Frazier Nyasulu 065 Clippinger Laboratories 740-593-2480 740-593-0148 (Fax) nyasulu@ohio.edu

Chemical education

Entry-level chemistry lab curriculum is Nyasuluís central area of expertise and research focus. Our goal is to provide laboratory experiences that increase student engagement, improve critical thinking and teach teamwork. We are writing experiments in which students formulate how to accomplish laboratory tasks on their own, perform nontrivial hypothesis testing, use modern instrumentation, perform significant data analysis and perform challenging and engaging work.

Preparation of target materials by electrodeposition

By analogy with the formation of organic materials (polymers) from compounds with multiple bonds (e.g., polyethylene), our goal is to identify and implement conditions (micro and macro depositions) wherein metal-ligand multiple bonds can be polymerized onto the surface of an electrode via electrochemical reduction in aprotic solvents at ambient temperatures. The approach is illustrated by the electrodeposition of solid chromium dioxide, CrO2, from molecular CrO2Cl2:

CrO2Cl₂ + 2 e- ? CrO₂(s) + 2 Cl-

Initial studies are focused on the electrodeposition of ME₂X₂ (M = Mo, W, Cr; E = O, S; X = Cl, Br). The optimal conditions for electrodeposition are first identified from cyclic voltammetric characterization. Both potentiostatic and galvanostatic modes of electrodeposition are explored. Deposits (thin film and bulk) are analyzed by by various spectroscopic and various surface analysis techniques.

Nano-Band electrodes for the measurement of trace metals.

Our focus is arsenic determination in drinking and wastewater at the ppb level using anodic stripping voltammetry at the gold and carbon NanoBand electrodes. We are investigating new As(V) to As(III) reduction strategies (As(V) does not plate) and looking for ways to easily mitigate the copper interference problem; Cu and As stripping peaks greatly overlap.

Selected Publications

Frazier Nyasulu, Daniel Nething, Rebecca Barlag, Lindy Wise, and Phyllis Arthasery, Thermodynamics of the [CoCl(ⁱPrOH)₃]⁺ to [CoCl(ⁱPrOH)₂(MeOH)₃]⁺ Reaction: A General Chemistry Laboratory Exercise, J. Chem. Educ., Articles ASAP (As Soon As Publishable), Publication Date (Web): January 13, 2012 (Laboratory Experiment), DOI: 10.1021/ed200097x

Frazier Nyasulu, Michael Moehring, Phyllis Arthasery, and Rebecca Barlag, K_a and K_b from pH and Conductivity Measurements: A General Chemistry Laboratory Exercise, J. Chem. Educ., 2011, 88 (5), pp 640–642.

Frazier Nyasulu*, Phyllis Arthasery, and Rebecca Barlag, Conductivity Sensor Determination of van’t Hoff Factor: A General Chemistry Laboratory Exercise, Chemical Educator, 2011, 16, 85-88

Rebecca Barlag and Frazier Nyasulu, Waters of Hydration of Cupric Hydrates: A Comparison between Heating and Absorbance Methods J. Chem. Educ., 2011, 88 (5), pp 643–645 Publication Date (Web): February 28, 2011 (Laboratory Experiment)

Frazier Nyasulu and Rebecca Barlag, Colorimetric Determination of the Iron(III)−Thiocyanate Reaction Equilibrium Constant with Calibration and Equilibrium Solutions Prepared in a Cuvette by Sequential Additions of One Reagent to the Other, J. Chem. Educ., 2011, 88 (3), pp 313–314

Rebecca Barlag and Frazier Nyasulu, Wash Bottle Laboratory Exercises: Iodide-Catalyzed H₂O₂ Decomposition Reaction Kinetics Using the Initial Rate Approach J. Chem. Educ., 2010, 87 (1), pp 78–80

Frazier Nyasulu, William Cusworth III, Jon Weiner and John Macklin, Flame Emission Spectrometry in general Chemistry: Solubility Product (Ksp) of Potassium Hydrogen phthalate. Journal of Chemical Education, 2007, 84, 456-458

Frazier Nyasulu, John Macklin, Intermolecular and Intramolecular Forces: A general chemistry laboratory comparison of hydrogen bonding in maleic and fumaric acids. Journal of Chemical Education, 2006, 83, 770-773.

Frazier Nyasulu, James van Zee, William Cusworth III, John Macklin, Hypothesis testing inclusion in the atomic emission spectrum of hydrogen experiment, Chem. Educator, 2005, 10, 295-297.

Frazier Nyasulu, William Cusworth III, Jon Weiner and John Macklin, Qualitative and multi-element quantitative flame emission analysis of Group 1A and Group IIA elements using a flame photometer, a fiber optic probe and a spectrometer, Chemical Educator, 2006, 10, 41- 44.

Frazier Nyasulu, Stephen Bayer, Tom Leach, and John Macklin, Solubility Product (Ksp) of potassium hydrogen phthalate by gravimetric analysis, Chemical Educator, 2006, 11, 257-259.

Frazier Nyasulu, Marianne Cavelti and John Macklin, Determination of the Universal Gas law Constant (R) and Molar Mass of a Low Boiling Liquid Using Gas-Pressure Sensors, Chemical Educator, 2006, 11, 172-173.

Frazier W. Nyasulu, William Cusworth III, Jon Wiener, David Lindquist and John Macklin, Assigning contributions of dispersion forces, dipolar forces and hydrogen bonding to the enthalpy of vaporization of n-pentane, diethylether, 2-butanone and 2-butanol, Chem. Educator, 2005, 10, 303-305

Li Xiao, William Dietze, Frazier Nyasulu, Blaise A. F. Mibeck, Ultramicroband array electrode; Analysis of mercury in contaminated soils and flue gases exposed samples using a gold-plated iridium portable system by anodic stripping voltammetry, Anal. Chem., 2006, 78, 5172-5178.