Micro-Scale experimentation reduces the safety hazards, chemical costs, and disposal problems normally associated with chemical experimentation.
Traditional experimentation uses large beakers of chemicals.
Micro-scale techniques use minute amounts of chemicals to conduct the same experiments and to achieve the same level of learning. This great reduction in scale requires modified techniques, equipment, and instruction. Dr. Hubert Alyea of Princeton University first introduced micro-scale techniques over 25 years ago. Today, most educational institutions employ at least some micro-scale techniques in their formal chemistry laboratories. By using such small quantities of chemicals, the chances for fire, explosion, and serious injury are greatly reduced and almost eliminated.