A Cost-Effective Two-Part Experiment for Teaching Introductory Organic Chemistry Techniques

Abstract

This two-part laboratory experiment is designed to be a cost-effective method for teaching basic organic laboratory techniques (recrystallization, thin-layer chromatography, column chromatography, vacuum filtration, and melting point determination) to large classes of introductory organic chemistry students. Students are exposed to different methods for the separation of mixtures containing a nonpolar organic compound (e.g., biphenyl) and a polar organic dye (e.g., methyl orange). Students are also introduced to solubility and miscibility using common organic solvents such as methanol, dichloromethane, hexane, acetone, and water. This experiment requires two approximately 3-h laboratory periods.