Micro-Scale


You may be among the growing number of students to take a full-credit, science or chemistry course through online or distance learning . If so, you can thank the development and perfection of micro- and small-scale techniques in chemistry experimentation. Experimentation is essential and fundamental to fully understanding the concepts of chemistry. In the past, chemistry courses required that all classes be conducted on a campus because experiments had to be performed in the campus laboratory. This was due to the many potential hazards inherent in traditional chemical experimentation including toxic fumes, caustic substances, explosive materials, etc.

These elements of danger, plus increasing chemical costs and environmental concerns about chemical disposal, made high schools, colleges and universities reexamine the traditional laboratory methods used to teach chemistry. Scientists began to scale down the quantities of chemicals used in their experiments and found that reaction results remained the same, even when very tiny amounts of chemicals were used. Institutions also discovered that student learning was not impaired by studying small-sized reactions. Micro-scale and small-scale laboratory experiments are simply experiments that use much smaller amounts of chemicals and smaller equipment with decreased hazards, costs and disposal problems.

One of the primary pioneers and most prominent contributors to micro- and small-scale experimentation is Dr. Hubert Alyea of Princeton University. In the late 1950’s he began to reformat numerous experiments and design many of the techniques and equipment used in micro- and small-scale chemistry today. However, it wasn’t until the late 1980’s that microscale techniques began to take off and be use in high school and college laboratories, including those at the Air Force Academy. Dr. Stephen Thompson of Colorado State University successfully used small-scale experimentation for many years and was instrumental in making a broad spectrum of educators aware of these highly effective techniques.

Dr. Peter Jeschofnig, a founder of Hands-On Labs, Inc. employed small-scale techniques in his laboratory at Colorado Mountain College from1988 until his retirement in 2008. For almost a decade, Dr. Jeschofnig was the director of the Rocky Mountain Regional Center of Small-Scale Chemistry through which he taught small-scale techniques to other science educators. Although initially used solely in campus labs, micro- and small-scale techniques now make it possible for non-campus students to take a full-credit chemistry and other science courses since they can perform experiments at home. Hands-On Labs uses these unique techniques to design and develop its LabPaqs so they can safely be used for both off and on campus. LabPaq’s are designed to augment first and second year college and advanced high school level science courses.

One of the primary pioneers and most prominent contributors to micro- and small-scale experimentation is Dr. Hubert Alyea of Princeton University who reformatted numerous experiments and designed many of the techniques and equipment used in micro- and small-scale chemistry today. He and Prof. Stephen Thompson of Colorado State University have successfully used small-scale experiments for many years.

Dr. Peter Jeschofnig, owner of Hands-On Labs, Inc. has employed small-scale techniques at Colorado Mountain College since 1988 and is the director of the Rocky Mountain Regional Center of Small-Scale Chemistry. Micro- and small-scale techniques make it possible for non-campus students to take a full-credit chemistry course since they can now perform experiments at home. Based on these techniques, Hands-On Labs offers LabPaqs that can safely be used for both off and on campus courses.

LabPaq's small-scale experiments are academically aligned and designed to augment college and high school level science courses and to result in fully accredited and transferable course credits.

Some of the benefits of micro-scale chemistry and small-scale science include:

  • Reduced chemical and equipment costs
  • Improved air quality
  • Reduced exposure to toxic materials
  • Curtailed and reduced waste generation
  • Use of a wider variety of chemicals
  • Shortened experiment times
  • Limited chances of fire or explosion
  • Saves time for preparation and clear away
  • Increased safety
  • Smaller storage area
  • Reduced reliance on intensive ventilation systems
  • Pleasant working atmosphere
  • More time for evaluation and communication