Beyond the Textbook: Introducing Undergraduates to Practical Electrochemistry

• Published in: Journal of chemical education Vol. 98; no. 10; pp. 3263 - 3268
• Main Authors: Kandahari, Elya, Smith, Emily J, Goeltz, John C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Easton American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc 12.10.2021; Division of Chemical Education, Inc; American Chemical Society
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Chemistry; College Science; College students; Data acquisition; Electrochemistry; Energy; Energy storage; Hands on Science; Interdisciplinary Approach; Laboratory Procedures; Outreach Programs; Pattern recognition; Science education; STEM Education; Studies; Textbooks; Undergraduate Students; First-Year Undergraduate/General; Hands-On Learning/Manipulatives; Upper-Division Undergraduate; Laboratory Instruction; Second-Year Undergraduate; Electrochemistry; Public Understanding/Outreach
• ISSN: 0021-9584; 1938-1328
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00155

Electrochemistry is broad and interdisciplinary by nature and as such has become a powerful tool in science, technology, engineering, math, and medical (STEMM) fields ranging from energy storage to biotechnology. However, traditional undergraduate chemistry education does not offer students the opportunity to create direct connections between topics learned in a lecture course and applications beyond the examples depicted in textbooks. Here, we offer a framework that introduces learners to hands-on cyclic voltammetry in a general chemistry laboratory course setting or in outreach activities. In 2–4 h, learners practice electrode care, data acquisition, and the pattern recognition needed for discerning reversible, quasireversible, and irreversible solution-phase redox events.