Mathematical Modeling in Secondary Chemistry Education: Chromatography

Abstract

The rapid advance in information technology requires further developments in all areas of education. In this context, one should think about going beyond the use of digital media for the mere presentation of scientific content. Interactive computer simulations allow quasi-experimental investigations of scientific phenomena but for students they usually remain black-box approaches. For a deeper understanding of phenomena, it is desirable to go one step further and set up computer codes based on a given microscopic model as part of the chemical education. Such approach allows teaching the scientific topic in more depth, fosters the awareness of the relevance of mathematics and computing in chemistry, and lastly supports the self-directed investigation of a scientific phenomenon. In addition, it gives students the opportunity to learn in general about modelling which has become an important contribution to chemistry and other natural and engineering sciences. Here we discuss basic chromatography with a simplistic stochastic simulation method suitable for upper secondary education. In addition, the analytical solution of the processes is given at the level of secondary mathematics. Chromatography itself is potentially treated in secondary education at various levels from paper chromatography to gas chromatography. This general knowledge makes it more accessible to students as a subject for deepening by modeling and simulation.