Carmen del Rosario, your skinny and asthmatic classmate in Chemistry 101 suddenly fainted on the second session of your chemistry lab class! Your classmates, through your teacher's instruction, carried her to the clinic. The university doctor says it is something from the lab room that caused her to feel ill and faint. Your job is to find out what it was that made her faint.
Your group will create a crime scene investigation report showing the possible causes of Carmen's collapse in the lab. But first, your group will engage in gathering information on laboratory safety, how to use safety equipment, and how to avoid accidents. You will need to visit websites on lab safety to gain knowledge. Second, your group will collaboratively create a report on your gathered information and point out the possible causes of Carmen's fainting in the chem lab on that fateful day!
You will work in teams of 4. Assign roles in your group. One of you will be the Generalist detective, the Chemical-handling detective, the Accident-Proof detective and a news reporter.
Everyone is responsible in the lab!-this you have to say. You know the dos and donts of the general lab safety rules. If it's a matter of proper conduct in the lab and safety equipment, you can spot what's wrong or missing!
THE CHEMICAL-HANDLING DETECTIVE
To you, all chemical spills are dangerous and your best ally is the MSDS. If it's a matter of proper chemical handling and disposal, you know how to read the labels, understand the consequences, and take heed of the signs.
THE ACCIDENT-PROOF DETECTIVE
If it's a matter of accidents and emergencies, you know how to handle them plus you know how to spot an accident waiting to happen.
THE NEWS REPORTER
Your job is to synthesize the information gathered by the 3 detectives working on Carmen's case..
http://www.howe.k12.ok.us
http://www.chem.unl.edu
http://yale.edu
http://www.sciencebyjones.com
http://www.skidmore.edu
http://offices.colgate.edu
http://practicingsafescience.org
http://chemistrycoach.com
http://swimming.about.com
http://groups.msn.com
http://amiscustheunion.org
The end product of this webquest will be the creation of a "web report" detailing possible causes of Carmen's collapse. Each scientist will be responsible for his/her section of the report while conclusion will be arrived at through the cooperative efforts of the entire group.