Nanoparticle Synthesis, Characterization, and Ecotoxicity: A Research-Based Set of Laboratory Experiments for a General Chemistry Course

A series of laboratory experiments were developed to introduce first-year chemistry students to nanoscience through a green chemistry approach. Students made and characterized the stability of silver nanoparticles using two different methods: UV-visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical education 2017-12, Vol.94 (12), p.1939-1945
Main Authors: Amaris, Zoe N, Freitas, Daniel N, Mac, Karen, Gerner, Kyle T, Nameth, Catherine, Wheeler, Korin E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
Biology
Carbon dioxide
Careers
Chemical synthesis
Chemistry
College Science
Cooperative Learning
Dynamic stability
E coli
Environmental monitoring
Experiments
Green development
Honors Curriculum
Inquiry
Interdisciplinary Approach
Laboratory Experiments
Light scattering
Materials science
Nanomaterials
Nanoparticles
Nanotechnology
Optical density
Photon correlation spectroscopy
Science Experiments
Science Instruction
Science Laboratories
Silver
Spectroscopy
Students
Technical education
Toxicity
Translation
Undergraduate Study
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Summary:A series of laboratory experiments were developed to introduce first-year chemistry students to nanoscience through a green chemistry approach. Students made and characterized the stability of silver nanoparticles using two different methods: UV-visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. They then assessed the ecotoxicity of silver nanoparticles in Escherichia coli sublethal growth curve assays. Bacterial growth was monitored via optical density and carbon dioxide measurements. Finally, students designed and implemented their own nanomaterial characterization and ecotoxicity experiments based upon the insights gained in previous tests. The experiments translated current research in sustainable nanomaterials to an undergraduate population while introducing them to research methodology and experiences early in their undergraduate career. Moreover, the experiments emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the sciences to provide real-world applications and connect concepts learned within general chemistry lecture and lab to other classes commonly taken by first-year STEM students, including biology, materials science, and environmental sciences.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00369