The Chemistry Department at Meredith College is updating the curriculum for General Chemistry I Lab and replacing select lab experiments. There are limited general chemistry laboratory experiments in the literature on atomic structure. Our goal is to develop an atomic structure lab experiment. The learning outcomes for the experiment are to introduce basic lab techniques, familiarize students with atomic structure, isotopes and using the periodic table, and use Excel to graph and analyze scientific data. It will be a two-part experiment that will include a prelab activity to prepare students for the lab experiment. The prelab will consist of graphing in Excel, using a trendline based on the graph, and solving problems on subatomic particles and isotopes. In the first part of the lab activity, students will be given an unknown isotope of an element and find the mass. The unknown element will be identified by using the trendline of the prelab graph. In the second part of the lab, students will be given an assortment of models that have been modified to weigh according to certain isotopes of elements. They will find the mass of each ball and determine the unknown element and atomic number given the abundance of each isotope. Students will also solve for abundance of each isotope given the element name. The lab is currently being implemented into the curriculum and the learning outcomes will be assessed.<br/>

Research and design of an atomic structure experiment for general chemistry I laboratory

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.