Chemistry 112 Laboratory

Arnold M. Crelier

Students work in pairs to analyze "knowns" and "unknowns". They work together on the "known" to observe the respective precipitates and their colors as well as the colors of ions in flame tests.

They also work together on the "unknowns" but each has a different one. They help each other with the unknowns serving as a "consultant" to each other. When they bring their results to me for grading, I’ll ask each one if they have convinced their partner as to the identity of the ions in their unknown.

This critical thinking technique gets each student to help their partner and in essence do two unknowns. The majority do very well and seem to enjoy the challenge of being a "detective" with their unknown and a "consultant" to their partner.