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Mathcad in the Chemistry Curriculum
Relating Qualitative Analysis to Equilibrium Principles: Qual6.mcd and Qual6a.mcd W Glenn V. Lo, Department of Physical Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA 70310;
[email protected] Qualitative analysis in the general chemistry laboratory provides an excellent opportunity to help students make connections between ionic equilibrium topics covered in the lecture course and physical reality. Although laboratory manuals generally provide ample discussion of the equilibrium principles upon which the procedures are based, students’ attention tends to be focused mostly on techniques, the reactions involved, and physical observations. A lack of understanding of the underlying principles often results in students be-
Theresa Julia Zielinski Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ 07764-1898
ing unable to make simple modifications to the procedure. This Mathcad document is intended to be used in a prelab activity for qualitative analysis experiments (based on modules ANAL364-366 of the Modular Laboratory Program in Chemistry, Palmyra, PA 17078), which are done toward the end of the general chemistry laboratory course at Nicholls State University. Mathcad is introduced at the beginning of the course and is routinely used throughout the semester for data analysis; handouts for these activities are available at http://chem.nicholls.edu/mathcad. The students are therefore quite competent in Mathcad by the time this activity is conducted. Students are given an incomplete Mathcad document (Qual6.mcd), which they complete as they explore the subject. An exemplary, completed document is available for instructors (Qual6a.mcd).
JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu • Vol. 78 No. 11 November 2001 • Journal of Chemical Education
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