How Old is My Bronze Cannon? A laboratory exercise linking analytical chemistry, spectroscopy and metallurgy

Details are provided of a simple, quick, and safe laboratory exercise to analyze the tin content of a bronze sample. The experiment is set in the context of analyzing filings from a bronze artefact (“cannon”) of unknown origin. Students work in teams to complete separate parts of the experiment and to produce replicate sets of results. The procedure is designed in such a way as to demonstrate the basic principles of oxidation and reduction, spectroscopy and analytical chemistry at a level suitable for upper secondary school students. It also provides an opportunity to introduce students to advanced analytical instrumentation that is not generally available in secondary schools. The experiment was developed to be completed in a single 50 minute session and has been successfully conducted with over 200 middle- to upper-level secondary school students