Scanning electron microscopy uses electrons to produce magnified images of samples with a resolution on the order of several nanometers and large depth of field. The SEM at Duquesne University was set up for remote access through a standard Internet connection. To begin with, two chemistry labs were designed to implement the use of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) in a high school classroom setting. An introductory laboratory using a copper penny serves to introduce students to the microscope and basic techniques of microscopy. A more advanced laboratory on imaging aluminum hydroxide crystals obtained from the decomposition of a standard aluminum can was also designed. For each lab, a presentation tutorial, student and teacher handouts, video tutorials, and pictures of the samples were created. Additionally, the concepts of the labs include Pennsylvania State Standards, which are highlighted in the respective laboratory manuals that were prepared in this work.

Design and implementation of high school chemistry labs utilizing remote scanning electron microscopy

245th National Meeting (2013)

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