A simple, inexpensive, guided laboratory experiment for use at the beginning of a general chemistry or physical science
sequence is described. This experiment could easily be adapted into a guided-inquiry format depending on the knowledge level and laboratory skills of the students. The focus of this exercise was on graphing experimental data and its interpretation as it relates to the thermal expansion of a liquid. The exercise also provides the opportunity for students to be instructed on obtaining the proper precision from a measuring device such as the pipet, learning and using basic spreadsheet functions of a software program, and taking good laboratory notes. The exercise is broad-based in content knowledge requirements thus meeting our needs to introduce students to the use of basic laboratory equipment and techniques within the first days of class. We believe that any exercise that requires graphing and interpretation of data will strengthen student-graphing skills.
More importantly it gets students into the laboratory setting and familiarizes them with the equipment and laboratory
techniques.