ChemCollective Virtual Labs

The ChemCollective virtual lab is an online simulation of a chemistry lab.

It is designed to help students link chemical computations with authentic laboratory chemistry.

The lab allows students to select from hundreds of standard reagents (aqueous) and manipulate them in a manner resembling a real lab.

ChemCollective virtual labs are part of National Science Digital Library (NSDL) .

https://nsdl.oercommons.org/

Simulation-based exercises offer new ways to promote learning and motivation.

Interactive exercises can allow students to explore and reinforce fundamental concepts that are increasingly complex, realistic and engaging.

ChemCollective virtual labs software is available free of charge to all educators and students.

Teachers and students can use it on the web without any licensing requirements.

The Spoken Tutorial Effort for ChemCollective Vlabs has being contributed by Dr. Snehalatha Kaliappan and Madhuri Ganapathi

Learners: Chemistry students from 9th standard on-wards.

Basic Level

1. Overview of ChemCollective VLabs

• About ChemCollective Vlabs software

• ChemCollective Vlabs offline interface

• Features, Menubar, Stockroom explorer

• Glassware menu, Workbench and themes

• Show contents of Help menu

• Benefits of ChemCollective Vlabs

• Play the video clippings of the tutorial series on the Spoken Tutorial website

2. Download and Installation of VLabs

• Open the Chemcollective website

• About topics and resource material available on the website

• About ChemCollective Vlabs online interface

• Download and run ChemCollective Vlabs on Windows 10

• Download and run ChemCollective Vlabs on Mac OS X 10.10.5

• Information about Download and run ChemCollective Vlabs on Ubuntu Linux v 16.04.

3. Preparation of Standard Solutions

• Prepare standard solution of 1 molar sodium chloride.

• Load Homework using ChemCollective vlabs.

• Use of glassware and lab apparatus from default lab setup.

• Calculate molarity.

4. Dilutions and pH Measurements

• Change in pH for solutions of acid and base on dilution.

• Variation in pH by common-ion effect for weak acids and bases.

• Use contextual menu to copy, paste and rename glassware.

5. Density of Solids and Liquids

• Measure densities of silver, rhodium and platinum using Archimedes' Principle.

• Measure densities of liquids with unknown concentration.

6. Effect of Temperature on Solubility

• Effect of temperature on solubility of salts

• Check if solubility is exothermic or endothermic

• Study the relationship between solubility and heat transfer

• Use of foam cup as a Calorimeter

7. Acid-base Titrations

• Standardisation of the following solutions using titration method

• Strong-Acid(HCl) with Strong-Base(NaOH)

• Strong-Acid(HCl) with Weak-Base(NH3)

8. Buffer Solutions

• To prepare 0.5 M Acetate buffer of pH 3.6

• Test the buffering action with small amounts of acid and base.

Intermediate Level

1. Heat of Reaction

• Determine heat change for neutralization reaction of Sodium hydroxide(NaOH) and Hydrochloric acid(HCl)

• Calculation of energy change for exothermic reaction

• Calculation of heats of reaction

2. Metal Displacement Reactions

• Perform experiments using Vlabs to arrange the elements Cu, Mg, Zn, Pb and Ag from strongest to weakest reducing agent.

3. Determination of Equilibrium Constant

• Determine equilibrium constant for Cobalt chloride reaction.

• Effect of temperature and concentration on equilibrium.

• Application of Le Châtelier’s Principle on the equilibrium.

4. Determination of Solubility Product

• Determine Solubility of salts.

• Calculate Solubility Product of various sparingly soluble salts.

Contributors and Content Editors

Madhurig, PoojaMoolya, Snehalathak