Preparação de compostos de alumínio a partir da bauxita: considerações sobre alguns aspectos envolvidos em um experimento didático

Aluminum metal and aluminum compounds have many applications in several branches of the industry and in our daily lives. The most important raw material for aluminum and its manufactured compounds is bauxite, a rock constituted mainly by aluminum hydroxides minerals. In this work, a didactic experiment aiming the preparation of alumina and potassium alum starting from bauxite is proposed for undergraduate students. Both compounds are of great commercial, scientific and historical interest. The experiment involves applications of important chemical principles such as acid-base and precipitation. Some chemical properties and uses of aluminum compounds are also illustrated.

Um experimento com propostas múltiplas para um laboratório de química geral

This article suggests a sequence of experiments on the preparation, analysis and some photochemical aspects of potassium tris (oxalato) ferrate(III) trihydrate. The sequence of experiments could be carried out in four or five 4-hour laboratory periods. The new part of this article is related to the kinetics studies involving the ambient illumination as well as the use of the cellophane paper of different colors as light filters. The aspects such as quantum yield, light absorption and photochemical reactions are explored in order to illustrate the relationships between the exposure time, light intensity and wavelength range on the photochemical reactions.

A extração de cafeína em bebidas estimulantes: uma nova abordagem para um experimento clássico em química orgânica

Caffeine extraction procedures from water soluble and water insoluble materials for preparing stimulating beverages are described. Water soluble materials used were instant tea and coffee and water insoluble materials were, among others, guaraná powder and maté leaves. The extraction of caffeine from water soluble materials, especially instant tea, is more suitable for an organic chemistry teaching laboratory than the classic experiment using tea leaves, due to the economy of time and a larger amount of extracted caffeine. The procedure is time-saving and requires only a four-hour period. The experiments illustrate the extraction process as used in undergraduate organic chemistry laboratories.

Preparação e caracterização do complexo cobaloxima e sua utilização na construção de um eletrodo modificado: um experimento eletroquímico no curso de graduação

The present experiment describes the preparation, characterization of n-butyl(pyridil)cobaloxime complex and its electrochemical property. The infrared and uv-visible absorption spectra were used to characterize the complex obtained. The infrared spectrum of the compound showed characteristics bands that indicated the formation of the Co-C chemical bond formation. The electronic absorption spectrum in acetonitrile showed transition bands attributed to p-p*, metal-to-ligand charge transfer, d-d transitions and charge transfer Co-C. The electrochemical property was investigated by the pulse differential voltammetry technique. Two oxidation processes: Co(I)/Co(II) at -423 mV and Co(II)/Co(III) at 752 mV were observed.

Qual o sítio de reação? Um experimento computacional

A computational quantum chemistry experiment is described on the determination of the most reactive atom in a molecule for a reaction. The reaction studied was the S N2 of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine and methyl iodide. Several indexes (HOMO coefficent, (c), charges, (q), nucleophilic softness, (s+), and Fukui index, (f+)) were employed to verify which correctly describe what nitrogen will react. The calculations were made by AM1 and HF/STO-3G methods. The correct reactivity order is only reproduced by s+ and f+. The lack of agreement of FMO based indexes was discussed.

Um experimento-charada usando data-show e resinas de troca iônica

A demonstractive experiment was proposed in order to verify students' habilities in recognizing the presence and nature of ions in solutions, before and after their passage through ion-exchange columns. The students have no previous contact with ion-exchange resins, so they must deduce how they work and explain the experimental facts. The performance of classes, at different stages of learning, is compared and discussed.

Um experimento de análise em fluxo envolvendo reações enzimáticas e quimiluminescência

An experiment is proposed to introduce some fundamentals of flow analysis, chemiluminescence and kinetic monitoring of enzymatic reactions in undergraduate courses. Chemiluminescence detection is performed with a simple spectrophotometer equipped with a lab-made spiral flow cell constructed from a polyethylene tube. The hydrogen peroxide produced by the glucose oxidation in the presence of glucose oxidase is continuously monitored by the reaction with luminol in alkaline media in a flow injection system. The exercise allows also the discussion of important analytical features and the comparison with different optical methods of analysis.

O coulômetro de sódio: um experimento interessante de eletroquímica

The diffusion of sodium through glass, the basis of a sodium coulometer, was revised and modified for the application to present-day light bulbs. Low pressure inert gas-filled incandescent lamps are useless to attain satisfactory results. The inclusion of a 450 V power supply in series with the electrolysis cell provided sufficient potential to overcome the effect of the inert gas molecules inside the bulb.

Preparação de compostos lamelares: síntese do hidrogenofosfato de zircônio cristalino e sua intercalação com aminas. Um experimento para estudantes de graduação

The present paper describes the synthesis of crystalline zirconium hydrogen phosphate by direct precipitation and its intercalation with pyridine and n-butylamine. The simple experiment was tested in the undergraduate inorganic chemistry laboratory course for chemistry students at IQ-UNICAMP using inexpensive reagents. The materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and infrared analyses in order to obtain detailed information of the solid structure changes as a result of the intercalation process. Pyridine and n-butylamine are focused in this work as clear and elucidative examples leading to acid-base interactive processes that result in the well-formed infinite sequence of inorganic lamellar structures.

O modelamento estatístico de misturas: experimento tutorial usando voltametria de redissolução anódica

This work illustrates the modeling procedure for a solvent mixture using the simplex- centroid approach. The selected experiment was the optimization of the peak current observed in the direct determination of nickel by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) in a solvent mixture composed of N,N-dimethylformamide, ethanol and water. The text is presented in a tutorial way, showing in detail the several steps which must be followed in such a process. Since not all possible mixtures lead to a measurable instrumental response, pseudocomponents had to be used to rescale the experimental design. This also allows to show how to apply this tool, usually troublesome for non-specialists in mixture modeling procedures.

Síntese de biodiesel: uma proposta contextualizada de experimento para laboratório de química geral

The contextualized understanding of concepts in Chemistry by students from other areas is a challenging task. In this experiment, the synthesis of biodiesel is done by base catalyzed transesterification of refined soy oil with methanol at room temperature and common glassware found in any chemistry laboratory. The proposal permits introducing several concepts, such as that of emulsion, viscosity and catalysis to illustrate an activity based on an actual problem. In this didactic approach, some common problems of biodiesel production, such as soap formation and phase separation, are introduced into the procedure in order to raise questions and motivate the students to participate in the experimental work and stimulate reflections about critical aspects of biodiesel production. This experiment was carried out in the first semester of 2006, in experimental general chemistry taken by physics and agricultural, civil and chemical engineering students of UNICAMP.

Preparo da para-cloroanilina: um experimento simples, rápido e barato

Experiments simple, short and efficient for experimental disciplines in undergraduate courses in Chemistry are an excellent opportunity for students to consolidate the learning of theoretical concepts in classical chemical transformations. The use of a safe reagent, of low cost and easy access is the motivation for this communication, that describes the use of trichloroisocyanuric acid - a chlorinating agent used in the treatment of swimming pool water - for the chlorination of acetanilide, an intermediate in the preparation of para-chloroaniline.

Uso de scanner em espectrofotometria de absorção molecular: aplicação em experimento didático enfocando a determinação de ácido ascórbico

Quantitative analysis of colored substances is generally performed using a spectrophotometer for detection of radiation. However, the combination of digital images and mathematical conversion of colors is an alternative for quantitative procedures based on colored chemical reactions. This work proposes a didactic experiment using a scanner for determination of ascorbic acid in medicines based on the formation of the Prussian blue complex. Results were in good agreement with a conventional spectrophotometer method and the procedure is attractive for instrumental analysis undergraduate courses.

Experimento didático sobre cromatografia gasosa: uma abordagem analítica e ambiental

This paper describes an experiment to teach the principles of gas chromatography exploring the boiling points and polarities to explain the elution order of a series of alcohols, benzene and n-propanone, as well as to teach the response factor concept and the internal standard addition method. Retention times and response factors are used for qualitative identification and quantitative analysis of a hypothetical contamination source in a simulated water sample. The internal standard n-propanol is further used for quantification of benzene and n-butanol in the water sample. This experiment has been taught in the instrumental analysis course offered to chemistry and oceanography students.

Comparação entre métodos de quantificação em cromatografia gasosa: um experimento para cursos de química

This article describes an experiment designed to teach quantitative determination in gas chromatography (GC) in Organic and Analytical Chemistry practical classes. The experiment consisted of extracting and analyzing eugenol from clove seeds to perform a quantitative approach aimed at comparing results obtained by external and internal calibration procedures. Therefore, this experiment proved to be very effective tool to enhance students awareness on the need to understand different types of calibration in GC and on how to avoid common experimental errors, and to find the best ways to eliminate their interference during the quantitative analysis phase.