This document discusses the benefits and challenges of traditional chemistry laboratories and how virtual laboratories can help address some of the issues. It notes that while traditional labs are effective for hands-on learning, they have high costs and safety/infrastructure challenges. Virtual labs provide a safer and less expensive alternative by simulating experiments on a web-based platform. They allow students to review materials before and after labs, see dangerous reactions safely, and optimize teaching and learning time. The document concludes that virtual labs are effective supplements that help students make better use of classroom resources like lectures and textbooks.

1. Web-based virtual laboratories: tools in
teaching chemistry
Edward Muntean
Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry & Instrumental Analysis
University of Agricultural Sciences & Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca

2. Classic laboratories
• Performing experiments and laboratory work is one of the most
effective methods for acquiring knowledge in chemistry.
• Advantages:
– students have the opportunity to train their manual skills,
– develop the ability to describe chemical changes,
– apply scientific method,
– learn about physical and chemical properties of matter,
– practice the concepts taught during lectures,
– develop safety work abilities while
– strengthening and complementing their knowledge and skills,
etc…

3. Classic laboratories
• Difficulties when working with large classes:
– the cost of laboratory work are high (in terms of
teaching time, money, equipment, chemicals…),
– location & infrastructure (sometimes even a proper
working environment is missing!)
– equipment availability,
– safety concerns (the use of hazardous chemicals or
radioactive substances),
– the disposal of used chemicals….

4. Virtual environments
= alternative environments where computer algorithms
simulate real experimental approaches or theoretical
models,
- They exclude the risks involved by performing certain
reactions and processes that otherwise might be too
dangerous or even impossible to observe under normal
laboratory conditions.

5. Virtual environments
Web-based applications can be used before students enter
the lab and after they leave, in order to help them
prepare or learn the laboratory material:
– pre-lab support - to train and familiarize students with
the laboratory environment
– post-lab support - for recap purposes, for fixing
knowledge
– support during laboratories or even
– replacing some laboratory practice.

6. Virtual environments
Advantages when used in teaching analytical chemistry:
- summarizes visually the reaction products formed
during the identification of the studied anions and
cations;
- provides the opportunity to review the material again
and again, if a student is not able to understand easily
the presented concept; hyperlinks can direct the
students to additional information on the topics being
discussed;

7. Virtual environments
Advantages when used in teaching analytical chemistry:
- Web-based applications are cheaper and more efficient
alternatives to an actual laboratory; once developed,
they can be used at no extra costs, as many times as
needed;
- prevention of potential danger in the laboratory, since
there is no risk involved in experimental work
(important when working with first year students,
which are not trained enough in laboratory skills!);

8. Virtual environments
Advantages when used in teaching analytical chemistry:
• using videos and simulations allows a broad range of
important but dangerous chemical reactions or
operating expensive and sensitive analytical
instruments;
• teaching time optimization from both trainer and
student perspectives - simulations are fast, leading
immediately to results, unlike the problems which often
arise in real laboratories; video tutorials are generally
short, with a known length.

9. Virtual environments
Advantages when used in teaching analytical chemistry:
• the web-based applications can be considered as ideal
self-learning tools as they facilitate independent
learning experiences involving more experiments than
they would if they had to carry them out in a classic
laboratory.
• from the trainer perspective - adding laboratory
experiences in lectures, providing thus more visual
information and stimulating interactivity.

10. Conclusions
Using web-based applications can challenge students to
use efficiently the available learning aids such as
lectures, textbook, lab work, multimedia, Internet.
The on-line prelabs are effective in helping students to
learn classic qualitative analysis and to make lab time
more effective, safe and challenging.