ERIC Number: EJ1445124
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Dec
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: EISSN-1938-1328
Available Date: N/A
Development of Acid-Base Indicators from Natural Pigments in Agar Gel
Rany Im; Tsutomu Iwayama; Masashi Osa
Journal of Chemical Education, v100 n12 p4707-4713 2023
Teaching chemistry necessitates hands-on activities to help students deeply understand chemistry concepts and relate scientific principles to daily life. However, constraints in accessing laboratory equipment and materials pose significant challenges for educators in conducting experiments. This paper proposes the development of a pH indicator gel derived from natural plants and juices to enhance the teaching of acid-base topics. The aim is to foster interest and inquiry in students through the predict-observe-explain (POE) strategy. The pH indicator gel was formulated by combining agar gel with various natural indicators and immersing it in different buffer solutions with pH values ranging from 2 to 12. The resultant color changes in the pH indicator gels were compared to the colors of reference solutions spanning the same pH range. Experimental results demonstrated that the gel modified its color in a manner akin to the color change exhibited by the corresponding extract indicator in the buffer solutions across the entire pH range. Moreover, the agar gel was able to be reused multiple times while continuing to display alternating color changes in response to the pH of the solution. The pH indicator gel was utilized in teaching acid-base topics to a group of 24 student teachers in Cambodia. This hands-on activity stimulated interest and curiosity in the student teachers, leading to more engaged observations during the experiment. Feedback from these student teachers highlighted that the pH indicator gel was an effective teaching aid for conveying acid-base concepts and helped boost their engagement in laboratory experiments.
Descriptors: Chemistry, Science Instruction, Hands on Science, Scientific Concepts, Laboratory Equipment, Access to Education, Science Equipment, Learning Activities, Plants (Botany), Student Interests, Inquiry, Educational Strategies, Student Teachers, Student Teacher Attitudes, Barriers
Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A