Resumen de Chemical Composition of Sodium Percarbonate: An Inquiry-Based Laboratory Exercise
An inquiry-based laboratory exercise is described to determine the chemical composition of sodium percarbonate (SPC), which is a major component of domestic oxygen bleach. The students� knowledge of the chemical properties and reactions of sodium carbonate (SC) and hydrogen peroxide (HPO) is used to determine the chemical composition of SPC because SPC is the adduct of SC and HPO. If the hypothetical composition is assumed to be xNa2CO3·yH2O2, the composition can be determined by selecting one experimental method from the range of methods available.
Synthetic SPC crystals or commercially available granular SPC can be used as the sample in the experiment. Because many choices involving di?erent experimental methods are available, various learning programs can be designed to match the objectives and students� knowledge stage. This inquiry-based laboratory exercise is suitable for a high school chemistry course or a college introductory chemistry course and requires three hours.
