What Can Black Panther Teach Us About Transition Metal Chemistry?

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 24 (2019) pp 56-58

What Can Black Panther Teach Us About Transition Metal Chemistry?

Sibrina N. Collins,* Jeffrey Ohmen, LaVetta Appleby,Meng Zhou, Jeffrey Morrissette, and Julie Zwiesler-Vollick

The Marburger STEM Center, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan 48075, scollins@ltu.edu
Received December 17, 2018. Accepted March 13, 2019.

Published: 27 March 2019

Abstract. This hands-on exercise for high school students utilizes the Marvel Studios’ Black Panther to expose students to inorganic chemistry through the preparation of three metal complexes that contain cobalt and copper coordinated to glycine (gly, sodium salt) and bipyridine (bpy) ligands. The students worked in teams to prepare their own “vibranium” solutions, which exhibited vibrant colors as shown in the movie.

Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; general chemistry; high school; curriculum; inorganic chemistry; public understanding; outreach; collaborative; cooperative learning; internet; web-based learning; amino acids; coordination compounds

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: scollins@ltu.edu )

Article in PDF format (154 KB) HTML format

Supporting Materials:

Two Student Laboratory Handouts are available. (231 KB)