Armita Aghamiri’28 spent a month at Beloit College over the summer trying to build a greener chemistry lab, specifically by replacing lead chloride. Lead is an expensive metal, not only to purchase but also to get rid of the waste.
She tested four different alternatives: iron (III) chloride, zinc chloride, magnesium carbonate, and calcium sulfate. She was unsuccessful for the first three weeks, but finally on the fourth week, found that Calcium Sulfate was very similar in reaction, less expensive and as effective as a replacement for the lead lab in Chem 117.
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