New Software Application and Case Study That Simplify Teaching Complex Chemical Solubility and Equilibria

Document Type

Article

Department

​Chemistry​

Publication Date

2-8-2022

Abstract

Chemical solubility and equilibria are paramount for understanding everyday systems. Recent events have led to more interest by the general public in chemical equilibria that occur in drinking water systems. This presents a great opportunity to increase student interest and engagement in the more complicated aspects of chemical equilibria. Shiny Apps allow exploration of complex equilibria without requiring that students (or instructors) get buried in the minutia. The application presented here, https://bazilio.shinyapps.io/LeadSolubilityCaseStudy/, can be used for instruction in chemistry or environmental science and only uses an internet browser such as Safari or Chrome; it is compatible with mobile browsers. Students are assigned a case study on the Flint, Michigan Water Crisis which guides them through lead sulfate, chloride, phosphate, and hydroxide equilibria, using the app to explore their intuitions about this complex chemical system.

Comments

Published in Journal of Chemical Education under Open Access terms.

Publication Title

Journal of Chemical Education

Volume

99

Issue

2

First Page

526

Last Page

530

ISSN

00219584

DOI

10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00887

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