Synopses & Reviews
LABORATORY INQUIRY IN CHEMISTRY, Second Edition provides a unique set of guided-inquiry investigations that focus on constructing knowledge about the conceptual basis of laboratory techniques, instead of simply learning techniques. By focusing on developing skills for designing experiments, solving problems, thinking critically, and selecting and applying appropriate techniques, the authors expose students to a realistic laboratory experience, typical of the practicing chemist. The Second Edition features six new experiments and is accompanied by a revised and updated Instructor's Manual, available online. This new edition continues the proven three-phase learning cycle: exploration of chemical behaviors within the context of the problems posed; concept invention--the use of data and observations to construct accepted scientific knowledge about the concepts explored in the laboratory investigation; and, concept application--where students apply their conceptual understanding of the investigation at hand by modifying or extending the experiments, and write a report that emphasizes conceptual relevance. These college and honors level inquiry-based experiments correlate well with the recommended experiments outlined by the Advanced Placement Chemistry Development Committee.
Review
"I felt that there were many different choices for labs that could be matched to any particular text for general chemistry... I really like that fact that the lab manual offers a wide variety of choices for inquiry based labs."
Review
"The emphasis put upon the students to think through a process rather than just following directions, the different writing styles for the reports, and the real-life connections to chemistry are the best part of the text." "I am very pleased with the variety of writing styles required of the students for their reports. Having the students prepare traditional scientific reports at all times does not adequately prepare them for jobs in the work force. The inclusion of cost analysis (Exp. 17), recommendations (Exp. 16), formulas, graphs, comparisons, etc. as part of the report not only helps the students prepare for future careers (in or outside chemistry) but it also makes grading for the instructors more interesting."
Synopsis
Don?t go to class without it! LABORATORY INQUIRY IN CHEMISTRY teaches you the skills you need to easily complete your laboratory investigations. Each investigation begins with a scenario that puts a real-life spin on the problem at hand, provides you with a sense of why the project is relevant, and creates a scenario that is comparable to what chemists face in the real world. Completing experiments is easy with a list of goals, materials, reagents, guidelines, and hints found at the beginning of each investigation.
About the Author
Richard Bauer received his undergraduate degree from Saginaw Valley State University and his doctorate from Purdue University. He now coordinates the general chemistry program at Arizona State University. His scholarly interests in chemical education include laboratory instruction, TA training, and alternative modes of lecture instruction. James Birk received his undergraduate degree from St. John's University and his doctorate from Iowa State University. His specializations are inorganic chemistry, chemical education, and computer education. He has been a professor for thirty-five years and is tenured at Arizona State University. Birk is the author of several papers appearing in the "Journal of Chemical Education" as well as twenty-seven books and monographs. Doug Sawyer received his undergraduate degree from Coe College and his doctorate from Iowa State University. He now teaches at Scottsdale Community College, where he is the chair of the Physical Sciences department. He serves as the American Chemical Society councilor for Central Arizona and is also a chemical consultant for several companies. His work also includes photography for chemistry texts at Houghton Mifflin. In his spare time, he plays bass for the Lynwood Flyers, a local blues band.
Table of Contents
1. What Are the Safety Concerns in the Laboratory? 2. What's in the Flask? 3. How Should Data Trends Be Presented? 4. How Is Lab Equipment Used? 5. What's in the Bottles? 6. How Can the Waste Be Made Useful? 7. Is the Water Hard or Soft? 8. How Hot Is the Water? 9. Which Metal Will Burn the Skin? 10. Are All Neutralization Reactions the Same? 11. How Much Sodium Bicarbonate Is in the Mixture? 12. Is It Economical to Recycle Aluminum? 13. What Is a Copper Cycle? 14. Who Wrote the Ransom Note? 15. How Can UV Sensitive Beads Be Used to Test Sunscreens? 16. What Factors Affect the Intensity of Color? 17. How Much Cobalt Is in the Soil? 18. How Much Copper Is in the Coin? 19. Which Iron Compound Is It? 20. Should We Mine This Ore? 21. What Causes Intermolecular Attractions? 22. What Are the Structures of Some Alloys? 23. How Is LED Light Color Related to Composition? 24. What Is the Molar Mass of Mars Ice Gas? 25. Are Pollutant Gases Harmful to Plant Life? 26. How Much Gas is Produced? 27. Which Alcohols Are in the Barrels? 28. How Is Heat of Combustion Measured Indirectly? 29. What Is the Rate Law? 30. How Fast Does the Crystal Violet Decolorize? 31. Why Is the Vinegar Factory Rusting? 32. What Factors Affect the Solubility of Kidney Stones? 33. How Many Chemicals Are in the Vial? 34. What Factors Affect Chemical Equilibrium? 35. What Is the Formation Constant? 36. Are Household Items Acidic, Basic, or Neutral? 37. What is the pH of Soil? 38. What Is the Acid Dissociation Constant? 39. What Is the Solubility Product? 40. What Are Some Chemical Properties of Cream of Tartar? 41. What Are the Metals? 42. How Can a Battery Be Made from Coins? 43. What Is the Complex Ion? 44. What Formulation Makes the Best Toy? 45. How Are Anions Identified? 46. How Are Cations Identified? 47. How Are More Cations Identified? 48. How Are Ionic Solids Identified?