Chemistry Visualized
Peter Keusch, University of Regensburg
German version
Jerome Bruner
 DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY: This website contains information about demonstration experiments which are potentially dangerous. This information is directed at qualified teachers. The author assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the use of the information contained on these pages. By accessing this site and any links from this page you understand and agree to release its author of any liability. If you do not wish to agree to this, please leave this page immediately! Short Movies of Chemical Lecture Experiments The videos on this site are taken without special lighting techniques. We have used a normal camcorder (Sony PD330E). Some filmed material was saved in the camera. In order to obtain best possible images, some produced videos were directly transfered to a computer using USB connector. The program Adobe Premiere Plus permits the cutting of videos, sharpening of images (enhancing brightness / contrast) and the insertion of text. Finally the AV files were converted into MPEG-1 format and Real Media files .rm. Usually the download of a video file takes at least some minutes, because it must be downloaded in its entirety according to the traditional 'store-and-forward principle'. In streaming technology the user does not have to spend time downloading the complete video before viewing. The required wait is minimal. Only the beginning of the files is downloaded. A buffer of packets is formed. As soon as the buffer is full (usually just a matter of seconds), the file starts to play. This means the client player plays back the packets in a seamless stream. While the viewer is watching the video sequence and the information in the buffer is used up, the next portion of data is downloaded etc, until the entire file is played without any interruption. An example of this technique are Real Video (.rm) files served by a Real Video server. They are playable on Real Player. The demonstrations available on this site · illustrate important aspects of chemistry (reaction types, dyes, synthetics, chemical technology, chemistry in every day life), involve substances or equipment that are not available in many schools, and/or are hazardous or cause problems of disposal. · The experiments are 'student and teacher friendly' - there is no overwhelming technology. In the experiment descriptions there is enough theoretical background to remind teachers and students of the theoretical context of the experiment. · Our project intends to accompany the experiment lectures of organic chemistry allowing thus to revive the life shown experiments as video versions. Students can use their time on the computer effectively. Students are free to review as often as they like. Videos containing experiments, can assist students in learning. · The videos allow the students to see experiments which they would not be able to perform themselves, for reasons of skill, safety, expensive apparatus and materials or limited resources such as fume cupboards. To make the video presentation (via intenet / local net) visible to students in a classroom or lecture hall a beamer (multimedia projector) and a projection screen will be needed. In order to prevent possible misunderstandings it seems necessary to underline: The most important medium used in chemical education is not the computer, is not the beamer, is not the overhead projector, is not the video - the most important medium is the life shown experiment, which is performed on an open chemical demonstration bench. Under certain circumstances it proves to be useful to present an experiment on video. · In the case of experiments, which take a long time to complete, the movies can be composed of some single short video sequences allowing to show the essential experimental steps. · The videos show details (gas evolution on the surface of electrodes, interface between immiscible liquids, formation of 'Schlieren' etc.) that would be missed by students sitting far from the demonstration bench. Reference: Experimente auf Video |
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Reaction of Cyclohexene with Bromine and Permanganate
Video