Introducing Iron Analysis with Smartphone Camera for High School Students

Abstract

Chemical analysis studies how to analyze both qualitative and quantitative materials. Analysis based on color differences, also known as colorimetry. The basic theory of the analysis is generally given to high school and university students. However, only a few schools practice the theory because of the limitations of expensive instruments. The limitations of expensive instruments have stimulated research to utilize simple daily life devices as alternative of analytical instruments, such as cameras on smartphones, pocket cameras, professional cameras (DSLRs) and scanners. This work reported the use of a smartphone camera (handphone) as a colorimetric iron analysis tool by comparing the color of the sample solution with the standard iron solution. The study starts with the explanation of basic theory of spectrometry and colorimetry, followed by experiments using smartphone cameras for iron analysis using an analysis kit containing o-phenanthroline. The results showed an increase in students and teachers high school knowledge.