An experimental approach to chemistry
is a more meaningful way
to learn than the use of textbooks alone. Working in the laboratory
helps students understand basic concepts through their active engagement.
Here, we present a series of inexpensive and environmentally friendly
laboratory exercises on acid–base equilibrium. Their difficulty
level is low, and they can be performed at home. Thus, they are especially
suited for teaching in a social-distance context, such as during the
COVID-19 pandemic. The experiments were designed to exemplify the
main concepts of acid–base equilibrium, buffer capacity, and
titration curves, using safe household reactants and no special equipment.
RGB image analysis is used to detect pH variation and follow experiments’
progress. Titration of sodium carbonate with acetic acid using curcumin
and red cabbage extracts as indicators is described. Our results show
that curcumin extract is an excellent indicator for this purpose,
and the end point is clearly observed through image analysis. These
assays can be used and further adapted to teach students of different
ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.
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