Implementation of Computer Assisted Experimental Work in Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Teaching

Abstract

Computer-Assisted Experimental Work (CAEW) consists in the incorporation of computer-connected apparatus in the laboratory. This is a new insight into teaching of Classical Analytical Chemistry, wherein the experiments are usually manually conducted. However, it does not represent a complete break with traditional methodology, as the design and goal of the experiment are essentially the same. In this work, we present the implementation of CAEW to a practical included in the Laboratory part of “Analytical Chemistry IV”, taught at the fourth academic year of the Degree in Chemistry: “Potentiometric titration of a mixture of iodure and chlorure with silver”. Three couples of students used an Ag-ion selective electrode connected to a computer, while the other three couples employed a digital one. The results were comparable, though the computer-assisted method provided significant improvements, like; the students get familiar with new technologies at an accessible level, the titration can be visually followed on the screen via the titration curve, the calculations are automatically performed, allowing the detection of experimental and registration of mistakes, it avoids errors caused by the transcription and processing of the data, and the students achieve their practical disposing of the final results, and all their work corrected by the teacher.