Students were tasked with evaluating the economic viability of a "copper mine" by analyzing rock samples from the "mine" to determine their copper content. Students worked independently in the laboratory to digest the rock samples, prepare copper standard solutions, and determine the copper content using visible spectroscopy. During this process students honed previously learned laboratory skills such as preparing standards by quantitative dilution and spectrometry.  Individual student data were then gathered into a class spreadsheet for analysis. Students used this class data set to evaluate the economic viability of the mining site. In addition to the rock samples, each student also analyzed a malachite mineral sample in order to evaluate the efficacy of the copper extraction and analysis methods. Data analysis involved graphing and performing stoichiometric calculations of large data sets with spreadsheet software.<br/><br/>Students' data, results, and the grading rubric used to evaluate lab reports and spreadsheets will be shared during the presentation. This experiment was successfully conducted with general chemistry and introductory chemistry  students.  The real-life problem scenario of evaluating the economic viability of a mine helped engaged both groups of students and their enthusiasm for this laboratory exercise was high.<br/>

Evaluating the economic viability of a copper mine in the first-year chemistry laboratory using visible spectroscopy

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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