Frazier Nyasulu

Education

Ph.D. Salford University, United Kingdom

Courses Taught

• CHEM 151: Fundamentals of Chemistry I
• CHEM 241: Quantitative Analysis

Chemical Education

Entry-level chemistry lab curriculum is Nyasulu’s 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 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

Nyasulu, F., Barlag, R., McMills, L., Ounkham, W., Arthasery, P. Simplicity and Elegance of the Wash Bottle in Water Displacement Schemes. Journal of Laboratory Chemical Education

Nyasulu, F., Barlag, R., McMills, L., Arthasery, P., Ounkham, W. A Simple, Safe, and Easy Water Displacement Exercise for the Identification of Two Metals and the Composition of a Mixture. Journal of Laboratory Chemical Education, 2018, 6, 21-23.

Nyasulu, F.; Allman, B.; Nething, D.; Barlag, R.; McMills, L.; Arthasery, P. Acid-Base Titration Curves in the General Chemistry Laboratory: an In-Depth Study. The Chemical Educator, 2016, 21, 1-5.

Nyasulu, F.; Bobbitt, D.; Arthasery, P.; McMills, L.; Barlag, R. Making Connections between Calorimetry and Acid-Base Chemistry in the Laboratory. The Chemical Educator, 2015, 20, 1-4.

Nyasulu, F.; Silverman, J.; Allman, B.; Barlag, R.; Arthasery, P.; McMills, L. Reducing Heavy Metal Waste in Potentiometric Exercises in the General Chemistry Laboratory. The Chemical Educator, 2014, 19, 379-383.

Barlag, R.; Nyasulu, F.; Starr, R.; Silverman, J.; Arthasery, P.; McMills, L. A Student-Made Ag(s)|AgCl(s)|Cl-(3.0 M) Reference Electrode in the General Chemistry Laboratory; ~10 Minute Preparation. Journal of Chemical Education, 2014, 91, 766-768.

Barlag, R.; McMills, L.; Nyasulu, F. Upgrading General Chemistry Laboratory Equipment and Laboratory Procedures for Improved Efficiencies and Savings. Journal of Laboratory Chemical Education, 2014, 2, 15-17.

McMills, L.; Nyasulu, F.; Barlag, R. Magnetic Susceptibility of Coordination Compounds in the General Chemistry Laboratory. Journal of Laboratory Chemical Education, 2014, 2, 11-14.

Nyasulu, F.; McMills, L.; Barlag, R. Weak Acid Ionization Constants and the Determination of Weak Acid-Weak Base Reaction Equilibrium Constants in the General Chemistry Laboratory. Journal of Chemical Education, 2013, 90, 768-770.

Nyasulu, F.; Barlag, R.; Wise, L.; McMills, L. The H₃PO₄ Acid Ionization Reactions; A Capstone Multi-Concept Thermodynamics General Chemistry Laboratory Exercise. Journal of Chemical Education, 2013, 90, 642-645.

McMills, L.; Nyasulu, F.; Barlag, R. Comparing Mass and Volumetric Titrations in the General Chemistry Laboratory. Journal of Chemical Education, 2012, 89, 958-959.

Nyasulu, F.; Nething, D.; Barlag, R.; Wise, L.; Arthasery, P. Thermodynamics of the [CoCl(iPrOH)3]+ to [CoCl(iPrOH)2(MeOH)3]+ Reaction: A General Chemistry Laboratory Exercise. Journal of Chemical Education, 2012, 89, 536-539.

Nyasulu, F.; Arthasery, P.; Barlag, R. Conductivity Sensor Determination of van’t Hoff Factor: A General Chemistry Laboratory Exercise. The Chemical Educator, 2011, 16, 1-4.

Barlag, R.; Nyasulu, F. Waters of Hydration of Cupric Hydrates: A Comparison between Heating and Absorbance Measurements. Journal of Chemical Education, 2011, 88, 643-645.

Nyasulu, F.; Moehring, M.; Arthasery, P.; Barlag, R. Determination of the Acid and Base Constants, K_a and K_b, from pH and Conductivity Measurements: A General Chemistry Laboratory Exercise. Journal of Chemical Education, 2011, 88, 640-642.

Nyasulu, F.; Barlag, R. 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. Journal of Chemical Education, 2011, 88, p. 313-314.

Nyasulu F.; Stevanov, K.; Barlag, R. Exploring Fundamental Concepts in Aqueous Solution Conductivity: A General Chemistry Laboratory Exercise. Journal of Chemical Education, 2010, 87, 1364-1366.

Barlag, R.; Arthasery, P.; Nyasulu, F. Electrical Determination of the Heat Capacity of a Calorimeter in Approximately One Minute. Journal of Chemical Education, 2010, 87, p. 992.

Nyasulu, F.; Barlag, R. Gas Pressure Monitored Iodide-Catalyzed Decompostion Kinetics of H2O2: Initial-Rate and Integrated-Rate Methods in the General Chemistry Lab. Journal of Chemical Education, 2010, 87, 948-949.

Nyasulu, F.; Barlag, R. Thermokinetics: Iodide-Catalyzed Decomposition Kinetics of Hydrogen Peroxide; an Integrated Rate Approach. The Chemical Educator, 2010, 15, 168-170.

Barlag, R.; Nyasulu, F. Wash Bottle Laboratory Exercises: (II) Iodide Catalyzed H₂O₂ Decomposition Reaction Kinetics Using The Initial Rate Approach. Journal of Chemical Education, 2009, 87, 78-80.

Nyasulu, F.; Barlag, R. Thermokinetics: Iodide-Catalyzed Decomposition Kinetics of Hydrogen Peroxide; an Initial Rate Approach. Journal of Chemical Education, 2009, 86, 1231-1233.

Nyasulu, F.; Paris, S.; Barlag, R. Wash Bottle Laboratory Exercises: Mass of NaHCO3 in an Alka-Seltzer Tablet, Molar Mass of CO₂, and the Ideal Gas Law Constant. The Chemical Educator, 2009, 86, 842-844.

Nyasulu, F.; Barlag, R.; Macklin, J. Drop-Counter-Assisted Acid/Base Titrations in the Quantitative Analysis Laboratory. An In-Depth Guided-Inquiry Laboratory Exercise. The Chemical Educator, 2008, 13, 289-294.

Nyasulu, F; Barlag,R. Gas Pressure Sensor Monitored Iodide-Catalyzed Decomposition Kinetics of Hydrogen Peroxide: An Initial Rate Approach. The Chemical Educator, 2008, 13, 227-230.