Resumen de Exploring the Maker Culture in Chemistry: Making an Affordable Thermal Imaging System for Reaction Visualization
Ronald Soong, Amy Jenne, Rajshree Ghosh Biswas, Antonio Adamo, André J. Simpson
The ability to visualize chemical processes can be an asset in a teaching laboratory. Despite the advances in laboratory technology, apparatuses used in the teaching of simple thermodynamics concepts, such as exothermic/endothermic reactions, historically remain unchanged and can benefit from a fresh perspective. The recent incorporation of thermal imaging cameras into the chemistry laboratory has enabled students to better grasp the concepts of thermodynamics. In fact, most visual learners will benefit from this approach, advocating its importance in undergraduate laboratory settings. However, most commercially available thermal imaging cameras are expensive, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, which is a primary deterrent for their incorporation into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. Therefore, in this technology report, we present a simple open-source Arduino thermal imaging system that can be assembled within $100 USD, bridging this affordability gap for instructors interested in using imaging technology in their classrooms. With the focus of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in which coding literacy remains a top priority. This device and its construction can offer an excellent experiential-learning opportunity that incorporates the concepts of design thinking and coding, while exploring fundamental concepts in chemistry.
