Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Abstract
The article introduces didactic experiments related to light properties which could be easily adapted to any educational level, from school to University, and even explains how to make a spectroscope with enough revolving power to observe and deeply study spectra of various sources of light. Furthermore, through of these experiments, teachers could introduce different relevant concepts about flame and visible spectroscopy, which are included in the curriculum of physical chemistry subject, depend on the educational level. Moreover, each of these didactic experiments is about the most important properties of light such as reflection, refraction, diffraction and colours, and two relevant techniques in chemistry such as flame spectroscopy (concretely, atomic emission spectroscopy) and visible spectroscopy for studying some ionic salts and sources of light which are around us, respectively. In addition, all the activities, described in this work, could be performed in both university and school laboratories because they only need basic materials and common chemical compounds. An effective way to consolidate and integrate the knowledge that students receive in theoretical classes is that students perform educational practices such as didactic experiments during their school period and also University courses.