Visual demonstration of the ionic strength effect in the classroom: the Debye-Hückel limiting law

The effects of ionic strength on ions in aqueous solutions are quite relevant, especially for biochemical systems, in which proteins and amino acids are involved. The teaching of this topic and more specifically, the Debye-Hückel limiting law, is central in chemistry undergraduate courses. In this work, we present a description of an experimental procedure based on the color change of aqueous solutions of bromocresol green (BCG), driven by addition of electrolyte. The contribution of charge product (z+|z-|) to the Debye-Hückel limiting law is demonstrated when the effects of NaCl and Na2SO4 on the color of BCG solutions are compared.

Síntese e hidrólise de azalactonas de Erlenmeyer-Plöchl mediadas por radiação micro-ondas em aparelhos doméstico e dedicado: experimentos de química orgânica para a graduação

This work describes a green chemistry experiment for the synthesis of Erlenmeyer-Plöchl azalactones mediated by microwave irradiation, employing both dedicated and domestic equipment. Hippuric acid was reacted with equimolar amounts of benzaldehyde, p-chloro-benzaldehyde or p-N,N-dimethyl-benzaldehyde in acetic anhydride as the solvent. Acid hydrolysis of obtained 4-benzylidene-2-phenyloxazol-5(4H)-one under microwave and convectional heating afforded Z-α-(benzoylamino)cinnamic acid at a 51-61.5% yield. The UV-Vis molecular spectra of 4-benzylidene-2-phenyloxazol-5(4H)-one and 4-(4'-N,N-dimethylbenzylidene)-2-phenyloxazol-5(4H)-one were obtained in ethanol, CH2Cl2 and DMSO and bathochromic shift was observed for the latter azalactone.

Preparação de derivados do lapachol em meio ácido e em meio básico: uma proposta de experimentos para a disciplina de Química Orgânica Experimental

In this educational paper we describe the extraction of lapachol from its natural source according to acid-base concepts in organic chemistry and the use of its derivatives β-lapachone and hydroxy-hydrolapachol to exemplify intramolecular cyclization, carbocation stability, Michael addition reaction and chromatography. The experiments were performed during three different undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory classes using low cost material, while avoiding color reagents for TLC visualization, as well as small-scale column chromatography to isolate the mixture of lapachol and β-lapachone.

O tempo de pega em gelatinas comerciais: uma experiência da disciplina de quimiometria para estudantes de graduação em Química

The aim of this paper is to describe a chemometrics experiment for undergraduate chemistry students using basic concepts of experimental design to determine setting-time of commercial gelatins.

Metodologia de ensino jigsaw em disciplina de química medicinal

In this paper, we describe an educational experience involving the use of the jigsaw method on the Medicinal Chemistry course at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. The goal of this proposal was to investigate acceptance and contributions of the method to undergraduate chemistry teaching. Feedback on the jigsaw method collected from the focus groups and questionnaires showed that participants generally acknowledged the advantages of the jigsaw method in helping them learn the Medicinal Chemistry subject. Suggestions for improving the jigsaw method were also received from participants.

Determinação de parâmetros cinéticos em fluxo com câmara de gradiente e deteção espectrofotométrica: aplicação à reação entre o violeta de cristal e o ião hidróxido

A didactic experiment is proposed aimed to extend the Flow Injection Analysis (FIA) based methodology to the area of physical chemistry/chemical reactors for undergraduate labs. Our prime objective was to describe the use of a gradient chamber for determination of the rate constant for the reaction between crystal violet and the hydroxide ion. The study was complemented by determining the effect of temperature on the rate constant. The kinetic parameters, activation energy and reaction rate constant are determined based on an assumption of rate orders. The main didactic advantages of the proposed experimental set-up are the use of less reagents, contributing to a more environmental friendly experiment. The experiment illustrates also the reduction of associated errors and time by using automated analysis owing to decreased operator manipulation.

A política de inovação e a formação do químico

In December 2004, Brazil's President signed Law number 10.973, which provides for incentives toward innovation, scientific and technological research in the production environment and other measures, also known as the Law of Innovation. Although Brazil has advanced greatly in the number of scientific articles published, currently accounting for about 3% of world scientific output, this progress has not been replicated in the production of patents. This article presents a discussion on the importance of introducing patent issues into national undergraduate courses.

Experimento didático de quimiometria para calibração multivariada na determinação de paracetamol em comprimidos comerciais utilizando espectroscopia no infravermelho próximo: um tutorial, parte II

The aim of this manuscript was to show the basic concepts and practical application of Partial Least Squares (PLS) as a tutorial, using the Matlab computing environment for beginners, undergraduate and graduate students. As a practical example, the determination of the drug paracetamol in commercial tablets using Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was shown, an experiment that has been successfully carried out at the Chemical Institute of Campinas State University for chemistry undergraduate course students to introduce the basic concepts of multivariate calibration in a practical way.

Físico-química experimental: uma proposta para abordar equilíbrio de fases em sistemas ternários

On undergraduate courses, practical classes represent periods in which students can verify the concepts presented in theoretical classes. Conversely, the teaching internship in graduate programs allows these students to incorporate pedagogical practices into their experience, predominantly involving observation and reproduction of methods adopted by supervisors. We propose internship teaching as a period for reflection on our pedagogical practice and present a methodology for an experimental physical chemistry classroom. The students can interact with the experiment and instructor, furthering the study of ternary systems while developing their skills for investigative work.

Acoplamento de cloreto de 4-nitrofenildiazônio com nucleófilos alifáticos: experimento integrado de síntese orgânica e cristalografia de raios X

This article describes an undergraduate experiment for the synthesis of p-nitrophenyldiazonium chloride and its coupling with acetylacetone and two enaminones, 4-phenylamino-pent-3-en-2-one and 4-amino-pent-3-en-2-one, in an adaptation of a previously reported synthetic protocol. The azo dyes 4-(E)-phenylamino-3-[(E)-2-(4-nitrophenylazo)]-3-penten-2-one and 4-(E)-amino-3-[(E)-2-(4-nitrophenylazo)]-3-penten-2-one were obtained, and the solid state structure of this latter azo compound was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. This two-week integrated laboratory approach involves simple synthetic experiments and microwave chemistry in the organic laboratory plus crystallography analysis, suitable for novice students on undergraduate experimental chemistry courses.

Desafios da indústria farmacêutica brasileira

The paper traces a panorama of the development of new drugs and hopes to contribute for Brazil to become a player in the discovery of new drugs. Brazil is the sixth world market retail consumer of medicines prone to expansion, has a pharmaceutical industry focused on the production of generics and a very large number of undergraduate courses in Pharmacy. The national industry has grown over the last decade after the Generics Act 9787/99. Despite these positive aspects, a number of bottlenecks prevent Brazilian pharmaceutical industry to invest in the development of new drugs. There are, however, a number of initiatives to reduce the dependence on imported generic drugs. It is a very good start for the development of new pharmaceutical drugs.

Um reator fotoquímico barato e eficiente para experimentos de química

In this work, we present an efficient and inexpensive device for undergraduate chemistry classes aimed at teaching and learning the photolytic synthesis concepts. A photochemical reactor was tested for the synthesis of the organometallic compound enneacarbonyldiiron from iron pentacarbonyl in acetic acid, and its formation evidenced by FTIR analysis. Although similar devices have been described in other studies, none of these offered the simplicity, low cost, class-compatible reaction times and good yields afforded by the procedure reported herein.

Nanoporous materials: pillared clays and regular silicas as an example of synthesis and their porosity characterization by X-ray diffraction

Because of their practical applications, porous materials attract the attention of undergraduate students in a way that can be used to teach techniques and concepts in various chemistry disciplines. Porous materials are studied in various chemistry disciplines, including inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. In this work, the syntheses of a microporous material and a mesoporous material are presented. The porosity of the synthesized materials is characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. We show that this technique can be used to determine the pore dimensions of the synthesized materials.

Síntese de cristais líquidos derivados do nitroazobenzeno: uma proposta de síntese multi-etapas aplicada às aulas de química orgânica experimental

We describe a synthetic route consisting of five steps from aniline to obtain liquid crystal compounds derived from nitroazobenzene. Syntheses were performed during the second half of the semester in organic chemistry laboratory classes. Students characterized the liquid crystal phase by the standard melting point techniques, differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy. These experiments allow undergraduate students to explore fundamentally important reactions in Organic Chemistry, as well as modern concepts in Chemistry such as self-assembly and self-organization, nanostructured materials and molecular electronics.

Concepções de licenciandos em química sobre visualizações no ensino de ciências em dois países: Brasil e Portugal

In this work, the beliefs of undergraduate students from Brazil and Portugal on the use of visual tools in teaching chemistry, which have increasingly been introduced in the areas of teaching/learning in these two countries in recent years, have been investigated. An interpretative analysis of the results shows little familiarity of students with specific points of the theme, beyond a poor conception about the way the visualization tools influence the construction of scientific concepts.