Analytical Chemistry in Daily Life – ChemEye: A Smartphone Based Mobile App for Colorimetric Analysis

Colorimetry is a fundamental analytical chemistry technique for analyte quantification based on the absorption of visible light at specific wavelengths. Here, we present a mobile application, ChemEye, which enables accessible, portable, and user-friendly colorimetric analysis. Via a single app that requires only the use of the mobile device camera, users can generate calibration curves, which can be stored for subsequent analysis, and effortlessly determine analyte concentrations in samples, all under step-by-step guidance. With analytical performance comparable to a UV–visible spectrophotometer for daily life applications, we introduced ChemEye as a hands-on experimentation experience in a workshop series targeting high school chemistry teachers and nonscience undergraduate students. Teachers displayed strong interest in applying this learning and teaching resource for their students, who can not only learn analytical chemistry concepts more interactively but furthermore become equipped and encouraged to actively learn outside the classroom by analyzing daily life food samples. Compatible with both iOS and Android devices, ChemEye provides a broadly accessible and engaging tool for chemical education across all background knowledge levels.