These are the techniques and applications of molecular identification. Analytical chemistry lecture notes, laboratory exercises, organizations, journals, software, and additional resources are provided. Information is available for calorimetry, crystallography, electrophoresis, chromatography, and spectroscopy.
Find images of laboratory equipment and instruments, including glassware and antique items.
Learn the names and uses of different types of chemistry laboratory glassware.
Cleaning laboratory glassware isn't as simple as washing the dishes. Here's how to wash your glassware so that you won't ruin your chemical solution, laboratory experiment, or the glass.
Learn what spectroscopy and spectra are, how spectroscopy works, and what it is used for. This article includes a list of several different spectroscopies, with brief descriptions of their characteristics.
Qualitative analysis is used to identify the chemical species in an unknown substance. Introductory qualitative chemical analysis exploits the unique characteristics of the elements to separate metal ions in an aqueous solution. This article identifies the main metal groups, discusses characteristics of major reagents, and lists selected cation complexes.
A flame test is an easy experimental technique used to help identify a metal or ionic salt based on its emission spectrum when it is heated in a gas flame. Here's how to perfom a flame test and interpret the results of the test.
Analyze the dyes used in your favorite candies with paper chromatography using a coffee filter, colored candies, and a salt solution.
The meniscus is the curve seen at the top of a liquid in response to its container. When you read a scale on the side of a container with a meniscus, such as a graduated cylinder or volumetric flask, it's important that the measurement accounts for the meniscus. Here's how to read a meniscus.
The flame test is a quick low-tech method of identifying an element by the color of light it yields in a flame. Learn how to perform this test and to interpret the results.
The borax, microcosmic salt, or sodium carbonate bead test may be used to help identify unknown metals. Learn how to perform and interpret the results of this handy analytical test.
Titration is a technique used in analytical chemistry to determine the concentration of an unknown acid or base. For all acids, the shape of the graph plotting pH against volume of base titrated fits the same general shapes.
Learn what an acid-base indicator is and how it works. A table is provided with names of indicators, pH indicator ranges, indicator concentrations in water or alcohol, and colors.
Did you know that Avogadro's number isn't a mathematically derived unit. The number of particles in a mole of a material is determined experimentally. This easy method uses electrochemistry to make the determination.
Recrystallization is a laboratory technique used to purify a sample based on the different solubilites of its components. Learn how to perform a recrystallization and get tips on how to avoid common problems and improve your product yield.
Use this chemistry lesson plan to help students use the scientific method to design experiments to identify the components of an unknown mixture.
A calorimeter is a device used to measure the quantity of heat flow in a chemical reaction. Learn about two of the most common types of calorimeters, the coffee cup calorimeter and the bomb calorimeter, and find out how to use them to calculate heat flow and enthalpy change.
The Mohs test is one way to determine the hardness of a rock or mineral. You can use the Mohs hardness to help identify an unknown specimen. Here's how you can do the test yourself.
You can make pH indicator from poinsettia flowers, then use the indicator to make your own pH paper test strips.
Learn how to make your own pH indicator test strips using red cabbage. This is a fun, safe, and easy chemistry project that you can do at home.
Grasp the basic chemical concepts of titration, a technique used to determine the molarity of an acid or a base.
Use this redox-based iodometric titration to determine the amount of Vitamin C or ascorbic acid in juice and other samples.
