Laboratory Activities to Introduce Carbohydrates Qualitative Analysis to College Students

Mohamed I Elzagheid

doi:10.12691/wjce-6-2-1

Abstract

This paper presents practical applications of a laboratory inquiry for systematic chemistry learning of carbohydrates. In the laboratory inquiry, students are requested to perform qualitative tests for monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. In addition to that, students are instructed to distinguish specific sugars from non-specific ones. The chemical knowledge and concepts of organic chemistry are actively used to reinforce the previous learning. Such practical activities promote students' readiness for their future career as lab technicians. Our approach is also to link all written laboratory activities with infographics or illustrations to facilitate well understanding of all practical laboratory steps.

Highlights

Curriculum and students assessments are aligned to those standards and teachers in charge have the skills to teach at that level student performance will improve. [1,2,3,4,5,6] Innovative new approaches to deliver laboratory material in undergraduate chemistry laboratory are required
[7] This is because good understanding of laboratory instructions in the educational process is associated with excellent learning of chemistry. [8]
Laboratory inquiry, well-organized learning communication, measuring students’ meaningful learning, students’ participation and applying experimental work in chemistry curricula are all necessary to enhance the learning and establish the teaching experience in more interactive and more effective way in the Laboratory. [9,10] We believe that any practical work should aim to encourage careful recording of laboratory observations, promote simple scientific methods of thought, and develop skills, base training on problem solving

Summary

Objects

Many educational leaders and experts believe that the key to improving student performance lies in improving methodologies of teaching. [9,10] We believe that any practical work should aim to encourage careful recording of laboratory observations, promote simple scientific methods of thought, and develop skills, base training on problem solving. This can be done by different approaches and one approach is to design exercises associated with chemistry laboratory and let students practice them. A semester-long laboratory course designed in a format that involves active student participation and critical thinking, lead students to enjoy the lab and become independent players. We intend to describe the basis of qualitative tests for monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides in a very simple and straightforward approach

Laboratory Activities

Experimental Overview and Students’ Proposed Tasks

Handling Chemicals

Chemical Hazards

Findings

Conclusion