A new experiment for General Chemistry 2 lab where the students determine the amount of trace metals by squarewave polarography in local rivers is reported. The SLCC chemistry department has been investigating pollutants in the local rivers over the past 3 years and this has lead to the development of a new experiment for the general chemistry 2 lab where we are replacing some outdated electrochemical experiments with new instrumental methods. In this case the students are not only exposed the principles of electrolysis but also the quantitative aspects at trace level concentrations. Lead, cadmium and copper have been detected at ppb levels. The experiment allows the students also to make measurements on samples of local relevance.

New general chemistry experiment: Analysis of trace metals by squarewave polarography in local rivers

245th National Meeting (2013)

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