The goal of this work was to boost enthusiasm, effort, and interest in freshman-level general chemistry labs by involving the students in a relevant and modern research experiment. Upper-level undergraduate research students designed an experiment with relevance to their own work, relating to the study of mineralization in bones and teeth, and included it as a one-week lab in the general chemistry course. The experiment tested the ability of glutathione-protected nanoparticles (G-MPC) to act as templates in the precipitation of solid calcium phosphate from soluble calcium and phosphate ion precursors. Students used gravimetric analysis and spectroscopic analysis of optical density to compare G-MPCs to controls and to other unique templates. Student data was collected for further analysis and a survey was completed by each student that preformed the experiment to assess their experience. Many students articulated great satisfaction with the research experience and expressed interest in further implementation of research based experiments in the future.

Freshmen join the team: Research in the General Chemistry lab

248th National Meeting (2014)

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