Author Description

The laboratory experience should involve some of the kinds of mental activities a research scientist employs: finding patterns in data, developing mathematical analyses for them, forming hypotheses, testing hypotheses, debating with colleagues, and designing experiments to prove a point. For this reason, the lab activities in Inquiries into Chemistry, 3/E have been designed so people seeking to gain experience conducting lab experiments can practice these mental activities while building knowledge of the specific subject area. A comprehensive collection of structured, guided inquiry experiments and a corresponding collection of open inquiry experiments allow for varied use of this helpful manual. Both approaches were developed to encourage logical and independent thinking, to aid in refining mental models, and to replicate the experience that more closely reflects what occurs in actual scientific research.