Make a Microfluidic Device to Investigate Properties of Solutions

A major aspect of project-based learning (PBL) is having students build and/or use devices in experiments to understand the concepts of chemistry, in this case solutions. This lesson focuses on having students design and test a microfluidic device to investigate the properties of solutions. The lesson activities combine concepts learned in the previous semester (energy, frequency, wavelength, and bonding) together with the aforementioned concepts of solutions to provide students with an engaging project that will help them understand how all of these are interrelated. Students will construct their device by using Ezee-Shrinks or Shrinky Dinks (polystyrene sheets) and an using an elastomeric polymer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).