Experience-Based Learning Approach to Chemical Kinetics: Learning from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Herein, we present an experience-based learning approach that uses the COVID-19 pandemics knowledge about virus spread and epidemics to establish an analogy between a simple epidemics modelthe SIR model (susceptible–infected–removed), and a second-order autocatalytic reaction with subsequent catalyst deactivation. Our approach provides a simple and engaging way for students to learn chemical kinetics from a current situation (the pandemic) while presenting them with programming tools to numerically solve any system of differential equations that may result from more complex chemical kinetic schemes. We include the option to fit experimental data to extract meaningful rate constants. Following Kolb’s cycle, we first establish the theoretical background of chemical kinetics and the SIR model and describe the analogy. Then, we propose the use of MATLAB and Python to numerically solve the system of differential equations associated with this model and plot the results showing the behavior of the system when changing the constants that describe the process, making the analogy with chemical kinetic constants. Finally, we fitted experimental data from the COVID-19 pandemic (up to early June 2020) to test the model and discuss the goodness of the fitting, the fitting parameters, and the utility of real kinetic data.

Remote Learning of COVID-19 Kinetic Analysis in a Physical Chemistry Laboratory Class

“…The initial R 0 value at Ohio is 2.8, which is consistent with the literature reported value of an average initial R 0 value of about 2– 4 in many places of the United States, 12 and consistent with the initial R 0 of other countries. 23 …”

“… 11 − 16 The kinetic model that was used in this experiment is the susceptible–infectious–recovered (SIR) model, 17 − 19 which is widely used in the academic literature and general public, 16 , 20 , 21 and has been introduced to the chemistry teaching practice very recently. 22 , 23 In this model, a two-dimensional plot that contains the number of infected individuals on the y -axis and time on the x -axis is used to visualize how fast a virus truly spreads. 16 − 19 Many alternative models that have been reported in the literature are used to investigate the spreading of infectious disease, a common feature of most is using the reproduction/replacement number R t as a key parameter, whose initial value is called basic reproduction number R 0 .…”

“… 42 − 44 Right after the first outbreak of the epidemic, the SIR model has been compared to a second-order autocatalytic chemical reaction system, and the data have been fitted using a programming language during a physical chemistry class. 23 This report is targeting the early stage of the spreading by fitting a single set of parameters including the R t value. Our model has complementary targets fitting longer-term variations on the R t value such as detection, quarantining, social distancing, and vaccination.…”

An epidemic model for non-first-order transmission kinetics

“…The current study proposes a modified mathematical model based on the modified SIR scheme. Like many previous studies, the mathematical model proposed in the current study derives inspiration from chemical reaction kinetics [ 11 – 13 ], with a critical difference in that the transmission "reaction" is not assumed to be first-order regarding the infectious population. The modified model provides two disease-describing parameters: transmission rate constant k and transmission rate order n .…”

Remote Learning of COVID-19 Kinetic Analysis in a Physical Chemistry Laboratory Class

“…[11][12][13][14][15][16] The kinetic model that was used in this experiment is the susceptible-infectious-recovered (SIR) model, [17][18][19] which is widely used in the academic literature and general public, 16,20,21 and has been introduced to the chemistry teaching practice very recently. 22,23 In this model, a two-dimensional plot that contains the number of infected individuals on the y-axis and time on the x-axis is used to visualize how fast a virus truly spreads. [16][17][18][19] Many alternative models that have been reported in the literature are used to investigate the spreading of infectious disease, a common feature of most is using the replacement number Rt as a key parameter, whose initial value is called basic replacement number R0.…”