Three experimental processes were linked into an overarching laboratory learning experience to illustrate the concept of physical constants. The experiments were selected to cover various chemistry concepts and be independent of each other, thus exposing students to different laboratory techniques in chemistry. The experimental measurements focused on determining: the gas constant, R, via sodium nitrite reaction with sulfamic acid; the Faraday constant, F, via electrodeposition of copper metal; and the Avogadro constant, NA, via ionic crystal’s density and X-ray crystallographic data collection. Once these three constants were calculated from the empirical data, two additional constants were derived using those values. The derived constants were the Boltzmann constant, kB, and the elementary charge, e. The obtained values for the five constants were within a 5% error range of the expected values. The learning experience is designed to cover three weeks of laboratory work, with students completing one of three experimental determinations each week. Examples of procedures, data, and results will be presented and discussed to showcase the learning experience’s feasibility for chemistry laboratory programs.

Experimental determination of five physical constants for introductory chemistry laboratories

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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