Green Chemistry in STEM Education: Light for Basic Concepts

Rainer Brunnert^1, and Michael W. Tausch¹

¹Didaktik der Chemie, Bergische Universität Wuppertal, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany

Cite this paper:
Rainer Brunnert and Michael W. Tausch. Green Chemistry in STEM Education: Light for Basic Concepts. World Journal of Chemical Education. 2023; 11(3):65-73. doi: 10.12691/wjce-11-3-8

Abstract

The principles of green chemistry can be communicated by means of didactically concise experiments and by relating them to a large variety of key terminology in chemistry. Here we report on innovative experiments in video tutorials, animations and other digital media in which light is involved as a form of energy. A tested and evaluated teaching module on the carbon cycle in animate nature applying several of these experiments and digital media is presented. All these materials enable the communication of basic concepts of chemistry didactics in Germany and contribute to the integration of green chemistry into the school curriculum.

Keywords:
video tutorial basic concepts photochemistry model experiment ground state excited state absorption and emission of light molecular switch isomerization thermodynamic equilibrium photosteady state teaching module photosynthesis respiration carbon cycle in animate nature.

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