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Book PrefaceWelcome to a new way of doing chemistry laboratory! Our focus in writing this manual has been on developing highly readable experiments that will provide you with a successful learning experience. Our method for developing laboratories begins with identifying concepts that are of particular interest or challenge to students and which we feel would benefit from clarification through laboratory work. From this, objectives are developed which are included in the beginning of each laboratory and which serve as a key focus point for all aspects of the given experiment. The pedagogical approach of the laboratory is then chosen to make the most of the topic we are trying to teach you. For example, some laboratories benefit from a discovery type approach while others are best taught following a more traditional expository approach.
Each experiment contains the sections described below.
• Title and Author
The title includes information about the chemistry involved as well as the context of the
experiment. We include the author’s name on each experiment that they write so that they are given proper credit and so that the students using the laboratory manual can make a connection with the authors. Even though the experiments are edited for overall continuity, each author has a slightly different writing style and we feel this adds to the interest of the manual.• Objectives
The objectives are brief statements outlining the goals for the laboratory. The objectives should answer the questions, "What will the student know after completing the experiment?" and "What will the student be able to do after completing the experiment?" Whenever possible we stress to the students that what they are doing and what they are learning is significant and relates to or enhances material covered in lecture.• Introduction
The introduction consists of a practical or interesting example that serves as a context for the
laboratory experiment. This brief attention grabber is intended to make the student want to learn about the material and want to perform the experiment.• Background
The background section is intended to provide the student with the pertinent chemistry required for successful completion of the experiment. The background includes complete descriptions of all relevant chemical equations, explanations of all experimental procedures and information required for analysis of results and data.• Overview
The overview provides the student with the big picture of what they will actually be performing in the experiment and serves to relate the background to the upcoming procedure.• Procedure
The procedure begins with a list of materials (chemicals, glassware and instruments) required for the experiment. The details of the procedure depend, to some degree, on the goals for the
experiment. For certain experiments, it is appropriate for the students to develop their own
procedure. Some experiments will have provided data tables though usually the students are
required to make their own. Some experiments have discovery type components when it helps
accomplish the objectives of the experiment. Detailed safety and waste disposal information is also provided to the student for each experiment.• Pre-laboratory exercises
Our goal with the pre-laboratory assignments is to prepare students so that when they enter the laboratory they are fully aware of what they are trying to do and why. After completing the prelaboratory questions the students should have a firm grasp of the chemistry involved in the upcoming experiment.• Post-laboratory work
The post-laboratory work is our opportunity to make sure that the goals of the experiment have been achieved. Appropriate post-laboratory work involves writing up the laboratory experiment, performing calculations using data from the experiment, answering open-ended writing assignments and performing analysis of data and errors. |
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2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education