title: Microfluidics for High School Chemistry Students.
abstract: We present a laboratory experiment that introduces high school chemistry students to microfluidics while teaching fundamental properties of acid-base chemistry. The procedure enables students to create microfluidic systems using nonspecialized equipment that is available in high school classrooms and reagents that are safe, inexpensive, and commercially available. The experiment is designed to ignite creativity and confidence about experimental design in a high school chemistry class. This experiment requires a computer program (e.g., PowerPoint), Shrinky Dink film, a readily available silicone polymer, weak acids, bases, and a colorimetric pH indicator. Over the span of five 45-min class periods, teams of students design and prepare devices in which two different pH solutions mix in a predictable way to create five different pH solutions. Initial device designs are instructive but rarely optimal. During two additional half-class periods, students have the opportunity to use their initial observations to redesign their microfluidic systems to optimize the outcome. The experiment exposes students to cutting-edge science and the design process, and solidifies introductory chemistry concepts including laminar flow, neutralization of weak acids-bases, and polymers.
authors.affiliation: Beaver Dam High School, 500 Gould Street, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 53916, United States ; Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, IEG.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hemling
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Crooks
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States.
authors.forename: Piercen M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin 53511, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gilbertson
authors.affiliation: Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, IEG ; Department of Chemistry, Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin 53511, United States ; Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States.
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Lisensky
authors.affiliation: Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, IEG ; Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States.
authors.forename: Douglas B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Weibel
keywords: Acids/Bases; Aqueous Solution Chemistry; Collaborative/Cooperative Learning; Hands-On Learning/Manipulatives; High School/Introductory Chemistry; Inquiry-Based/Discovery Learning; Laboratory Instruction; Liquids; Microscale Lab; Problem Solving/Decision Making