OER Chemistry Lab Kit

John Dunkle - Principal Instigator

Chemistry is much more fun with computers!

I developed the OER Chemistry Lab Kit to make teaching chemistry more fun and realistic. I wanted the lab kit to provide students with the basic tools at a reasonable cost to run many different types of chemical experiments in a single package that they could learn to master over the course of a semester. Chemistry, much like everything these days, has been computerized. There is a reason for that, which is precision. One of the primary steps in the scientific method is reproducibility, which computers are very good at. Computers can also be flexible in programming different parameters, such as flow rates, volumes, mass, temperature, current and potential, and time. This makes it easy for students to wonder 'what if we changed this . . . ?', and then implement it. The lab kit is being designed for not just cookbook chemistry, but as a means for promoting inquiry. I might add that the OER Chemistry Lab Kit would not only serve as an educational tool for introductory chemistry students, but also for chemists who want to learn to program. I would gladly welcome new experiments written by chemists to add to the list.

The OER Chemistry Lab Kit incorporates a Core Unit and Experiment Modules. The Core Unit provides 3 servo driven syringe pumps, a gram scale, temperate probe, heating element, and a platform with I/O connectors for the Experiment Modules. The Experiment Modules connect to the Core Unit providing sensor inputs and additional electrical and mechanical outputs. An Experiment Module is defined as a unique electrical unit that plugs into one of the Module connectors on the back of the Core Unit. The Core Unit is capable of running experiments on its own, but most experiments will need an Experiment Module. An Experiment Module will usually be capable of running several types of experiments. The lab kit runs off a 5v power supply. The microprocessor is a Raspberry Pi Pico W programmed in Micropython. Fluid components are sourced from Companies such as Nordson Medical and Injectech. Custom flow cells and supporting labware are created using 3D printers and laser cutters. Assembly instructions, part drawings, programs, operating instructions, lesson suggestions, and more are provided in the Work Packages.

I am very grateful for open source programming and frequently donate to their cause. This lab kit would not have been possible without the help of the people at FreeCAD, TinkerCAD, Fritzing, Thonny, Arduino IDE, VS Code, GitHub, YouTube, Google, Inkscape, Netfabb (Educational), Wikipedia, and some others I may not use as much. I would also like to thank the various organizations and companies who have donated to make this project possible (see below). As such, I am offering all plans, programming, and instructions to anyone who wants to build it and use it. Feel free to modify anything as you please. All the work displayed on this website will be licensed under CC BY 4.0.

I would also like to invite anyone who wishes to contribute or might wish to purchase a demo unit to contact me at oerchemistrylabkit@gmail.com.

Contributors (for now)

Individuals

John Dunkle; Jennifer Dunkle; Rick Wells; Josh; John Petty

Companies and Organizations

Fort Collins Creator Hub; Queensland State Library; Loveland Library; Injectech LLC; Science Essentials (Australia)

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