Art, Meet Chemistry; Chemistry, Meet Art: Case Studies, Current Literature, and Instrumental Methods Combined To Create a Hands-On Experience for Nonmajors and Instrumental Analysis Students

Abstract

Case studies and current literature are combined with spectroscopic analysis to provide a unique chemistry experience for art history students and to provide a unique inquiry-based laboratory experiment for analytical chemistry students. The XRF analysis method was used to demonstrate to nonscience majors (art history students) a powerful application of chemistry. Spectroscopy was used in the examination of a painting to determine the chemical components of the pigments used. In addition to demonstrating the XRF methods to art history students, chemistry students in instrumental analysis used spectroscopy, including XRF, to examine both the chemical composition of the paints used as well as the presence of an underpainting.