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Forensics Case 9 - Killer Cup of Coffee: Using colorimetry to determine concentration of a poison

Subject Area
Math: Geometry: Points, Lines and Angles
Science: Chemistry: Stoichiometry and Mole
Science: Chemistry: Solutions
Science: Forensics: Data Analysis
Level
9-12
Activity Time
60 Minutes
Software
TI Connect™
TI Calculator
TI-84 series
Other Materials
    This is Activity 9 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Forensics: Connecting Science Investigations with TI Data Collection Activities.

    The following materials are required for this activity:
  • Vernier EasyLink™
  • Colorimeter
  • 7 cuvettes
  • Colored wax pencils
  • Deionized or distilled water
  • 50 mL of 0.15M ferrous thiocyanate solution
  • 5 mL of ferrous thiocyanate solution with unknown concentration
  • Two 10 mL pipettes or graduated cylinders
  • Two 50 mL beakers
  • 5 stirring rods
  • 2 droppers
  • 5 test tubes
  • Test tube rack
  • Lint-free tissues
  • Waste beaker
  • Goggles
Resource Types
Lessons
Data Collection

Forensics Case 9 - Killer Cup of Coffee: Using colorimetry to determine concentration of a poison

Activity Overview

In this activity, students will use colorimetry to determine the concentration of a colored species in a solution and use a linear relationship to model Beer's law. They use Beer's law to determine the concentration of iron(III)thiocyanate (FeSCN2+) in an unknown solution.

Subject Area
Math: Geometry: Points, Lines and Angles
Science: Chemistry: Stoichiometry and Mole
Science: Chemistry: Solutions
Science: Forensics: Data Analysis
Level
9-12
Activity Time
60 Minutes
Software
TI Connect™
TI Calculator
TI-84 series
Other Materials
    This is Activity 9 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Forensics: Connecting Science Investigations with TI Data Collection Activities.

    The following materials are required for this activity:
  • Vernier EasyLink™
  • Colorimeter
  • 7 cuvettes
  • Colored wax pencils
  • Deionized or distilled water
  • 50 mL of 0.15M ferrous thiocyanate solution
  • 5 mL of ferrous thiocyanate solution with unknown concentration
  • Two 10 mL pipettes or graduated cylinders
  • Two 50 mL beakers
  • 5 stirring rods
  • 2 droppers
  • 5 test tubes
  • Test tube rack
  • Lint-free tissues
  • Waste beaker
  • Goggles
Resource Types
Lessons
Data Collection
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