Enhancing the First Titration Experience

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 12 Issue 6 (2007) pp 387-391

Enhancing the First Titration Experience

Stephen DeMeo

Department of Curriculum and Teaching, Dept. of Chemistry, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York, 10021, sdemeo@hunter.cuny.edu
Received May 12, 2007. Accepted September 17, 2007.

Published online: 12 October 2007

Abstract. A titration is a common method of analysis that students perform in an introductory chemistry laboratory course. The author describes eight key elements that he uses to enhance student learning when his students conduct a complexometric EDTA titration of zinc. The eight elements are: the use of a prelaboratory flow diagram, a multiple-week laboratory structure, student preparation of solutions, a conceptual connection, repeated modeling of the technique, a certification process, disclosure of results, and an argument for “good” data. Through a multiple choice survey, twenty-four students enrolled in the author’s introductory laboratory course provided positive feedback on these eight instructional elements.

Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; organic chemistry; synthesis

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: sdemeo@hunter.cuny.edu)

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