“Counting drops and observing color”: Teachers’ and students’ first experiences in small-scale chemistry practicum of acid-base solutions

This study introduces a small-scale chemistry practicum technique with the concept of acid-base identification, determination of pH with indicators, and neutralization reactions with the concept of titration. The first experiences of teachers and students in small-scale chemistry practicums are revealed. Action research was carried out to introduce small-scale chemistry (SSC) practicum techniques as solutions for minimizing chemical tools and materials, as well as the availability of space for school chemistry practicums. This study involved 26 teacher participants in the initial process of providing experience and 36 student participants involved in the process of organizing practical classes. Quantitative data including teacher responses and student responses to the SSC practicum in the pilot class were collected using a response questionnaire on the activity. Qualitative data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The practicum involves qualitative observations and quantitative calculations. The qualitative aspect relates to the observation of color changes that occur in a mixture of solutions made of acid and base solutions with certain compositions. Teachers get a lot of inspiration in terms of chemistry practicum with less material requirements, as well as modifying the tools used for laboratory activities. The package of tools and materials provided an illustration for them that practicum activities do not have to be carried out in a laboratory room, but can also be practiced in conventional classrooms, and even carried out independently by students at home. Students have a unique experience in the process of counting the number of droplets as it requires careful concentration and observationPeer Reviewe

Chemical Safety Concern Led to Small-scale Chemistry and Green Chemistry

My interest in chemical safety has led me to focus on small-scale chemistry and green chemistry, which enables me to introduce the low-cost and practical hands-on chemistry experiments to schools and universities in Thailand and ASEAN countries. These experiments include the organic chemistry using the Small-Lab Kit, the portable organic lab kit invented by me. It has the benefit of saving chemicals and energy, as well as reducing experimental time and waste, but most importantly increasing chemical safety to the students and laboratory staff. In addition, I have voluntarily serviced for several scientific and science-related non-profit organizations which I can contribute more to the scientific community and also learn some new things at the same time</jats:p

<i>In-situ</i> synthesis of metal nanoparticle embedded soft hybrid materials via eco-benign approach

Abstract The unique optical and electronic properties of metal nanoparticles and tunable properties of the organic templates encourage the scientific community to generate metal nanoparticle embedded soft hybrid materials for various novel utilities. Here, we discuss the in-situ synthesis of metal nanoparticle embedded soft hybrid materials via eco-benign approach which exclude the use of toxic reducing/capping agents or toxic reaction media. In this protocol, the gel matrix composed of benign organic templates act as reducing as well as stabilizing agent for the in-situ generation and stabilization of metal nanoparticles. As the incorporation of metal salts (as nanoparticle precursor) in the gel medium is required in this process, in most of the cases aqueous media were used for the generation of metal nanoparticle embedded soft hybrid materials. This discussion includes interesting findings from our laboratory where hybrid gel matrix composed of renewable chemicals was utilized for the in-situ synthesis of palladium nanoparticle embedded soft trihybrid material. The hybrid gel matrix rich in polyphenols/flavonoids was exploited to generate palladium nanoparticle embedded trihybrid gel through in-situ reduction of doped Pd (II) salts to stable PdNPs. The xerogel of this trihybrid material was utilized as recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for C-C coupling reaction in air under phosphene free condition and reduction reaction.</jats:p

The 27 th IUPAC International Conference on Chemistry Education (ICCE 2024)

THE 27 TH IUPAC INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHEMISTRY EDUCATION (ICCE 2024) Chemistry teacher international (Rights reserved) (-) The 27 th IUPAC International Conference on Chemistry Education (ICCE 2024) / Tantayanon, Supawan (Rights reserved) (-

Organic Chemistry Practices for Undergraduates using a Small Lab Kit

AbstractThe recent budget cuts in Universities in Malaysia affect the running of practical chemistry classes at undergraduate levels as purchase of equipment, glassware, chemicals and other consumables need to be reduced. The rising costs of chemicals also alleviate the problems in the acquisition of sufficient chemicals for the practical classes. Most lecturers give priority to equip their research laboratories as expected when Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia was given the status of a research university by the Government of Malaysia. With such challenges, it is inevitable that the teaching of practical chemistry in the undergraduate are given less attention and the quality deteriorating since experiments are done by a group of 4 students as a measure to adjust to the availability of equipment and chemicals in the laboratory. Another necessary measure is to reduce the number of experiments conducted by the students. For organic chemistry practical classes, the small lab kit provided a solution for practices to run as usual and the learning of organic chemistry more effective. Students per group can be downsized to two per group to encourage everyone to be hands-on. The quality of learning can be enhanced and the quantity of chemicals can be reduced 10 times or even lower in some experiments. The students’ awareness to the conservation of environment can be manifested through the savings in the use of chemicals and water. Survey conducted among second year organic chemistry students showed that 80% of the students agreed that using the portable chemistry laboratory kit has enhanced their interest in learning chemistry. Among the reasons given is that the time taken to set up the experiments as well as conduct the experiments are short compared to the traditional methods. Experiments can be repeated easily. The types of experiments using common materials from daily life need to be developed to attract interest among students to learn chemistry