Integrating Green Chemistry into the Introductory Chemistry Curriculum

2009 ◽  
pp. 79-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc A. Klingshirn ◽  
Gary O. Spessard
Keyword(s):  
Green Chemistry ◽  
Chemistry Curriculum ◽  
Introductory Chemistry

Catalyzing learning with green chemistry undergraduate research

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey A Welch
Keyword(s):  
Green Chemistry ◽  
Furfuryl Alcohol ◽  
Solid Acid Catalyst ◽  
Acid Catalyst ◽  
Ethyl Esters ◽  
Transfer Hydrogenation ◽  
Isopropyl Ether ◽  
Chemistry Curriculum ◽  
Undergraduate Chemistry ◽  
Chemistry Research

AbstractGreen chemistry and sustainability are important concepts to incorporate into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. Through the development of innovative undergraduate chemistry research projects in these areas, retention of students in the physical sciences can be improved. This paper describes two projects in undergraduate catalysis research: hydrogenation of furfural and the esterification of biooil from pyrolyzed wood. Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of furfural with Pd/C led to the production of furfuryl alcohol, furfuryl isopropyl ether, 2-methylfuran, and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. The metal chloride additives improved selectivity for furfuryl alcohol and furfuryl isopropyl ether. Catalytic conversion of pyrolyzed wood biooil in ethanol with a solid acid catalyst yielded ethyl esters, including ethyl acetate and ethyl propionate, as characterized by GC/MS These projects are described in the context of engaging undergraduate students in hands-on research for the purpose of improving retention and persistence, as well as preparing young scientists to enter graduate programs and the STEM workforce.

The role of green chemistry activities in fostering secondary school students' understanding of acid–base concepts and argumentation skills

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 893-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mageswary Karpudewan ◽  
Wolff Michael Roth ◽  
Devananthini Sinniah
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Green Chemistry ◽  
Chemistry Curriculum ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
School Students ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Base Concept ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
The Individual

In a world where environmental degradation is taking on alarming levels, understanding, and acting to minimize, the individual environmental impact is an important goal for many science educators. In this study, a green chemistry curriculum—combining chemistry experiments with everyday, environmentally friendly substances with a student-centered approach that includes student–student discussion—was tested for its potential to increase the understanding of acid–base concepts and argumentative skills. A quasi-experimental design was chosen intended to take into account teacher/school nested effects. The study involved three classes of 150 16 year old Form Four students (1 experimental,N= 50; 2 control,N= 100) from two Schools A and B serving students from the same sociocultural and economic backgrounds taught by two teachers (Teacher A in School A taught 1 experimental and 1 control; Teacher B in School B taught 1 control). An ANCOVA with a pre-test as a covariate showed a statistically significant treatment effect as measured by an acid–base concept understanding test. Additionally, qualitative analysis of an Argumentation Skill Test (AST) shows that the experimental students used higher levels of argumentation skills following treatment than their peers in the two control classes. Implications are discussed for integrating green chemistry into the secondary school chemistry curriculum to teach the content on acid–base and green chemistry as a tool to assist the construction of arguments.

An Electronic Curriculum for Introductory Chemistry

1995 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Dix ◽  
Robert D. Allendoerfer ◽  
Wayne E. Jones ◽  
Roy A. Lacey ◽  
Bernard J. Laurenzi
Keyword(s):  
World Wide ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Chemistry Curriculum ◽  
Introductory Chemistry ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Chemistry Instruction ◽  
The World ◽  
Platform Independence ◽  
Key Features ◽  
Chemistry Community

We are creating a World-Wide Web (WWW) introductory chemistry site that will incorporate many key features of an electronic chemistry curriculum, including flexibility, interactivity, extensibility, diversity, and self-assessment. The site will be accessible from browsers such as Mosaic and Netscape. Advantages of serving introductory chemistry from a WWW site include expanding access to chemistry instruction, platform independence, easing transitions between university units, and creating a curriculum responsive to diverse needs. Contributions and suggestions from the chemistry community can be incorporated easily and rapidly into the electronic curriculum. Since the WWW site could be used by any campus in the world having Internet access, we expect that our electronic curriculum will have a far-ranging impact on the way introductory chemistry is taught.

A green determination of an equilibrium constant: teaching new skills

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven J. Bachofer ◽  
Mark D. Lingwood
Keyword(s):  
General Chemistry ◽  
Green Chemistry ◽  
Equilibrium Constant ◽  
Microtiter Plate ◽  
Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
Chemical System ◽  
Chemistry Curriculum ◽  
Thiocyanate Complex ◽  
Plate Reader

Abstract The spectroscopic determination of an equilibrium constant is a classic experiment in the general chemistry laboratory curriculum. Here we describe a new version of this experiment, incorporating green chemistry practices into the general chemistry lab curriculum and directly teaching students about the principles of green chemistry. This lab studies the formation of the iron(III) salicylate complex ion, which is a more benign chemical system than the traditional iron(III) thiocyanate complex. A microtiter plate reader is used to reduce sample volumes, also giving students important experience using research-grade instrumentation. In addition, students gain more experience using adjustable manual micropipettors. Students responded positively to the lab, appreciating the green nature of the lab and the introduction of the plate reader, and student comments suggested that this lab successfully introduces green chemistry concepts to the general chemistry curriculum.

Science writing heuristics embedded in green chemistry: a tool to nurture environmental literacy among pre-university students

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 386-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Shamuganathan ◽  
Mageswary Karpudewan
Keyword(s):  
Green Chemistry ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Environmental Literacy ◽  
Science Writing ◽  
Chemistry Curriculum ◽  
Environmental Behaviors ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Experimental Group

Existing studies report on the importance of instilling environmental literacy among students from an early stage of schooling to enable them to adopt more pro-environmental behaviors in the near future. This quasi-experimental study was designed to compare the level of environmental literacy among two groups of students: the experimental group (N= 120) was taught using science writing heuristics embedded in a green chemistry curriculum (SWH-GC) and the comparison group (N= 90) was taught using a green chemistry curriculum. For the purpose of this study an environmental literacy model that consisted of pro-environmental attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and behavior was employed. ANCOVA with the pre-test as the covariate showed statistically significant differences in all four of the constructs that constitute environmental literacy, with the experimental group taught using SWH-GC exhibiting higher mean values. Interview findings with randomly selected students from both groups further reinforced the quantitative findings. Both quantitative and qualitative findings suggest that after the treatment, the experimental group students were keen to read about the environment, believed their actions would bring changes, were more knowledgeable regarding how to keep streams and lakes clean, and were more engaged in recycling activities. The implications are finally discussed.

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