As an undergraduate Chemistry teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to teach the Beer-Lambert Law and its application in atmospheric radiation absorption studies.
This lesson plan will enable students to learn about the Beer-Lambert Law and understand its application for studying the molar absorptivity of greenhouse gases.
Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Chemistry.
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
A teacher-contributed lesson plan by Dr. Pragya Gahlot and Dr. Rekha Yadav, Sri Venkateswara College (University of Delhi), India.
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| Grade Level | Undergraduate |
| Discipline | Chemistry |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Greenhouse Gases, The Electromagnetic Spectrum, Beer-Lambert Law, Molar Absorptivity, Absorbance of Incident Light, Transmittance of Incident Light, Intensity of Transmitted Light, Molar Absorption Coefficient, Molar Extinction Coefficient |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Atmosphere, Greenhouse Effect |
| Location | Global |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online |
| Approximate Time Required | 55 – 60 mins |
| Share |
|
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Reading (~30 min)
Use chapter reading, ‘The Beer-Lambert Law’ by LibreTextsTM, to introduce the topic of light transmittance through a medium and Beer-Lambert’s Law. Explain how light transmitted through a medium is affected by its concentration. Also, discuss the importance of the path length for light transmittance through a medium. Use the reading to derive an expression for the Beer-Lambert’s Law. Emphasize on the non-linear (exponential) relation between transmittance and concentration of medium. Thus, define its molar absorptivity or molar absorption coefficient or molar extinction coefficient (ε). Use the examples given in the text, to teach students to use the Beer-Lambert’s Law to calculate values for the concentration, pathlength, and molar absorptivity of a given medium.
Reading (~10 min)
Use the reading, ‘Chemical Connections to Climate Change’ by Tom Kuntzleman, Chemical Education Xchange (ChemEd X), to teach students how the Beer-Lambert Law can be used to study the transmittance of sunlight through the atmosphere. Discuss the composition of the atmosphere and list out the gases that make up the atmosphere. Extend the understanding of the Beer-Lambert Law to evaluate the absorbance values of individual gases in the atmosphere. Use the text to initiate a discussion about the absorption potential of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Discuss how this results in warming on Earth due to the greenhouse effect. Finally, use the reading to explain how this greenhouse gas effect is exacerbated by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Visualisation (~15 min)
Use the simulation, ‘Beer’s Law Lab’ by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado, to allow students to explore the Beer-Lambert’s Law for absorbance/transmittance of incident light through a solution. Encourage the students to note the absorbance/transmittance values of incident light when the simulation is run. Direct the students to run the simulation for different solution concentrations, pathlengths and wavelengths of incident light. Use the data generated to observe the correlations between these varying parameters (concentration of solution, pathlength and wavelength of incident light) and absorbance/transmittance values. Initiate an enquiry-based discussion for further understanding of these correlations eg how much does the absorbance value change when the concentration of a solution is doubled.
Suggested questions/assignments for learning evaluation
Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions:
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Video micro-lecture | A video micro-lecture, ‘Spectrophotometry introduction’, by Sal Khan, Khan Academy, that gives an introduction of spectrophotometry, transmittance, absorbance, and the Beer-Lambert Law for light incident on a medium.
This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Reading; “The Beer-Lambert Law” | By LibreTexts |
| 2 | Reading; “Chemical Connections to Climate Change” | Blog by Tom Kuntzleman, Chemical Education Xchange (ChemEd X) |
| 3 | Simulation; “Beer’s Law Lab” | Created by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado |
| 4 | Additional Resources | Video micro-lecture, “Spectrophotometry introduction” by Sal Khan, Khan Academy |
| Grade Level | Undergraduate |
| Discipline | Chemistry |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Beer-Lambert Law, Molar Absorptivity, Absorbance of Incident Light, Transmittance of Incident Light, Intensity of Transmitted Light, Greenhouse Gases, Molar Absorption Coefficient, Molar Extinction Coefficient |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Atmosphere, The Greenhouse Gas Effect |
| Location | Global |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online |
| Approximate Time Required | 55 – 60 mins |
| Share |
|
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Reading (~30 min)
Use chapter reading, ‘The Beer-Lambert Law’ by LibreTextsTM, to introduce the topic of light transmittance through a medium and Beer-Lambert’s Law. Explain how light transmitted through a medium is affected by its concentration. Also, discuss the importance of the path length for light transmittance through a medium. Use the reading to derive an expression for the Beer-Lambert’s Law. Emphasize on the non-linear (exponential) relation between transmittance and concentration of medium. Thus, define its molar absorptivity or molar absorption coefficient or molar extinction coefficient (ε). Use the examples given in the text, to teach students to use the Beer-Lambert’s Law to calculate values for the concentration, pathlength, and molar absorptivity of a given medium.
Reading (~10 min)
Use the reading, ‘Chemical Connections to Climate Change’ by Tom Kuntzleman, Chemical Education Xchange (ChemEd X), to teach students how the Beer-Lambert Law can be used to study the transmittance of sunlight through the atmosphere. Discuss the composition of the atmosphere and list out the gases that make up the atmosphere. Extend the understanding of the Beer-Lambert Law to evaluate the absorbance values of individual gases in the atmosphere. Use the text to initiate a discussion about the absorption potential of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Discuss how this results in warming on Earth due to the greenhouse effect. Finally, use the reading to explain how this greenhouse gas effect is exacerbated by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Visualisation (~15 min)
Use the simulation, ‘Beer’s Law Lab’ by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado, to allow students to explore the Beer-Lambert’s Law for absorbance/transmittance of incident light through a solution. Encourage the students to note the absorbance/transmittance values of incident light when the simulation is run. Direct the students to run the simulation for different solution concentrations, pathlengths and wavelengths of incident light. Use the data generated to observe the correlations between these varying parameters (concentration of solution, pathlength and wavelength of incident light) and absorbance/transmittance values. Initiate an enquiry-based discussion for further understanding of these correlations eg how much does the absorbance value change when the concentration of a solution is doubled.
Suggested questions/assignments for learning evaluation
Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions:
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Video micro-lecture | A video micro-lecture, ‘Spectrophotometry introduction’, by Sal Khan, Khan Academy, that gives an introduction of spectrophotometry, transmittance, absorbance, and the Beer-Lambert Law for light incident on a medium. This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Reading; “The Beer-Lambert Law” | By LibreTexts |
| 2 | Reading; “Chemical Connections to Climate Change” | Blog by Tom Kuntzleman, Chemical Education Xchange (ChemEd X) |
| 3 | Simulation; “Beer’s Law Lab” | Created by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado |
| 4 | Additional Resources | Video micro-lecture, “Spectrophotometry introduction” by Sal Khan, Khan Academy |
