Once you have completed your research, you will need to prepare an investigation report that consists of three sections...
- Worksheet for Investigation 3
  
  Hydrate Investigation Design...
Lab Investigation 4 - How could you make more of this dye?
- Using Spectroscopy to Determine Solution Concentration
  
  How could you make more of this dye?
- Introduction
  
  A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances...
- The Problem
  
  Your research team has been asked to prepare more of certain color dye solution...
- Materials Available For Use
  
  UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, Spectronic 20D spectrophotometers, 10 mL Graduated Cylinders, 50 mL Beakers
- Safety Precautions
  
  Wear goggles at all times.
- Getting Started
  
  In the pre-laboratory exercise of this investigation you will prepare a Beer's Law calibration curve for a primary dye...
- Procedure
  
  Obtain a practice solution of the same dye that you used to prepare the calibration curve and determine the practice solution's concentration...
- Interactive Poster Session
  
  Once your group has completed your work, prepare a whiteboard that you can use to share and justify your ideas...
- Report
  
  Once you have completed your research, you will need to prepare an investigation report that consists of three sections...
- Spectroscopy Background
  
  Begin by viewing the online video "Spectronic 20"...
- Preparing a Beer's Law Plot
  
  Obtain two cuvettes for the Spectronic 20D...
- Pre-Laboratory Exercises for Investigation 4
  
  Beer-Lambert Calibration Curve...
Lab Investigation 5 - What is the optimum mole ratio for a reaction?
- An Investigation of Mole Ratios and Limiting Reactants
  
  What is the optimum mole ratio for the formation of CO₂ from the reaction of sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid?
- Introduction
  
  You have already learned how to balance chemical equations in terms of molecules, for example see the following equations...
- The Problem
  
  When bicarbonate is mixed with acid, it breaks down into CO₂ and H₂O...
- Materials Available for Use
  
  1.00 M Acetic Acid (HC₂H₃0₂), Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), Graduated cylinders (1000 mL & 25 mL), Plastic tray...
- Safety Precautions
  
  Handle acetic acid with care...
- Getting Started
  
  You will need to collect gas by water displacement in order to measure the amount of CO₂ produced after the mixing of acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate in different molar ratios...
- Interactive Poster Session
  
  Once your group has completed your work, prepare a whiteboard that you can use to share and justify your ideas...
- Report
  
  Once you have completed your research, you will need to prepare an investigation report that consists of three sections...
- Pre-Laboratory Exercises for Investigation 5
  
  Moles and Mass Calculations...
Lab Investigation 6 - What is the best way to remove silver ion from an aqueous solution?
- Using Chemical Reactions
  
  What is the best way to remove silver ion from aqueous silver nitrate?..
- Introduction
  
  Chemical reactions can be recognized by a color change, the formation of a solid, the formation of bubbles, or a change in temperature...
- The Problem
  
  This investigation requires you to use your knowledge of chemical reactions to design a procedure to remove silver ion from an aqueous silver nitrate solution...
- Materials Available for Use
  
  Test tubes & rack, 0.5 M CaCl₂, 0.5 M AgNO₃, Copper metal, Side-arm filtration flask, Büchner funnel, Filter paper...
- Safety Precautions
  
  Always wear goggles...
- Getting Started
  
  Mix the reactants for each reaction in a test tube...
- Experimental Design
  
  Please print the worksheet for this experimental design phase of the investigation.
- Interactive Poster Session
  
  Once your group has completed your work, prepare a whiteboard that you can use to share and justify your ideas...
- Report
  
  Once you have completed your research, you will need to prepare an investigation report that consists of three sections...
- Worksheet for Investigation 6
  
  Experimental Design...
Lab Investigation 7 - Why is sodium acetate used in commercial hot packs and ammonium nitrate in commercial cold packs?
- The Commercial Use of Thermochemistry
  
  Why is sodium acetate used in commercial hot packs and ammonium nitrate in commercial cold packs?
- Introduction
  
  When a salt dissolves in water, two opposite heat transfer processes are involved...
- The Problem
  
  You and your teammates are to investigate different salts for potential use in cold or hot packs...
- Materials Available for Use
  
  Electronic Balances, Sodium acetate (NaC₂H₃O₂), Ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃), Calcium chloride (CaCl₂)...
- Safety Precautions
  
  Dispose of all salts properly...
- Getting Started
  
  Each pair of students will work with one salt to determine the heat of solution...
- Class Poster Session
  
  Once your group has completed the experiment, add your data to the class whiteboard.
- Report
  
  This week you will NOT write a full lab report, just an argument for why each salt is used commercially...
- Recommended Procedure for Quantitative Heat Investigations
  
  A calorimeter can be constructed from two concentric Styrofoam cups...
- Worksheet for Investigation 7
  
  Quantitative Heat Data for Salts...
Lab Investigation 8 - What shapes do molecules form?
- Lewis dot structures help us predict covalent bonding patterns as well as locate non-bonding pairs of electrons on a molecule...