The purpose of this research is to find a way to explain the concept of surface tension and intermolecular interaction by measuring the contact angle. To do this research, sampling method is used to investigate how deeply the students understand the c...
The purpose of this research is to find a way to explain the concept of surface tension and intermolecular interaction by measuring the contact angle. To do this research, sampling method is used to investigate how deeply the students understand the concept. After analyzing how it is explained in the curriculum and the textbook of 'Chemistry I', The contact angle are measured between various solid surface and liquid. These measurements are calculated r_(SV)and r_(SL) through the Antonow's and Berthelot's rule applying into the Young's equation.
First, according to the sampling questionnaire survey of 130 students, most of them understand surface tension as intermolecular interaction. However, they feel many difficulties for applying intermolecular interaction. Second, in the curriculum and the textbook of 'Chemistry Ⅰ', the objective of a class dealing with a surface tension is on explaining it as one of qualities which water has. But, recently, lots of evaluating questions are solved with a thorough understanding of intermolecular interaction which is dealt with in the subject 'Chemistry Ⅱ'.
The experiment is designed for explaining how to make students understand the intermolecular interaction by measuring the contact angle. In the result of measuring the contact angle of Water, Tetrachlorocarbon, Ethanol, the contact angle increases, as the value of r_(SV) increases. And if the surface of solid has polarity quality(hydrophilic), the interaction between the solid and liquid increases by decreasing the value of r_(SL). Through comparison contact angle of various liquids on the surface, we can know the contact angle is not necessarily increasing even though surface tension is increasing. And you can also know there are various causes to affect surface tension and contact angle. That is, if you drop different liquids on the same surface, as r_(SV) and r_(SL) is different, it can lead to wrong conclusion to compare intermolecular interaction.
In order to make the students understand the concept of surface tension and intermolecular interaction, the class method should be changed. It is not enough to observe the phenomenon. Teacher should explain the principle under the phenomenon, or he should develop a variety of experimental ways to show the interaction to the students.
It is effective way to explain the intermolecular interaction by measuring the contact angle. Considering the curriculum, however, it is desirable to apply it into the 'Chemistry Ⅱ' class rather than the 'Chemistry Ⅰ' class. It is inappropriate that the class in high school is affected by the evaluating questions. The content of curriculum should be consistent with the learning way, and the learning process should be correspond with the evaluation. Less content, more learning.