About This Issue: The ComputerBased Laboratory Lynne M. Dlvis, Issue Edltor Incarnate Word College San Antonio, TX 78209
The Computer-Based Laboratory Daniel C. Krause Ypsilanti High School Ypsilanti, MI 48197 and Project SERAPHIM Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI 48197
The Computer-Based Lahoratory package has been designed for high school and introductory college chemistry teachers who want to integrate Apple I1 series computers into their lahoratory experiments. This package contains all of the printed and software materials needed so that teachers (or their students) can construct interfacing devices that students can subsequently use in the lahoratory. The Computer-Based Lahoratory package consists of a construction manual. a lahoratorv manual. and a disk contaiuine data collection programs. The Com~uter-InterfacedE a u i ~ m e nConstruction t Manual provides illustrated, step-hi-dtep instructions for huildine two inexpensive. com~uter-interfacedlaboratorv devices: a thermistor-based temperature probe and a fixedwavelenath colorimeter. These devices plug . . directly into the external yanw port of the .\pple Ilr, e, and CS computers. The devices c3n also he used w ~ r h.4pplr 117 rompuwrs via an adapter cable (construction diriitions included) that plugs into the internal game socket of the Apple II+. Simple, thorouehlv" tested construction directions with manv diagrams ensure easy and successful completion of the interface devices. The instructions s~ecifvsources from which components can be purchased and li;t tools needed for construction. The Computer-Interfaced Experiment Manual contains six complete, high school level experiments that use the interfacing devices mentioned above. The experiments are "Thermistor Calibration", "Phase Change", "Heat of Reaction", "Freezing Point Depression", "Beer's Law", and "Color Decay in Crystal Violet". Each experiment follows the traditional format. includiue Duroose. . .introduction. materials, procedure, calculations, and a report sheet. Safety precautions and instructor's notes are also included. The instructor's notes outline reagent preparation, laboratory time requirements, supplier information, general tips, answers to questions, and typical student results. The Computer-Based Lahoratory Disk contains several BASIC programs chained into one master program. The master program has been designed to support the construction and laboratory manuals by featuring two sections: Thermistor (temperature probe) and Blocktronic (colorimeter). These sections allow calibration of each device and collection of data appropriate to the experiments in the exoeriment manual. Collected data can he viewed in graphic and tabular modes, printed, or stored on the disk. ~ c r e k o s t in the program's design are user friendliness, error trapping, and uniformity of presentation.
-
-
Danlel Krause, Issue Edltor This issue represents an integrated approach to successful implementation of computer-based experiments in high school or introductory college chemistry laboratories. All of the necessary components (except, of course, the Apple computers and the teacher!) are included: six written experiments suitable for reproduction and handing out to students, directions for constructing the simple apparatus needed to perform the experiments, and a computer program for collection and anaiysis of the lahoratory data. fill of these have been thoroughly reviewed by several hich school and college chemistry teachers, and iach experiment has been class tested a t Ypsilanti High School. Though some experiments are based on earlier Project SERAPHIM materials (1-41, all of them have been completely rewritten to improve safety and to make them suitable for direct use by students (without a teacher's having to revise them). For example, the Beer's Law exoeriment now uses food coloring instead of chromium(II1) nitrate, and the directions and data sheet are complete and self-contained. The software is entirely new and extremely easy to use. The Blocktronic colorimeter and the thermistor probe are based on earlier SERAPHIM designs ( 5 , 6 ) ,hut construction directions have been revised to make them easier to build. In addition, the new interface devices are easier to connect to a computer. If you have already constructed Blocktronic and thermistor interfaces from Proiect SERAPHIM. or if vou have similar interfaces from other suppliers, the experiments and software ought . to work without vour havine to construct new interfaces. Hardware Requirements The Computer-Based Laboratory software will run on any Apple I1 computer with at least 48KB memory, Applesoft BASIC in ROM, and one disk drive. Users of Apple 11+ computers will have to construct an adapter cable-(directions included) so that the Blocktronic and thermistor interfaces can he connected to the eame port inside the comnuter. All other Apple I1 models include a n external connector so that the interfaces can be . pluaeed -- in without openine the computer. Literature cited I . Rasmuuen, M. "Thcrmislor Calibration", Laboratory Module LMW4; Prajen SERAPHIM: Yprilanfi, MI, 1984. 2. Barker. P.; Hartmsn, K. "Beer's Law with the Blocktmnid', Laboratory Module 1.M012: Project SERAPHIM: Ypsilsnti, MI, i98S. 3. Barker. P.: Hartman. K. "Cooling and Heating Curve". Laboratory Modvle LM015; Pmjeet SERAPHIM: Ypsilanli. MI. 1985. 4. Barker, P.: Hartman, K. "Simple Hesi of Reaction", Laboratory Module LMOLG;pro^ ject SERAPHIM: Ypsilanti. MI. 1986. A. Bermen-Rohinron, S.: Bowem, C.; Croshy. P.: Rich, J.; Miles. P.: Moure. J. W.; Susskind, T. Y.: VanEtten, L.; Krause, D.;Blickhouse. N. "Directions for Making Lhe Thermistor Probe", Lahsrslnry Module LMW3: Pruject SERAPHIM: Ypsiiantl, MI, 1886. 6. Adams,T.:Hsrtman, K.;Journeay, D.; Mi1es.P.: Krause. D.: Mmre, J. W."lnstructions 107 Building the Blocktronie 1': LahorsLory Module LM002: Project SERAPHIM: Ypsilanti, MI, 1985.
Volume 65 Number 10 October 1988
875
