Chemical Education Today
JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu • Vol. 78 No. 2 February 2001 • Journal of Chemical Education 167
Chemistry: An Industry-Based LaboratoryManual
by John Kenkel
CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, 2000. 225 pp.ISBN 1566703468. $39.95.
reviewed by Sue K. Ballard
Welcome to the world of Innovative Options and NewSolutions Corporation (I.O.N.S.). This is a fictitious consult-ing company whose chemical-based laboratory technicianswrestle with the quality problems of industrial clients. TheC.E.O. is Claire Hemistry (C. Hemistry) and the SafetyOfficer is Ben Well. These people, along with other experts,direct the technicians to solve a multitude of vexing, inter-esting problems for clients. These problems include measur-ing and control-charting the specific gravity of windshieldwasher fluid for a fluids plant with a suspected quality controlproblem, and determining if there is too much sodium insoda pop sold by the Tasti Cola Bottling Company.
John Kenkel has chosen this real-world simulation formatto produce a well-organized, well-researched lab manualcrammed with a variety of chemical problems for potentialchemistry-based lab technicians to identify or solve. Kenkel is a23-year veteran at Southeast Community College in Lincoln,NE. He has written a manual for students like those in hisvocational program Environmental Laboratory Technology,who need real-world chemical-problem-solving experience.A variety of experienced academic colleagues have field testedmany of the experiments. An advisory board assisted inthe development of the manual. Colleagues from chemicalindustries such as Procter and Gamble, DuPont, and DowCorning provided input on content at a conference dubbed“The DuPont Conference”. Experts provided the source for the“Safety Manual” element of the manual. The concerted effortof all these experienced people has allowed Kenkel to producean impressively effective and comprehensive lab manual.
The manual is divided into four sections: (i) I.O.N.S.Safety Manual, (ii) I.O.N.S. Laboratory Notebook and ReportMemo Guidelines, (iii) I.O.N.S. New Employee Orientation,and (iv) I.O.N.S. Client Projects.
The section on safety is thorough and appropriate for bothindustry- and laboratory-related safety issues. The importanceof safe practices and housekeeping is emphasized throughout themanual.
The guidelines for laboratory notebook entries and upkeepare very detailed and helpful to students. Steps for reportingresults and writing memos are outlined. I do disagree with
the instructions to begin the body of a memo with a Dear_____ salutation. I believe memos should omit this salutation,which is more appropriate in a letter. This is a minor fault,for this section is well written and offers clear instructions.
In the real world of industrial employment, an employeewill face hours of initial orientation and training. Section iiiis six experiments long. This section gets students accustomedto performing basic laboratory procedures, making basicobservations, and practicing workplace safety procedures.Students are trained to name compounds, write formulas, andaccess information from well-known reference manuals. Theyare also introduced to industry-wide terminology and acronyms(such as FDA, GLP, OSHA, and MSDS).
Armed with the training from the first 3 sections, theI.O.N.S. “lab technician” is now ready to tackle any of the19 client projects. Each of these projects involves an initialdirective memo from C. Hemistry. Memos from experts mayalso inform the I.O.N.S. technician of the nature of theproblems and the suggested means for determining if aproblem exists, or for solving it.
The experiments selected all seem well worth includingin the manual. They are practical and develop an extensivevariety of technical skills and chemical concepts appropriatefor the lab technician body of knowledge. Students gainexperience in the use of the visible spectrophotometer, refracto-meter, infrared spectrometer, atomic absorption instrument,conductivity meter, and pH meter. A safety report specific tothe experiment is included in every experiment where needed.
The Appendix contains the supplies and equipment listsfor each of the total 25 experiments from sections iii and iv.For each experiment there is also an author’s statement. HereKenkel spells out the purpose of the experiment and offershelpful advice or instructions.
A minor flaw I noticed in the experiments of section ivwas in the initial memorandums issued by C. Hemistry. Thesememos appear to assume that a student would understandthe technical/chemical language used by the C.E.O. in hermemos. Concentration units such as ppm and references toterms such as atomic absorption are included to as if, early on,a student would understand these terms. I am not sure thisis true without diligent planning on the part of the instructor.
Despite this concern, I find this to be an excellent labmanual for training potential chemistry-based laboratorytechnicians. It is apparent that a lot of thought, effort, andexpertise went into producing a lab manual that students andteachers alike can appreciate. Buy it! You’ll like it!
Sue Ballard teaches at Elizabethtown Community College,Elizabethtown, KY 42701; [email protected].
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