Practical experiments enhance students' understanding of basic concepts and promote deep learning experiences in chemistry. The smartphone application of Lab4Chemistry was utilized to replace colorimeters with smartphone camera sensors. Low-cost and readily available materials, including anthocyanin (fresh red cabbage) and common kitchen…

A very simple and color-observable homemade Raman spectroscope with easy preparation is introduced by simply adding low-cost components (a transmission diffraction grating sheet, a magnifying glass, a paper mask, and a DPSS laser pointer module) to a consumer digital camera. The Raman spectral images and profiles of cyclohexane, carbon…

We present a simple smartphone-based protocol for the estimation of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactants. The protocol is based on contact angle measurements from the smartphone-captured images of differently concentrated surfactant solution droplets mounted over a naturally existing or chemically synthesized superhydrophobic…

A novel demonstration device for realizing the intuitive visual observation of the system's internal energy change is proposed. The device is safe, simple, and efficient, combining an infrared camera with a water bottle sprayer. With this setup, the changes of thermal images for air and helium during the compression and expansion processes were…

Fluorescence analysis is an important technology, which can obtain the concentration of target analytes through comparing the fluorescence intensity change of a fluorescent sensor. Generally, the fluorescence intensity is measured by a fluorometer. However, many undergraduates have no chance to operate such an expensive instrument. Besides, the…

Over the past few decades, the photographic process has slowly vanished from chemistry education in most schools. It happened due to vast changes in both technology and legislation. It is, however, helpful in demonstrating several concepts in natural sciences, bringing a bit of art into the subjects, and giving students an opportunity to express…

The rate of the sonochemiluminescence reaction of luminol in alkaline medium can be increased in the presence of carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and bromoform. The presence of the latter activators enhances the light emission, to allow studying the kinetics of this reaction in a 4-h laboratory session using a mobile phone camera as a detector…

We report here a successful adaptation of lab videos used during remote instruction to a kinetics experiment reported in this Journal in 2007. In the in-person lab, students now record their rate data on their cell phone cameras and then collect their data from the videos for their postlab reports; previously, they acquired the data in real time…

A laboratory experiment that exposes students to fundamental concepts in kinetics and statistical thermodynamics to study systems of great current interest in nanotechnology by employing a foundational technique in physical chemistry is described. A modified commercial flash photolysis spectrometer was used to study photoinduced isomerization…

Educators at Mississippi State University developed an at-home, kitchen chemistry style laboratory to accompany the Survey of Organic Chemistry lecture course. The course featured 12 lab activities; eight hands-on experiences that focused primarily on important organic concepts including acid strength, extraction techniques, chromatographic…

The cost of infrared cameras has decreased significantly, and it is now time for chemistry educators to incorporate this tool into their teaching. In this article, we provide five ideas for this purpose, exploring the thermal effects/behaviors of some chemical substances using an infrared camera. Experiments involving affordable materials and…

This work reports the first use of rubber latex waste as the hydrophobic reagent for a low-cost, simple, and rapid fabrication of a paper towel-based experimental device (PTED) with a circular design of 5 mm to demonstrate the factors affecting chemical equilibrium; this serves as a user-friendly means for a laboratory experiment. The illustration…

Investigation of the kinetics of phosphorescence decay is a suitable learning task in studying the formal kinetics, and also properties of crystal phosphors. Kinetics of phosphorescence decay of crystal phosphors can be experimentally investigated at home as part of distance learning, using a conventional digital photo camera and a luminescent…

Infrared (IR) thermography renders invisible infrared radiation with intuitive coloration in images and videos taken of objects, reactions, and processes. Educators can take advantage of this technology to extend students' sensory perception of chemical reactions or processes that absorb or release heat in rich detail. In theory, IR thermography…

To promote the integration of aesthetic education into chemistry education, this study designed activities to photograph precipitation reaction experiments with a smartphone, thereby combining experimental inquiry with artistic creation across disciplines. These activities were divided into (i) perceiving, (ii) appreciating, (iii) exploring, and…