Maker Chemistry: Exploring Redox Reactions in Introductory Laboratory through Light-Emitting Diode Printed Circuit Board Fabrication

Over the past decade the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) has changed the general chemistry requirements to include a single introductory course for most engineering majors. There is a focus on outcomes that equip students with the ability to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam and to work in multidisciplinary teams. In designing the experiments for the general chemistry laboratory (CHM2045L) at Florida Polytechnic University, our focus has been on nontraditional laboratories that emphasize fundamental science concepts that challenge the student in a “maker chemistry” project that (1) highlights traditional lecture concepts, (2) engages the student in an active design and build project, and (3) directly demonstrates the application of chemical sciences to their field of study and society’s technological needs. The present work describes a novel chemistry laboratory in which students etch a printed circuit board (PCB) and solder light-emitting diodes (LEDs) onto th...