From Colors to Beer-Lambert Law: A Cognitive Learning Module
Keywords:
Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Complex, UV-Visible Spectroscopy, Beer-Lambert Law, Problem Based LearningAbstract
Abstract: A colored compound absorbs visible light, which is reflected in its UV-Vis spectrum. The spectrum manifests both the amount of light (intensity) and the light energy that a particular compound absorbs. Reading a spectrum involves understanding the factors that affect the intensity and energy of the absorbed light. Herein, a curriculum-based Problem-based learning (PBL) teaching module is developed for undergraduate students to rediscover the above concepts. Students revisited the concepts underlying the origin of color in inorganic complexes and built hypothetical demo spectra for a compound at different concentrations. Students acquired the UV-Vis spectra for KMnO4 at different concentrations and plotted the graphs on the Excel platform. A quantitative estimate of the electronic transition energies was made for each observed peak. The hypothesis regarding spectral change with compound concentration is tested from the results, and the relation between concentration and absorbance is reestablished. The response to post-lab questionnaires indicated that the module propelled enquiring aptitude among the students and enhanced their ability for spectral data interpretation. The module may bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in the field of UV-Vis spectroscopy through active cognitive engagement.
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