The Science of Color using pH, Pigments and Photos (Diehl & Girtain)

Summary

Christine Gertin and Nathan from New Jersey and Maryland present a science unit on the science of color using pH and pigment. They discuss materials, objectives, and career connections, highlighting Dr. Rabie Jabor's work on a rapid cyanide detection test. The unit includes hands-on activities like chromatography with leaves, using an RGB colorimeter app, and gel electrophoresis with dyes. Students explore color perception in nature, engage with STEM careers, and present their findings in a gallery walk. The lesson integrates technology, practical experiments, and critical thinking, making science engaging and relevant.

Takeaways

• 🌈 Christine and Nathan are presenting a unit on the 'Science of Color', focusing on the use of pH, pigments, and photos.
• 📝 They have a list of materials for the audience to review on their own, including a standards lesson objective and career connection information.
• 🔬 Dr. Rabie Jabor's work at DEVCOM in Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, is highlighted, specifically his development of a rapid cyanide detection test for triage in cases like wildfires.
• 🌿 The unit includes STEM career exploration and a discussion on how nanostructure color and magnetic charge are used in nature, with examples from bees recognizing flower colors under UV light.
• 🦋 The script mentions the use of videos to engage students, such as one explaining how butterflies and birds perceive blue color differently due to nanostructures.
• 🎨 For hands-on activities, students will use chromatography to extract pigments from leaves using isopropanol and analyze the separation on paper.
• 📲 Students will use the Carolina RGB Colorimeter app to measure RGB values of pH test strips, creating a standard table and predicting pH values of unknown samples.
• 📊 High school students will go further by using a spreadsheet to calculate a line of best fit and an equation to predict pH values more accurately.
• 🖌️ The explanation portion of the unit involves graphing values from chromatography and understanding color perception through reflection and absorption.
• 🧬 Introduction to gel electrophoresis is provided, explaining how to use micropipettes and the polarity and charge of molecules in a gel.
• 📊 Evaluation involves a gallery walk where students present their lab results in a scientific poster format, receiving feedback from peers.

Q & A

Who are the presenters in the video script?

Christine Gertin from New Jersey and Nathan from Maryland are the presenters.

What is the main focus of the unit they are discussing?

The main focus of the unit is the science of color, using pH and pigment, and how these are studied through photos.

What is Dr. Rabie Jabor's current project about?

Dr. Rabie Jabor is working on a rapid test that detects cyanide in patients for triage, especially useful in cases like wildfire where cyanide compounds can be released.

What is the purpose of the rapid cyanide test developed by Dr. Rabie Jabor's team?

The purpose of the rapid cyanide test is to determine the level of exposure to cyanide compounds in cases like wildfire, allowing for faster medical treatment and aid.

How do the students explore the use of color in nature using chromatography?

The students explore the use of color in nature by investigating how scientists determine what color pigments contribute to the colors we see, including examining the role of nanostructure color and magnetic charge.

Why do bees see flowers differently than humans?

Bees see in the ultraviolet spectrum, which is not perceptible to human eyes, allowing them to perceive patterns and colors on flowers that are invisible to us.

What is the significance of the Carolina RGB Colorimeter app in the activity?

The Carolina RGB Colorimeter app is used to measure the RGB values of colors, allowing students to quantify color and create a standard table for pH strips, which they can then use to predict the pH of unknown samples.

How do high school students take the activity to the next level using a spreadsheet program?

High school students use a spreadsheet program to calculate a line of best fit and an equation of a line, which they use to predict the pH value of unknown samples based on the RGB values from the pH test strip.

What is the purpose of the gel electrophoresis activity in the molecular rainbow lab?

The gel electrophoresis activity allows students to investigate the polarity and size of different dyes and molecules, and how they separate within a gel based on their charges.

How do students present their findings in the evaluation portion of the unit?

Students present their findings through a gallery walk, using Google Slides or traditional chart paper to create scientific poster presentations, and receive feedback from their peers.

What is the role of the teacher in the molecular rainbow lab gel electrophoresis activity?

The teacher provides various dyes for the students to use in the gel electrophoresis activity and sets up the gel so that the wells are in the center, allowing for the investigation of molecular polarity.

Outlines

00:00

🌈 Science of Color Exploration

Christine and Nathan introduce a science unit focused on the science of color, utilizing pH, pigments, and photography. They present a list of materials and a lesson objective, touching on a career connection with Dr. Rabie Jabor's work at DEVCOM in Maryland, developing a rapid cyanide detection test for medical triage post-wildfire scenarios. The unit also covers STEM careers and engages students in exploring nanostructures, color, and magnetic charge in nature using chromatography. It discusses bees' unique ultraviolet vision and how it aids in targeting flowers, as well as the scarcity of blue pigments in nature due to nanostructures. Teachers are provided with background concepts and activities, such as paper chromatography with Skittles or M&M's, and students extract pigments from leaves using isopropyl alcohol. The lesson includes hands-on activities with chromatography paper and the use of the Carolina RGB Colorimeter app for a quantitative approach to color analysis.

05:00

📈 Advanced Color and pH Analysis

The script progresses to the high school level, where students delve deeper into color and pH analysis. They standardize a pH-RGB table using the RGB app and apply it to predict pH values of unknown samples, such as rainwater, to understand the impact of acid rain. The explanation section involves chromatography of black ink to understand color separation and perception, with students graphing values and predicting color positions based on wavelengths. The script introduces gel electrophoresis, explaining how to use micropipettes and setting up a microplate header. Students investigate the polarity and charge of molecules, observing how positive and negative molecules move in opposite directions within the gel. The evaluation involves a gallery walk, where students present their findings from chromatography and electrophoresis in the form of scientific posters, receiving feedback via sticky notes to improve their presentations before final submission.

10:01

📚 Comprehensive Lab and Activity Overview

The final paragraph provides an overview of the lab and activities, including references and handouts for teachers. It emphasizes the importance of the hands-on approach in understanding the science behind color and pH, and how technology can enhance the learning experience. The paragraph concludes with a mention of the resources available for educators to facilitate the lab activities and ensure a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

Keywords

💡Science of Color

The 'Science of Color' is a concept that explores how colors are created and perceived, involving principles of physics and chemistry. In the video, Christine and Nathan discuss using pH, pigment, and photos to understand color in various contexts, such as nature and industrial applications. It is central to the theme of the video, which is to explore the scientific principles behind the colors we see in the world.

💡pH

pH is a scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of a solution. In the script, pH is mentioned in relation to developing a rapid test to detect cyanide in patients, which is crucial for medical triage after events like wildfires. The concept of pH is also explored in the context of understanding how it affects color, particularly through the use of pH strips in the RGB Colorimeter activity.

💡Pigment

Pigment refers to a substance that gives color to various materials through selective absorption and reflection of light. In the video, the role of pigments in determining the colors we see in nature is a key point of investigation. The students will explore how different pigments contribute to the colors of objects, such as leaves, using chromatography.

💡Chromatography

Chromatography is a technique used to separate the components of a mixture based on their affinity to the stationary phase and the mobile phase. In the script, students are engaged in paper chromatography to separate pigments from leaves, illustrating how different pigments can be isolated and studied individually.

💡Nanostructure

A nanostructure is a structure with at least one dimension in the nanometer scale. The script mentions nanostructures in the context of color, explaining how the blue color in certain butterflies is due to nanostructure-induced reflection rather than pigmentation. This concept is crucial for understanding how some colors in nature are produced.

💡Magnetic Charge

Magnetic charge, while not explicitly defined in the script, seems to refer to the property of certain materials to exhibit magnetic properties. It is mentioned in the context of exploring how natural nanostructures and magnetic charges are used, although the script does not provide a detailed example of this concept.

💡Cyanide

Cyanide is a highly toxic chemical compound that can be released from certain materials during events like wildfires. In the script, Dr. Rabie Jabor's work at DEVCOM involves developing a rapid test to detect cyanide exposure in patients, which is a critical application of color science in medical diagnostics.

💡RGB Colorimeter

An RGB Colorimeter is a device or app that measures the red, green, and blue values of a color, allowing for a quantitative analysis of color. In the script, students use the Carolina RGB Colorimeter app to measure the color of pH strips and create a standard table, demonstrating how technology can quantify color perception.

💡Gel Electrophoresis

Gel electrophoresis is a technique used to separate molecules, such as DNA or proteins, based on size and charge. In the script, students use gel electrophoresis to investigate the polarity and charge of molecules, as well as to separate dye components, tying in concepts from chromatography and adding a new dimension of charge.

💡Spectrophotometry

Although not explicitly mentioned in the script, the concept of measuring the intensity of light as a function of wavelength is implied in the context of using an RGB Colorimeter. Spectrophotometry is relevant to the video's theme as it is a method to quantify color through the measurement of light absorption or reflection.

💡STEM Careers

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and STEM careers are those that involve these disciplines. The script mentions a list of STEM careers, indicating the variety of professional paths available to those interested in the science of color and related fields.

Highlights

Christine Gertin and Nathan from Maryland are working on a unit about the science of color, utilizing pH, pigment, and photos.

The project involves creating a rapid test to detect cyanide in patients for triage, especially in cases of wildfire exposure.

Dr. Rabie Jabor is developing a test to determine cyanide exposure levels for faster medical treatment in emergency situations.

STEM careers are highlighted, with a list provided from various websites for students to explore.

Students will explore nanostructure color and magnetic charge in nature using chromatography.

Bees recognize flower colors in the ultraviolet spectrum, which is different from human perception.

Most blue in nature is due to nanostructure and not actual pigment, as seen in the blue morpho butterfly.

Teachers are provided with background content and resources from Science Buddies for paper chromatography.

Students will extract pigment from leaves using isoprenol and analyze the results with chromatography paper.

The Carolina RGB Colorimeter app is introduced for students to quantify RGB values of colors.

Students will create a standard table for pH strips using RGB values and predict unknown pH levels.

High school students will use spreadsheet programs to calculate a line of best fit for pH prediction.

Gel electrophoresis is introduced to students to investigate the polarity and size of molecules.

Students will predict molecular charges and observe their separation within a gel based on polarity.

Evaluation involves a gallery walk where students present their findings in a scientific poster format.

Feedback is collected through sticky notes for students to improve their presentations.

References and handouts are provided for teachers to support the lab and activities.

Transcripts

all right my name is Christine gertin

I'm from New Jersey and I have been

working with Nathan de I'm from

marylands and our unit is the science of

color and using pH and pigment and

photos we have a list of materials which

we won't read through that you can read

through on your own and then our

[Music]

standards lesson

objective and then a little bit about

the Career Connection and the mentor

that Nathan has been working for

with so uh Dr rabie Jabor has been

working at um devcom over here in Aber

Proving Grounds Maryland uh running the

CBC lab which um is working on

investigating various aspects of cyanide

um and he's making a rapid test which

texts detects cyanide uh in patients for

triage so so in cases like wildfire and

a lot of compounds that are used in the

home and other industrial applications

if it gets burned in a wildfire releases

cyanide compounds and we can develop a

test to determine how much exposure they

had so that we can help them get uh Aid

faster and get medical treatment faster

um so that's what the current project

that we're working on now and that's

what this unit is based on great uh we

have a list of some stem careers as well

that list multiple care careers from

each of the websites there and then for

engagement the students will explore how

Nano structure color and magnetic charge

are used in nature using chromatography

the students will investigate how

scientists determine what color pigments

contribute to the color we see in nature

and Nathan's going to discuss the flower

and B video a little bit so to get

students hooked on uh this idea we show

how bees actually recognize flower

colors um bees see in the ultraviolet

which is not uh perceptible to human

eyes and so what looks like a pretty

flower to us looks vastly different to

beads in fact the image that you see

here is actually yellow flower with a

white center but under UV light it looks

just like a Target so bees are able to

Target it easier so we get students

excited about and curious about how

color plays a role in various aspects of

biological

life the second video that can also be

shown is butterflies and birds talking

about how the ability to see blue color

happen later in evolution and so there's

not a lot of blue pigment that occurs

naturally in nature most of the blue

that is occurring like in the blue

morpho butterfly is due to Nano

structure and reflecting the life off of

that Nano structure and not actual

pigment chemically that's doing that

refraction or reflection or

absorption um there's also some

background concept content for the

teachers to review through Science

Buddies it gives a great video on paper

chromatography and gives some options on

how they can also change what they're

doing and use different solvents and use

different things that they want to

extract pigment from gives an example of

Skittles or M&M's uh in the activity

that we chose to do we're actually

having the students extract pigment from

leaves and the students will do that

with

isoprenol which is pretty much rubbing

alcohol and they they'll be able to do

that and then put it on the

chromatography paper and look at the

separation of the

pigments in their individual leaves

which they can either pick out

themselves depending on their age group

or the teacher can supply for them so

they'll get some Hands-On background and

they'll be able to discuss what pigments

were in those actual leaves next portion

is the explanation

portion and in the exploration portion

they're going to need their cell phones

or pair them up with another student

that has a cell phone and download the

free app from the either Apple I store

or the Google Play store called Carolina

RGB

Colorimeter uh this app is basically

where you kind of point and shoot at any

object and it will give you the r GB or

red green blue values for that

particular color um in this activity

they're going to use the

color key for a pH strip and basically

figure out the RGB values for that pH

strip and kind of create a standard

table and then they're going to pick

unknown samples and you can do two

things you can either create samples of

your own of known phes and have them um

experiment with that to see how they can

uh predict the pH from the RGB value of

the test strip and compare it to the

standards or they can collect various

rainwater and other water sources from

around their areas and make that

connection of of acid rain and and rain

in the you know gutters or a pool or a

driveway where they can test the pH of

that using their activities so that's at

the middle school level at the high

school level it goes a little bit

further where they're doing the same

standardization table of the ph and the

RGB app but they're actually going to

then um use a spreadsheet program to

calculate a line of best fit and an

equation of line and use that math equ

line to predict the pH value of the

unknown samples so you would hold off on

those rainwater samples until they've

made their equation of the line and then

they'll actually try to predict the pH

using the RGB value of the the pH test

strip and see how accurate it is

compared to the actual strip um it's a

just a quick exploration of the app and

using pH paper and using it for a

particular purpose other than just you

know pH they actually get to use

technology to make their qualitative of

color more quantitative in terms of RGB

values and then for explanation uh

students are oh Nathan do you want to go

over the explanation sure uh in the

explanation they're going to use this

knowledge of chromatography and their

RGB uh program to basically they're

going to get a uh already uh a example

chromatography paper where it's

separated black ink from a pen into its

three constituent colors of blue magenta

and cyan and they're going to use a

graph to basically graph the values

based on the distance that they travel

um they're going to explain how color is

um perceived such like reflection

absorption they're going to kind of

quantify their values and they have a a

color table so they have the wavelengths

of color where they can predict where

red and green would be on that line a

best fit

and then they would also get to explain

um a little bit about the process

of um separating colors and kind of

using the thing hey there might be

another way to separate colors that's

not through chromatography so it kind of

gives you a way for them to explain what

they know so far as kind of a formative

assessment uh until they get to another

lab and then the final

um

evaluation all right and then for

elaborate we're going to introduce them

to gel electri foris if students do not

have prior knowledge on how to

micropipet there is

a there is a how sorry I don't know what

this is doing right

now there is a how to microp pipet and

an introduction on how to set a

micropipe header and how to do the

microp pipe heading and some activities

the teacher can use for that in the

molecular rainbow lab the students will

actually take various dieses that the

teacher has given them and the gel will

be set up so that the wells of the gel

are halfway through the gel instead of

that one end or the other so that

they're also able to investigate the

polarity of the molecules that they're

putting into the gel uh when the gel

runs usually if it's running DNA as one

of the options DNA is a negative

molecule and gets pushed away from the

one side of the gel electropheresis

um unit and travels to The Far Side when

we put the wells in the center of the

gel the ones that are positive will

travel towards the negative end of the

electris machine and the ones that

are um negative will travel towards the

positive side of the electroforesis

machine so they'll go in opposite

directions based on their charges so

students will be able to predict charges

and see that charge is also one of the

ways that molecules can separate within

a gel and then they'll also be able to

talk about size of those dyes and be

able to see the component parts of those

dyes because they will separate just

like they did in the chromatography so

it's tying in what they've done

previously taking it to a higher level

and then adding in the component of

charge to it and then for

evaluation so in the evaluation part

they're going to do a gallery walk so

you can have students create Google

slides and share them where they can

present them to the class or you can do

just regular marker pencil and um chart

paper and have them both graph their

results from the

um Labs that they did both of electris

the chromatography and the exploration

using um the Google streets and have

them give their information so in in the

one they were trying to do their Test

full question and their hypothesis and

their their data and they can present

this as a post scientific poster

presentation uh for give feedback from

students they can give them sticky notes

and say hi you know I like your data

here um there's I I have questions about

this and they can rotate around the room

looking at each other's information if

they're doing a Google slide

presentation then they can still put

their sticky notes with the person's

name and then just stick it on this the

kid and so they can read all the

feedback and they can go back and and

re-edit their slides before submitting

it for uh final

grade and then these are some of our

references that the teachers can use as

well and there's handouts along with

that that both covers the lab and the

activities yep and then um that's it for

us okay