Chapter 2: Specific Technical Needs of a School Laboratory

Laboratories facilitate hands-on investigation of various phenomena. Every syllabus requires different topics for study, but a core of topics provide a good foundation for each subject.

2.1 Basic Biology Laboratory

A basic biology laboratory should allow the following investigations:

• Collection, shelter, and observation of living specimens (plant, insect, fish, reptile, mammal)
• Bacterial and fungal cultures
• Preservation and dissection of dead specimens (plant, insect, fish, reptile, mammal; both whole and parts thereof)
• Assembly and observation of miniature ecosystems
• Low power microscopy
• Diffusion and osmosis
• Chemical tests of basic biological molecules (“biochemical tests” / “food tests”)
• Chemical analysis of the products of animal and plant respiration
• Non-invasive investigation of human systems (nervous, sensory, circulatory, muscular, parts of the digestive)

Key materials are:

• Containers, bottles, tubes, super glue
• Plants, insects, fish, (safe) reptiles, and small mammals
• Sugar, starch, protein source, fertilizer, salt, food coloring
• Chemicals for preservation of specimens
• Scalpels and pins
• Low power microscopes (water drop microscopes, locally assembled)
• Reagents for biochemical tests
• Reagents for gas identification
• Stopwatches
• Heat sources

2.2 Basic Chemistry Laboratory

A basic chemistry laboratory should allow for the following investigations:

• Distinguishing compounds from mixtures, preparing chemical compounds, separating mixtures
• Changes in the state of matter (melting/freezing, evaporation/condensation, sublimation/deposition, dissolution/crystallization)
• Comparison of metals and non-metals
• Comparison of covalent and ionic (electrovalent) compounds
• Observing various elements and compounds and their reactivity with air, water, acids and bases
• Acid/base, oxidation/reduction, and precipitation reactions
• Energy changes from chemical reactions (thermochemistry, energetics)
• Factors affecting the rates of chemical reactions (chemical kinetics)
• Properties of gases (gas laws)
• Preparation of gases (hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide)
• Electrochemical experiments (conductivity, electrolysis, electroplating, voltage generation)
• Volumetric analysis (titration)
• Identification of unknown salts (“qualitative analysis”)
• Very basic organic reactions (e.g. preparation of ethanol by fermentation, oxidation of ethanol to ethanal)

Key materials are:

• Containers, bottles, tubes, balloons
• Tools for measuring volume (calibrated plastic water bottles, plastic syringes)
• Low cost balance (digital)
• Heat sources and open non-luminous flames
• Stopwatches
• Power supplies (e.g. batteries) and wires
• Wide variety of chemicals including metallic elements, non-metallic elements, solid covalent compounds, salts, acids, bases, redox reagents, indicators, and many chemicals for specific kinds of reactions

2.3 Basic Physics Laboratory

A basic physics laboratory should allow for the following investigations:

• Measuring volume, mass, and density of liquids and solid objects
• Measuring time, velocity, acceleration
• Gravitational acceleration, force, and friction
• Mechanical tools (levers, pulleys, etc.)
• Simple harmonic motion (pendulum, spring)
• Temperature, heat capacity, and heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation)
• Waves (including water and sound)
• Optical experiments (reflection, refraction, diffraction)
• Electromagnetic experiments (conductivity, magnetic field lines, induction, motors, electrical generation)
• Simple circuits (including resistors, capacitors, and switches)

Key materials are:

• A low cost balance (digital)
• Tools for measuring volume
• Containers, misc. objects, bottles, etc.
• Stopwatches
• Heat sources
• Thermometers
• String, springs, wire
• Water, oil, sand, rocks
• Mirrors, lenses, glass blocks, diffracting surfaces
• Magnets
• Power supply (e.g. batteries)
• Inexpensive multimeters or locally made galvanometers
• Electrical components