and
acid
Figu
T
help
stud
Hea
unan
The
Alli
imp
lear
of th
O
labo
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
save energy o
d, the Aldol con
ure 3. The reflux pr
Table 1 shows
p them to bett
dents from the
alth Sciences (F
nswered that m
e majority of th
ied Health Sc
plement the usa
rning of the pra
he small lab ki
Open question
oratory for the
i. Fast, app
i. A box wi
i. Low cost
v. More attr
v. Disadvan
i. Less chem
i. Small, ea
i. It is more
x. Students
or water. This p
ndensation as w
rocess with cooling
the feedback f
ter understand
e Faculty of Sc
FAHS). It was
microscale che
he students wh
iences and Fa
age of the smal
acticals is mor
it should be con
s were also in
practical chem
aratus were sm
ith a complete
t for chemicals
ractive
ntage because y
micals used, le
asy to use, less
e interesting
have to be mo
process was su
well as the sep
g using recycling c
from students w
the concepts
cience and Te
found that 80.
emistry using t
ho agreed are fr
aculty of Educ
ll lab kit which
re effective wit
ntinued.
ncluded in the
mistry classes. A
maller, easier to
set, ready to ru
s
yield is small, b
ess time taken.
space required
re careful. If n
uccessfully carr
aration of trim
cool water
who have used
in organic ch
chnology (FST
.4% of the stud
the small lab k
from the Facult
cation. Univer
h is well receiv
th more studen
questionnaire
Among the rea
o handle
un the experim
but reaction oc
d.
not, unsatisfied
ried out in the
myristin from nu
d the small lab
hemistry. The
T), Faculty of
dents agreed, 1
kit helps them
ty of Science a
rsiti Kebangsa
ved by the stud
nts performing
as to determin
sons they gave
ments
ccurred, should
result is obtain
experiments o
utmeg.
kit and their v
questionnaire
f Education (F
17.6 % did not
m in understand
and Technolog
aan Malaysia
dents. Initial re
the experimen
ne the preferen
e were as follow
d continue.
ned, but experi
Water recyc
on preparation
views on wheth
have been dis
E) and Faculty
agree and 1.96
ding the chemi
gy, followed by
is the first un
sults also show
ntal hands–on
nce to use of t
ws:-
iment can be re
cling
of salycilic
her the tools
stributed to
ty of Allied
6 % leave it
istry better.
y Faculty of
niversity to
wed that the
and the use
the portable
epeated.
Zuriati Zakaria et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 59 ( 2012 ) 508 – 514 513
Table 1. Results from survey among second year organic chemistry students
Agree Do not agree No answer Overall
82 (80.4%) 18 (17.6%) 2 (1.96%) 102 (100%)
FST FAHS FE FST FAHS FE FST FAHS FE FST FAHS FE
54 18 10 4 9 5 2 - - 60 27 15
From the comments received, it is found that most of the outcome expected from the use of the small lab kit has
been achieved. However, the students did not aware the use of the small lab kit and microscale chemistry on the
laboratory safety as well as conservation of the environment aspects. Thus, the students’ awareness towards
environment has not been effective in a way that they could not relate their activities with the macro effect of their
environment. Thus, it is important that a briefing about the effect of using less amount of chemicals, using less
energy as well as using recycled water for lab safety and environment must be given to the students before they
carry out the experiments.
From the interview with the laboratory assistants, they are in the opinion that with the implementation of the
small lab kit, responsibility is given for the students to clean and keep the glassware in each box and they are less
burdened in keeping glassware clean and stored at various places in the labs. The boxes can also be stacked neatly
in the laboratories. They also noticed that there is a saving in the use of solvents, where in previous years, they had
to buy 4 bottles of dichloromethane instead of only one bottle during the current study. They also observed that
there were less glassware breakages when using the small lab kit.
There is a potential to develop the small lab kit in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia to first year chemistry
laboratory and inorganic laboratory courses for the second year. New experiments need to be introduced and for
instilling environmental consciousness among students, green chemistry need to be emphasized. For the design of
new experiments in green chemistry, chemicals are used in a smaller amount, safer, and involved minimum steps
in synthesising the target molecules. If possible, household chemicals can be used for the students to realize the
connection of chemistry to daily living.
4. Conclusion
The second year practical chemistry classes conducted at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia using the small lab
kit has succeeded to stir interest of the students to learn chemistry. The small lab kit is safe and easy to carry.
Savings in time, water and chemicals were found during the implementation of the small lab kit which at the same
time makes learning organic chemistry fun for the students. This practice can be applied to other countries that
face the similar problems as w