Various studies have reported the versatility and great scope of programming tools in all areas of knowledge. Coding is generally of paramount importance to chemistry students regardless of whether they intend to work with theoretical chemistry. Google Colab notebooks can introduce students to programming concepts and could be a convenient tool to assist in the chemistry teaching process. In this article, we implemented Google Colab notebooks to aid in the teaching of thermodynamics in a physical chemistry class. We presented six notebooks, covering introductory concepts of both coding and thermodynamics as a set of learning objects that can be useful in a virtual learning environment. In addition, in some of the notebooks, we included a step-by-step guide on how to run virtual lab simulations. The Colab notebooks were created for students without previous experience in programming. All of the Colab notebooks contain exercises of the activities and the solutions of the proposed exercises. Furthermore, all of the Colab notebooks can be modified and downloaded from the Github repository. Finally, we used the Python programming language and Colab because they are free and widely used by the academic community.

Many experimental thermochemical laboratories require monitoring temperatures during a reaction or physical procedure. Nowadays, there are many alternatives to fulfill this requirement; however, they are expensive for basic scholars and first-year undergraduates. In this paper, we describe an inexpensive and useful data acquisition device developed with the open-source Arduino software. In this work, we presented a methodology for easy calorimeter construction based in Arduino data acquisition device for introductory chemical laboratories, we used an LM35 transistor as a temperature sensor connected to an Arduino UNO microcontroller for temperature sensing and an aquarium air pump for agitation of reaction system. Besides, the hardware required for implementation is explained in detail. The device was built using the (DIY) do-it -yourself method, and the complete system had a total cost under $40. We showed details of all components for data acquisition construction. Finally, we tested the device in order to determine the exothermic dissolution heat (ΔH) for NaOH in water.

Currently, titanium dioxide is a most researched semiconductor in photocatalysis field; however, practical applications of TiO 2 are limited due to high band gap (3.2 eV). In last decades, researchers implemented several strategies to improve photoactivity of TiO 2 in visible electromagnetic spectrum. Titanium dioxide (TiO 2) sensitization for absorption of naturals and/or synthetics organic dyes is an important research subject in the field, and it is an efficient method to develop practical application in waste treatment. In this chapter, we review main theoretical aspects of sensitization process of TiO 2 by phthalocyanines and its effect in photocatalytic properties. In the last section, we review reports of photocatalytic systems.

En este trabajo se evaluó la actividad fotocatalítica de pigmentos fotosintéticos (clorofila), adsorbidos sobre superficie de dióxido de titanio en presencia de luz visible, los pigmentos fueron extraídos por maceración en frío,  a partir de plantas de espinaca (Spinacia Olerace), la fabricación de las películas de TiO2 fue realizada utilizando la técnica de Doctor Blade, la cuantificación de los pigmentos se realizó mediante el método tricromático según la norma estandarizada para la cuantificación de clorofila 10200 H. Los pigmentos fijados sobre la superficie de TiO2 aumentaron la respuesta de este material en el rango visible, finalmente se evaluó la capacidad  fotocatalítica del TiO2 modificado bajo irradiación visible,  la degradación del azul de metileno se evaluó durante 140 minutos, obteniendo un porcentaje de degradación de los electrodos modificados fue superior al de los electrodos de TIO2 sin modificar.

No abstract