The Cyanotype Process and Its Potential in Chemistry Education

• Published in: Journal of chemical education Vol. 100; no. 6; pp. 2367 - 2372
• Main Authors: Kmet’, Alexander, Drozdíková, Anna, Nagyová, Soňa, Ikhardt, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Easton American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc 13.06.2023; American Chemical Society
• Subjects: Attitudes; Chemistry; Education; Elementary Education; Elementary School Students; Elementary Schools; Laboratory Experiments; Learning; Legislation; Natural sciences; Schools; Science education; Secondary education; Secondary school students; Student Reaction; Technological change; Photography; Coordination Compounds; Laboratory Instruction; Interdisciplinary/Multidisciplinary; Inorganic Chemistry; Cyanotype; Elementary School Science; High School Chemistry
• ISSN: 0021-9584; 1938-1328
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c01089

Over the past few decades, the photographic process has slowly vanished from chemistry education in most schools. It happened due to vast changes in both technology and legislation. It is, however, helpful in demonstrating several concepts in natural sciences, bringing a bit of art into the subjects, and giving students an opportunity to express themselves while learning. The attractiveness of experiments may play a role in developing a positive attitude toward the subjects. Therefore, a photography-aimed laboratory experiment for elementary and high school education has been proposed. The cyanotype process was chosen due to its obvious advantagesit does not require extensive preparation or equipment and is easily administered even with elementary school pupils. A series of cyanotype workshops has been introduced in Slovak elementary and high schools with generally positive student response.