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Tutorials

Tutorials are project-based posts and step-by-step guides on ways to make or use open source tools in science investigations.

Measuring blue food dye in sports drinks

Measuring blue food dye in sports drinks

Goal: Use the Open Colorimeter to experimentally calculate the molar extinction coefficient of FD&C Blue #1 Beer’s Law states that absorbance of a sample (Abs) depends on the molar concentration (c), light path length in centimeters (l), and molar extinction coefficient (ε) for the dissolved substance at

Making an open source COVID-19 face shield

Making an open source COVID-19 face shield

Like many people, we have been alarmed at the reports of the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been following the work of many individuals and groups on social media making open source PPE as we try to

Creating a pH meter using the pH FeatherWing

Creating a pH meter using the pH FeatherWing

In this blog post we demonstrate how to create a pH meter using the pH FeatherWing, an Adafruit Feather M4 Express and a few additional components. The meter will display a continuous readout of the current pH and can be calibrated, via button press, at pH values of 4, 7

Bismuth modified carbon paste electrode for metal measurements

Bismuth modified carbon paste electrode for metal measurements

In the experiments described in this blog post, we made a bismuth modified carbon paste electrode for detecting heavy metals, lead and zinc, using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry and the Rodeostat potentiostat. This is a continuation of our experiments using electrochemistry to measure lead and other heavy metal pollutants

Making a carbon paste electrode

Making a carbon paste electrode

In this blog post we describe making a DIY carbon paste electrode using graphite powder/mineral oil mix and a custom-made reusable holder.

Making a custom electrochemical cell

Making a custom electrochemical cell

In this blog post we describe making a simple custom electrode mount that we used in cyclic voltammetry experiments with the Rodeostat potentiostat. The electrodes we used were purchased from CH Instruments but the custom mount could be easily modified for use with other electrodes.