Cell Phones Facilitate Spectrometry
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Oct. 19, 2010 — University of Illinois chemistry professor Alexander Scheeline wants to see high school students using their cell phones in class. Not for texting or surfing the Web, but as an analytical chemistry instrument: Using a few basic, inexpensive supplies and a digital camera, he built a spectrometer. A few basic, inexpensive components and a cell phone are all that high school students need to build a spectrometer. (Images: L. Brian Stauffer, University of Illinois) “If we want to m...