C-TEACH Academy: Using Micropipettes Laboratory Experiment

This 9-page professional development activity, provided by Cape Fear Community College, introduces STEM instructors to the proper use of micropipettes. The laboratory procedure provides background on the use and setup of a micropipette, an introductory problem, instructions for the lab, and lab questions. In the first part of the activity, participants will deliver various amounts of water into a container using a micropipette, aiming to deliver the exact amount of liquid specified. In the second part, participants will use micropipettes to make solutions containing water and copper sulfate pentahydrate to generate a calibration curve on an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrometer. Additionally, a spreadsheet is included, allowing an instructor to input the participant's laboratory data to determine if their tolerance meets industry and glassware standards.