Reviews characteristics of coordination chemistry, the study of coordination compounds, a major focal point for the inorganic chemist. Provides a brief history regarding the Wernerian System and background information in modern coordination theory. (CS)

Reviews properties, geologic occurrences, availability to plants, and cycles of the element selenium. (CS)

Discusses activities involved in a six-hour workshop program on creativity. Also describes: (1) sources of background information on creativity; (2) ways to evaluate skills in creativity; (3) articles and ideas on creativity and problem-solving, including predictors of problem-solving success; and (4) how to find time to teach problem-solving. (JN)

Describes a companion experiment to the experimental study of the di-iodide visible absorption spectrum. Experimental details, interpretation, and data analysis are provided for an analysis of the di-iodide fluorescence excited by a visible laser, using a Raman instrument. (CS)

Reviews information on solar radiation as an energy source. Discusses these topics: the key photovoltaic material; the bank theory of solids; conductors, semiconductors, and insulators; impurity semiconductors; solid-state photovoltaic cell operation; limitations on solar cell efficiency; silicon solar cells; cadmium sulfide/copper (I) sulfide…

Presents selected information regarding the descriptive chemistry of the common metal ions and their compounds, including the concepts of process of solution, polar molecules, ionic size and charge, complex ions, coordination number, and the Bronsted-Lowry acid-base theory. (CS)

Demonstrates how depth of field, exposure correction, and Scheimpflug focusing are obtained for a view camera, using elementary optics. (CS)

Describes resources for teaching about dinosaurs. These include audiovisual aids (models, posters, jigsaw puzzles, filmstrips, 35mm slides, resource pack, worksheets, templates, tracing sheets, and films/video materials), books (for young and older students), and exhibits. Includes sources for all materials described. (JN)

Describes an undergraduate laboratory experiment using viscosity to follow the progress of the contractile process in muscles. This simple, short experiment illustrates the action of ATP as the source of energy in the contractile process and the catalytic effect of calcium ions as a control in the energy producing process. (CS)

Lists equipment and materials needed and procedures for analyzing soil, in which secondary school students experience practical applications to acid-base reactions, pH, oxidation-reduction, precipitation and solubility. (CS)

Includes information on: (1) relationship of art and science; (2) paintings' early history; (3) Egyptian, Greek, Chinese, Byzantine, and Medieval painting; (4) chemical analysis of pigments; (5) chemistry of early pigments; and (6) paint media. Tabular data are provided on chemical names for artists' pigments with their earliest known dates. (CS)

Focuses on the chemistry of fibers commonly used by artists. Presents information regarding the reactions of these fibers to dyes, bleaches, solvents, and other selected agents of design. Tables provide a classification of natural and manufactured fibers, characteristics, chemical formulas and reactions of selected fibers, and characteristics of…

Provides a brief history of natural dyes. Chemical formulas are provided for flavonoids, luteolin, genistein, brazilin, tannins, terpenes, naphthoquinone, anthraquinone, and dyes with an alkaloid structure. Also discusses chemical background of different dye processes. (CS)

This document consists of activities and references for teaching astronomy. The activities (which include objectives, list of materials needed, and procedures) focus on: observing the Big Dipper and locating the North Star; examining the Big Dipper's stars; making and using an astrolabe; examining retograde motion of Mars; measuring the Sun's…

Summarizes various aspects of the career of an industrial research chemist. (CS)