Introductory Chemistry Laboratory: Quantum Mechanics and Color

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00908
• Publication Date: 2020-11-11T19:13:21Z
• Authors: Dana Rubenstein; William Patterson; Iris Peng; Francisco Schunk; Adriana Mendoza-G...; Mengjie Lyu; Li-Qiong Wang
• Keywords: Nanochemistry

Laboratory experiments provide students a tangible means of understanding dry, abstract concepts. A simple and engaging introductory wet chemistry laboratory has been developed relating quantum mechanics to color, which implemented for class about 600 per academic year over three years at Brown University. Color is an important aspect daily life, used communicate meaning emotion. Nanoparticles, organic dyes, metal complexes produce color in medieval stained glass, textiles, gemstones, respectively. Though they can visually similar colors, the microscopic mechanisms production are different. The origins facilitate discussion bonding relation these producing model systems chemical concepts also serves as motivation introduction advanced concepts, such nanochemistry, first-year undergraduate students. Students synthesize silver nanoparticles different shapes sizes use UV–vis spectrophotometers characterize them along with additional unknown colorful solutions made from either or dyes. Relating life excited students, promoting learning. This be adapted K–12