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How to Recycle Polylactic Acid Plastics
In this lab experience, students carry out an investigation to chemically recycle cups made of polylactic acid (PLA) via depolymerization. First, they hydrolyze the PLA using heat and a strong base in solution. Next, they acidify the resulting mixture to generate a lactic acid solution that may be used as a cleaning product.
Materials Included in Kit
Consumable:
Hydrochloric acid solution, 6 M, 500 mL
Ethyl alcohol, anhydrous, 500 mL
Sodium hydroxide, 6 M, 400 mL
Polylactic acid cups, 10
pH test strips, pH 1-12, vial of 100
Weighing dishes, 10
Additional Materials Required
Beral Pipets, Graduated, Pkg. of 20, 1
Buret, Borosilicate Glass, with PTFE Stopcock, 50-mL, 10
DLAB Classic Magnetic Stirrer/Hot Plate, 10
Flask, Erlenmeyer, Borosilicate Glass, 250 mL, 20
Flinn pH Meter, 10
Funnel, Utility, PMP, 10
Gloves, Terrycloth, General Purpose, 10
Graduated Cylinders, Borosilicate Glass, 100 mL, 10
Single Buret Clamp, Plastic-Coated Jaw, 10
Watch Glass, 75 mm, Borosilicate Glass, 10
Stirring Rods, Glass, 10
Scissors, 10
Tongs, 10
Flinn Digital Thermometer, 10
In this lab experience, students develop a biodegradable polymer using plant waste, acetic acid (vinegar), and vegetable oil or glycerin.
Materials Included in Kit
Consumable:
Acetic acid (vinegar), 200 mL
Cornstarch, 100 g
Glycerol, 150 mL
Additional Materials Required
Beakers, Borosilicate Glass, 400-mL, 10
Flinn Hot Plate, 7" x 7", 10
Flinn Scientific Electronic Balance, 210 x 0.01-g, 10
Stirring Rods, Glass, 10
Vegetable oil, 10 mL (locally), 10
Organic starch (potato, banana, orange peels) (locally), 10
Water (locally), 10
Oven-safe plate (locally), 10
Spatula or plastic knife (locally), 10
Green Chemistry Analysis of a Reaction
In this lab experience, students carry out an investigation to determine the mass percent of bicarbonate in solid mixtures of metal bicarbonate and metal carbonate, via thermal decomposition of the solid samples. They determine the Atom Economy of the reactions involved, and based on these values, they decide and explain which bicarbonate would be the greener choice as a food additive that generates carbon dioxide gas when exposed to heat.
Materials Included in Kit
Consumable:
Potassium bicarbonate, 50 g
Potassium carbonate, 50 g
Sodium bicarbonate, 50 g
Sodium carbonate, 50 g
Weighing dishes, 40
Additional Materials Required
Bunsen Burner, Adjustable, Natural Gas, 10
Bottles, Washing, Polyethylene, 250-mL, 10
Crucibles, porcelain, high form, 10 mL, 20
Flint lighter, 10
Pipe stem triangles, 10
Tongs, 10
Wire gauze, 10
Flinn Scientific Electronic Balance, 120 x 0.001-g, 10
Spatulas, Disposable, Box of 300, 1
Support Stand, 6" x 9", 10
Ring Support, with Rod Clamp, 4", 10
Uses and Production of Ash Water
In this lab experience, students obtain ash water from wood ash, determine its concentration, and use it in the preparation of a salt.
Materials Included in Kit
Consumable:
Acetic acid solution, 0.1 M, 1 L
Potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP), 25 g
Phenolphthalein indicator solution, 1%, 1 mL
Wood ash, 500 g
Coffee filters, package of 50
pH test strips, vial of 100
Additional Materials Required
Beakers, Borosilicate Glass, 400-mL, 10
Beral Pipets, Graduated, Pkg. of 20, 1
Buret, Borosilicate Glass, with PTFE Stopcock, 50-mL, 10
Flask, Erlenmeyer, Borosilicate Glass, 50 mL, 20
Flask, Erlenmeyer, Borosilicate Glass, 500 mL, 10
Flinn pH Meter, 10
Flinn Scientific Electronic Balance, 210 x 0.01-g, 10
Funnel, Utility, PMP, 10
Stirring Rods, Glass, 10
Support Stand, Economy Choice, 10
In this lab experience, students carry out an investigation to determine the effect of road deicers on the germination and growth of lettuce seeds. Specifically, they prepare solutions containing different concentrations of a salt used as a road deicer, and evaluate how the concentration of salt affects the sprouting and growth of lettuce seeds. Based on their results, they argue whether the salt in these solutions is a green choice for use as a deicer.
Materials Included in Kit
Consumable:
Calcium chloride, 120 g
Magnesium chloride, 100 g
Sodium acetate, 100 g
Sodium chloride solution, 10% NaCl, 100 mL
Lettuce-Grand Rapid seeds
Filter paper, qualitative, 9 cm, 100
Non-Consumable:
Petri (culture) dishes, 90 mm x 15 mm, 100
Additional Materials Required
Beral Pipets, Graduated, Pkg. of 500, 1
Forceps or tweezers, 10
Graduated cylinders, 10 mL, 10
Test tubes, 16 mm x 100mm, 90
Test tube rack, 10
Wax Pencil, Black, 10
Scissors, 10
Making the Chemistry Lab Greener
In this lab experience, students carry out greener versions of classic chemistry labs: an exploration of hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces; a precipitation reaction; and the use of a catalyst to increase the rate of a redox reaction.
Materials Included in Kit
Consumable:
Beeswax, 100 g
Bismuth nitrate solution, 0.1 M, 100 mL
Copper(II) sulfate solution, 0.1 M, 75 mL
Hydrochloric acid, 3 M, 180 mL
Zinc strips, 5”× ½”×0.01”, 10
Candles, tea light, 10
Additional Materials Required
Beakers, Borosilicate Glass, 250-mL, 10
Beral Pipets, Graduated, Pkg. of 500, 1
Flinn Scientific Electronic Balance, 120 x 0.001-g, 10
Test Tubes without Rims, Borosilicate Glass, 13 x 100 mm, 9.0 mL, 50
Wax Pencil, Black, 10
Ruler, Metric, Clear, 30 cm, 10
Scissors, 10
Test Tube Rack, Economy Choice, 10
