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.