Electrolysis of Water in the Secondary School Science Laboratory with Inexpensive Microfluidics

• Published in: Journal of chemical education 2015-01, Vol.92 (1), p.116-119
• Main Authors: Davis, T. A, Athey, S. L, Vandevender, M. L, Crihfield, C. L, Kolanko, C. C. E, Shao, S, Ellington, M. C. G, Dicks, J. K, Carver, J. S, Holland, L. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; Educational materials; Electrocatalysis; Electrolysis; Elementary school students; High Schools; Instructional materials; Laboratories; Laboratory Equipment; Learning; Microfluidics; Middle Schools; Organic chemistry; Science education; Science Experiments; Science Instruction; Science Laboratories; Scientific Concepts; Secondary School Science; Secondary school students; Secondary schools; Stoichiometry; Water; West Virginia
• ISSN: 0021-9584; 1938-1328
• DOI: 10.1021/ed400757m

This activity allows students to visualize the electrolysis of water in a microfluidic device in under 1 min. Instructional materials are provided to demonstrate how the activity meets West Virginia content standards and objectives. Electrolysis of water is a standard chemistry experiment, but the typical laboratory apparatus (e.g., Hoffman cell) is best suited for group presentations. With microfluidics, the cell volume is reduced from 100 mL to 100 μL, making the electrolysis safer and easier to view by an individual. A single device is reusable and assembled for $5. This report describes the development of a microfluidic learning module that was implemented and assessed in the eighth-grade chemistry classroom.