The Construction and Characterization of a Conductivity Meter for Use in High School and Undergraduate Science Labs

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 24 (2019) pp 22-26

The Construction and Characterization of a Conductivity Meter for Use in High School and Undergraduate Science Labs

Aigerim Galyamova^†, Matthew M. Johnson^‡, Balwant S. Chohan^§, and Dan G. Sykes*^,†

^† Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, dgs12@psu.edu; ^‡Center for Science and the Schools, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802;^§School of Arts & Science, Felician University, Lodi, NJ 07644
Received May 10, 2018. Accepted December 26, 2018.

Published: 18 January 2019

Abstract. The focus of this report is the design, construction and evaluation of a low-cost and portable conductivity meter. The instrument has facilitated the introduction and application of conductivity and resistivity to groups of middle school, high school, and undergraduate students. A series of laboratory experiments that demonstrate the utility and capabilities of the conductivity meter have also been developed and tested in multiple contexts. These lab experiments not only help characterize the conductivity meter, but also feature challenging and thought-provoking problems that allow students to realize the limitations of the instrument and place the data in context. The laboratory exercises a) investigate the effect of ion concentration, valence electrons, and temperature on conductivity measurements; b) conductometrically monitor and interpret a titration between a weak acid with a strong base; and c) determine the total dissolved solid (TDS) values for water collected at local creeks and dams on-site.

Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; analytical chemistry; quantitative analysis; middle school science; high school science; hands-on learning; electrical conductivity

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: dgs12@psu.edu )

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