World Journal of Chemical Education

Acid-base chemistry is becoming evermore infamous amongst new chemistry students—especially specialized topics such as buffers and their capacities. Currently, introductory chemistry students struggle to fully understand the formal definition of buffer capacity. In this manuscript, we algebraically derive a new and simple mathematical representation for buffer capacity from the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. We find that three buffer capacity formulas evolve—each with a specific application depending on the concentration-ratio of weak acid or base to its corresponding conjugate.

World Journal of Chemical Education. 2015, 3(5), 124-126. DOI: 10.12691/wjce-3-5-4
Pub. Date: November 17, 2015

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Relation between Metal Properties and Historical Incidents: A Demonstration of Metal Burning and Cooling Experiments

by Ryo Horikoshi, Takeshi Yajima, Yoji Kobayashi and Hiroshi Kageyama

Original Research

We have described a demonstration to introduce the relation between metal properties and historical incidents through metal burning and cooling experiments. In the demonstration, three different metals are burned in an oxygen atmosphere to test the theory that the high combustion heat of aluminum may have increased the fire-induced damage on a warship in the Falklands war. Based on the observations of the metal burning experiments, the relation between the heats of formation of materials and the fire-induced damage on the warship can be discussed. Three metal wires are then cooled using dry ice to demonstrate the relation between the low temperature-induced brittleness of carbon steel and the sinking of cargo ships in World War II. Following the metal cooling experiments, the brittleness and its relevance to crystal lattice structures of metals can be discussed.

World Journal of Chemical Education. 2015, 3(5), 120-123. DOI: 10.12691/wjce-3-5-3
Pub. Date: October 15, 2015

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Cyclic Voltammetry - A Versatile Electrochemical Method Investigating Electron Transfer Processes

by N. Aristov and A. Habekost

Original Research

Three experiments are presented to introduce students to the capabilities of cyclic voltammetry (CV) for finding redox couples suitable for, e.g., battery development. The systems chosen involve only one-electron transfer, but already display complex behaviours that can be delineated with CV as being reversible, quasi-reversible, or irreversible, and the rate constants for the electron transfer can be estimated by the theory of Nicholson and Shain.

World Journal of Chemical Education. 2015, 3(5), 115-119. DOI: 10.12691/wjce-3-5-2
Pub. Date: September 18, 2015

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Microwave-Assisted Esterifications: An Unknowns Experiment Designed for an Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory

by Jessica S. Lampkowski, William Bass, Zachary Nimmo and Douglas D. Young

Original Research

The utilization of microwaves in synthetic chemistry provides a mechanism for the efficient heating of reactions, offering benefits such as rapid reaction rates and increased yields. Here, we present an undergraduate organic chemistry lab that utilizes microwave technology to perform esterification with alcohol unknowns. This experiment would normally require over an hour for reflux and apparatus assembly; however, with microwave technology we are able to develop a generic methodology to accomplish the esterification reaction in five minutes, demonstrating the efficiency of the microwave and allowing more time for product analysis and characterization. Moreover, the integration of an unknowns aspect to the laboratory implements the problem-solving laboratory approach and confers the ability to solidify principles of NMR spectroscopy as well as product purification techniques.

World Journal of Chemical Education. 2015, 3(5), 111-114. DOI: 10.12691/wjce-3-5-1
Pub. Date: September 16, 2015

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