An Integrated Approach to Introducing Biofuels, Flash Point, and Vapor Pressure Concepts into an Introductory College Chemistry Lab

Autor/inn/en	Hoffman, Adam R.; Britton, Stephanie L.; Cadwell, Katie D.; Walz, Kenneth A.
Titel	An Integrated Approach to Introducing Biofuels, Flash Point, and Vapor Pressure Concepts into an Introductory College Chemistry Lab
Quelle	In: Journal of Chemical Education, 88 (2011) 2, S.197-200 (4 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0021-9584
DOI	10.1021/ed100004x
Schlagwörter	Fuels; Chemistry; College Science; Scientific Concepts; Science Laboratories; Teaching Methods; Science and Society; Science Instruction; Quality Control + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Treibstoff; Chemie; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Qualitätskontrolle
Abstract	Students explore the fundamental chemical concepts of vapor pressure and flash point in a real-world technical context, while gaining insight into the contemporary societal issue of biofuels. Lab activities were developed using a closed-cup instrument to measure the flash point of various biodiesel samples. Pre- and post-tests revealed that the student's grasp of the relationship between vapor pressure and flash point went from 46% to 91% after completing the lab and 76% of students responded that measurement of flash point helped them better understand the concept of vapor pressure. In the 3-h lab, students produce a small sample of biodiesel fuel and then evaluate the safety and quality of their product compared with a commercially available reference fuel that meets ASTM specifications. The experiment illustrates how fuel properties depend on the production process and the resulting composition and purity of the fuel product. The observed differences in fuel flash points provide for an introduction of the concepts of chemical quality assurance and quality control. The goal of this lab is to increase understanding of biofuels and associated chemical concepts that influence the properties of various renewable and fossil fuels. (Contains 3 tables, 3 figures and 1 scheme.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10