Colorimetric analysis in Secondary Education, a simulation with portable electronic devices and food coloring substances

Abstract

Due to the widespread availability of smartphones with strong cameras and decent computing power, teachers are able to create innovative, experimental lesson plans. This study's primary goal was to use digital technologies, such cellphones, to the scientific process of colorimetry in chemistry and the Beer-Lambert law. Students made solutions using candy colors in varying quantities for this lab practice. They recorded the Hue (H) value on a white background using a cell phone that has soft-ware installed to measure color using the HSV model. They plotted the H color pa-rameter against the quantity of droplets per 100 milliliters using these values. The outcome was a straight line, which effectively validated the method's underlying premise that is, the Beer-Lambert law. The solution used for the most recent meas-urement had an unknown concentration. The groups were able to accurately calcu-late the concentration of the unknown solution by using the reference curve they had generated. Students produced solutions, measured particulars, used software and smartphones as scientific instruments, made graphs, evaluated data, and came to scientific findings during this lab exercise.