Exploring Triboluminescence and Paramagnetism: A Rapid Mn Complex Synthesis for High School and Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratories

Triboluminescence is a fascinating phenomenon that can engage students’ interest in chemistry. However, safe, cost-effective, and accessible laboratory experiments featuring highly triboluminescent substances are limited. To bridge this gap, we present a simple, rapid, semimicro test tube preparatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical education 2023-08, Vol.100 (8), p.3061-3069
Main Authors: Matousek, Vaclav, Matuska, Radek, Vranka, Tomas, Adamec, Martin, Herentin, Tadeas, Kalacek, Jiri, Havlik, Jan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemical synthesis
Chemistry
College students
Colleges & universities
Complexity
Environmental education
Experiments
Fluorescence
Laboratories
Magnetic properties
Manganese
Melting point
Melting points
Paramagnetism
Recrystallization
Science education
Secondary school students
Students
Triboluminescence
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Summary:Triboluminescence is a fascinating phenomenon that can engage students’ interest in chemistry. However, safe, cost-effective, and accessible laboratory experiments featuring highly triboluminescent substances are limited. To bridge this gap, we present a simple, rapid, semimicro test tube preparation of the visually engaging manganese complex [MnBr2(Ph3PO)2], conducted by high school students. During the laboratory session, students practice various laboratory skills, including handling semimicro quantities of substances, ascertaining the melting point, and recrystallizing the synthesized complex. They also investigate the complex’s triboluminescent, fluorescent, and magnetic properties through straightforward and illustrative experiments. Furthermore, this laboratory activity has been successfully implemented in an undergraduate chemistry didactics course for chemistry educators. The experiment’s simplicity, combined with the safety of starting materials and use of nontoxic solvents, makes it an optimal choice for a variety of educational environments, such as high school and university laboratory sessions, science clubs, and public science outreach activities.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00372