This review explores the dramatic changes that have taken place in the organic chemistry laboratory course over the last two to three decades. The most significant changes have been in the areas of pedagogy and technology. Significant inroads have been made towards combating student cookbooking, particularly through the design of discovery-based or puzzle experiments, as well as through inquiry and project-based experiments. The extent to which microscale-level work has spread can only be described as revolutionary. Modern spectroscopic instrumentation has transformed the organic laboratory environment. Molecular modeling has opened up new possibilities for student exploration of regioselectivity, stereoselectivity, and molecular conformation.

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A set of biochemistry experiments based on the technique of protein colorimetry is described. Students used the Biuret and Bradford assays to qualitatively and quantitatively assess solutions for protein. Two unique features of these experiments are (1) the use of intentional discrepancies within each experiment to promote critical thinking and (2) the use of authentic historical narratives to introduce critical concepts in the interpretation of assays and demonstrate the relevance of laboratory work to “real-world” scenarios. Details on the implementation and the evaluation of these experiments are discussed.