Construindo o conhecimento através de projetos de trabalho: uma experiência no curso de química da universidade estadual de Santa Cruz

In this work, we describe a pedagogical experiment using work projects in chemistry undergraduate programs in general chemistry and inorganic chemistry courses making learning more dynamic and consolidating the link between students and the external community. We highlight as fundamental outcomes the improvement in the learning process and, above all, the active participation of the students in investigation and problem-solving activities.

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.

Oxidação do borneol à cânfora com água sanitária - um experimento simples, de baixo custo e limpo

Regulatory pressure is increasingly focusing on the use and disposal of substances hazardous to human health and environment. In the last years efforts have also been made to introduce green chemistry concepts in undergraduate courses. In this paper we present an experiment on the oxidation reaction of borneol to camphor with bleach in acetone. This experiment is important to show undergraduate students that a cheap and non hazardous commercial product can be a useful oxidation agent of alcohols.

Extração e purificação de clorofila a, da alga Spirulina maxima: um experimento para os cursos de química

This work describes a simple and economical experiment for the extraction and purification of chlorophyll a from Spirulina maxima. Extraction and purification of natural compounds can be considered one of the most illustrative experiments that can be performed in Organic Chemistry courses. Particularly, the chromatography of dyes and pigments allows students to have a better comprehension of the chromatography separations. These compounds represent an important class of organic pigments applied in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, detergent compositions, and various other fields and can be extracted from plants and algae. To extract, separate and purify chlorophyll a from associated pigments such as xanthophylls, carotenes, and pheophytins, very costly processes are reported. The present approach is perfectly adequate for use in Chemistry experiments for undergraduate students.

Hidrólise parcial da superfície do polyethylene terephthalate (PET): transformando um rejeito em um material de troca catiônica para aplicação ambiental

In this work it is proposed a simple and versatile undergraduate chemical experiment in polymer and environmental technology based on the process of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) hydrolysis. Polyethylene terephthalate from post-consume bottles is submitted to a controlled partial hydrolysis which allows the students to follow the reaction by a simple procedure. The students can explore the reaction kinetics, the effect of catalysts and the exposed polyethylene terephthalate surface area on the hydrolysis reaction. The second and innovative part of this experiment is the technological and environmental application of the hydrolyzed polyethylene terephthalate as a material with cation exchange properties. The surface hydrolyzed polyethylene terephthalate can be used as adsorbent for cationic contaminants.

Argilas como catalisadores verdes na esterificação do colesterol: caracterização espectroscópica e identificação de polimorfos por métodos de análise térmica. Uma proposta laboratorial interdisciplinar para o 1º ciclo universitário

A laboratory experiment that enables the professor to introduce the problematic of sustainable development in pharmaceutical chemistry to undergraduate students is proposed, using a simple synthetic procedure. Cholesteryl acetate is prepared by the esterification of cholesterol using Montmorillonite K10 as heterogeneous catalyst. Cholesterol and cholesteryl acetate are characterized by spectroscopic (¹H RMN, 13C RMN, FTIR) and thermal analysis techniques. The thermal methods are used to introduce the concepts of polymorphism and the nature of mesophases.

Óleo essencial de limão no ensino da cromatografia em camada delgada

This paper describes a simple experiment employing the essential oil of limes which can be applied in undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory classes for the teaching of thin layer chromatography (TLC). The experiment consists in submit lime peel oil to TLC separation employing hexane and dichloromethane as the eluents and five different systems for visualization of the chromatogram. In one experiment it is possible to teach the different variables of the TLC technique. This experiment may also be performed following vapor distillation and liquid-liquid extraction technique in experimental classes.

Adsorção e propriedades de volume de misturas binárias água álcool: um experimento didático com base em medidas de tensão superficial

An undergraduate physical chemistry experiment based on the drop counting method for surface tension measurements is proposed to demonstrate adsorption isotherms of binary aqueous solutions of ethanol, n-propanol, and n-butanol. Excess surface is obtained by the derivative of surface tension taken with respect to alcohol activity, after this activity calculation using van Laar equation. Laboratory class contents are surface tension, excess surface, percolation of hydrogen bonds, micelle, activity, and ideal solution.

O uso de aparelhos de micro-ondas domésticos em aulas experimentais de química orgânica: nitração de salicilaldeído

The use of microwave in chemistry has known benefits over conventional heating methods, e.g. reduced reaction times, chemical yield improvement and the possibility if reducing or eliminating the use of organic solvents. We describe herein a procedure for the nitration of salicylaldehyde in water using a domestic microwave oven, which can be used as an experiment in the undergraduate chemistry laboratory. The experiment involves safe and rapid preparation and identification of the position isomers by thin layer chromatography and 1H NMR, or by their melting points.

Reação da cânfora com boroidreto de sódio: uma estratégia para o estudo da estereoquímica da reação de redução

Reduction of camphor to a mixture of borneol and isoborneol was performed using NaBH4 as the reducing agent under suitable conditions. Although more effective reduction was accomplished using toxic methanol, an alternative non-toxic ethanolic system is described. This experiment is important to introduce undergraduate students in reductive procedures, and can be used to show details on stereoselective procedures on carbonyl moieties (facial diastereoselectivity, Bürgi-Dunitz trajectory, diastereomeric excess).

Redução enzimática do 4-(dimetilamino)benzaldeído com pedaços de cenoura (Daucus carota): um experimento simples na compreensão da biocatálise

The present paper describes a simple, low-costly and environmentally friendly procedure for reduction of 4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde using carrot bits in water. This interdisciplinary experiment can be used to introduce the concepts of biocatalysis and green chemistry to undergraduate students.

Biomassa em aula prática de Química Orgânica Verde: cravo-da-índia como fonte simultânea de óleo essencial e de furfural

This work presents an optimized integrated experiment for isolation of clove bud essential oil, rich in eugenol, and subsequent utilization of the solid residue for furfural synthesis. The operationally simple laboratory protocols and utilization of water as a solvent in both operations, plus the use of biomass as the starting material for preparation of versatile intermediates in organic synthesis, make the experiments attractive for undergraduate experimental organic chemistry courses in the context of green chemistry. In addition, this is the first description of the use of biomass (clove bud) in the simultaneous preparation of two chemical feedstocks, eugenol and furfural, on experimental organic chemistry courses.

A brief introduction to molecular orbital theory of simple polyatomic molecules for undergraduate chemistry students

A simple, four-step method for better introducing undergraduate students to the fundamentals of molecular orbital (MO) theory of the polyatomic molecules H2O, NH3, BH3 and SiH4 using group theory is reported. These molecules serve to illustrate the concept of ligand group orbitals (LGOs) and subsequent construction of MO energy diagrams on the basis of molecular symmetry requirements.

Síntese da fenitoína assistida por micro-ondas: proposta de aula prática para alunos de graduação

Microwave synthesis is considered a breakthrough in the field of chemistry due to its benefits over conventional heating methods. We describe, for the first time, the total synthesis of phenytoin adapted for a microwave reactor, proposed as an experiment for undergraduate courses. When carried out with microwaves, the synthetic route provided phenytoin in 6 min and 30 s, while for conventional heating the total time was 170 min. The experiment also involves rapid identification of compounds by TLC, ¹H NMR, FT-IR and melting points determination.

Reações ácido-base: conceito, representação e generalização a partir das energias envolvidas nas transformações

Undergraduate students on the first year of Chemistry Courses are unfamiliar with the representation of acid-base reactions using the ionic equation H+ + OH- → H2O. A chemistry class was proposed about acid-base reactions using theory and experimental evaluation of neutralization heat to discuss the energy involved when water is formed from H+ and OH- ions. The experiment is suggested using different strong acids and strong base pairs. The presentation of the theme within a chemistry class for high school teachers increased the number of individuals that saw the acid-base reaction from this perspective.