Analytical Chemistry Computational Experiments. An Educational Kinetic Study Using Matlab Programming

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 12 Issue 3 (2007) pp 190-194

Analytical Chemistry Computational Experiments. An Educational Kinetic Study Using Matlab Programming

Anunciación Espinosa-Mansilla^†, Arsenio Muñoz De La Peña^†, Florentina Cañada-Cañada^† Diego Bohoyo-Gil^† and David González-Gómez*^‡

^†Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain and ^‡Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195-1700, USA, dggomez@u.washington.edu
Received June 16, 2006. Accepted March 12, 2007.

Published online: 4 June 2007

Abstract. Currently, computational calculation is a common tool in chemistry laboratories and students need the knowledge and skill to perform statistical and software programming. A great number of software commercial packages are available to perform different mathematical and statistical tasks but, quite often, specific studies need a more appropriate one. Acquiring new software for every new situation is not suitable. It is better for students to learn to develop the software for specific needs. The students need to be able to solve computational problems by themselves. The use of MATLAB allows the calculation and resolution of complex statistical and mathematical operations with very simple programming commands. In this paper, an experimental problem, the calculations of kinetics parameters for an oxidation reaction, is solved using MATLAB code written for this purpose.

Key Words: Computers in Chemistry; analytic chemistry; diffusion, redox reactions; electrochemistry

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: dggomez@u.washington.edu)

Article in PDF format (311 KB) HTML format

Supporting Materials:

The ESCIN program and example files are included (111 KB)