Students need a strong understanding of how to represent chemical compounds in order to succeed in organic chemistry. This project set out to gain a better understanding of students' difficulties with symbolic representations, by identifying the specific errors associated with drawing wedge-dash structures. The focus was on how students…

In this study, we test an information-processing model (IPM) of problem solving in science education, namely the working memory overload model, by applying catastrophe theory. Changes in students' achievement were modeled as discontinuities within a cusp catastrophe model, where working memory capacity was implemented as asymmetry and the degree…

The difficulties of learning chemistry are related to the nature of chemistry itself and the methods by which chemistry is customarily taught. Frequently, the way of presenting chemistry does not take into account the psychology of the learner. With senior school pupils (over 1600 were involved) in the Emirates, a series of studies was conducted,…

Around 1960, there were quite radical changes in emphasis in many countries in school chemistry education, with subsequent changes in many university courses. Considerable research was undertaken to explore the learning problems students were reporting and the common thread underlying became apparent: it related to the way humans process new…

A method of constructing a check digit for nonconventional chemical codes is described. (5 references) (Author)

The need to provide reliable information on the properties of substances and materials has led to the proposed establishment of a numerical data system. The problems this poses, the most urgent of which is that of developing basic methodological principles underlying the data system processes, are discussed. (32 references) (Author/KE)

Roundhouse is a visually creative information-processing tool (J. E. Trowbridge and J. H. Wandersee 1998). The procedure requires learners to construct knowledge using "mindful" connections to replace less effective practices of memorizing fragmented information. Students create observable organization schemes of related ideas and icons in a…

Chemical Abstracts Service developed and expanded a computer-based Chemical Registry System and operated it on a large-scale pilot basis. Some 1,744,319 registry transactions were made, resulting in the addition of 988,806 unique substances to the Registry Files. Continual effort has been made to improve computer capabilities and procedures, add…

The boundary between two neighboring rings is called the fusion lines, which is enclosed by external segments called arcs. In the code, the separation of fusion line(s) from arcs takes place in such a way that proper matching is achieved. By this procedure, the structure of a compound is recreated. (Author)

The development of scientific journals in Japan pertinent to chemistry is reviewed, and the current status of abstracting activities in Japan is described. (Author)

This Annual Report describes in detail the work performed during the first year of Task III of Contract NSF-C414 and the present status of Task III work. The programs and achievements described constitute the first significant efforts to develop a user-oriented, cooperative program between major secondary scientific and technical information…

Almost three million records covering approximately 175,000 chemical compounds and involving multiple disciplines have been recorded in the Army Antimalarial Drug Program. Maximum compartmentalization of files together with a complete method of interfacing files and a unique number system has made it possible to manage this system. (2 references)…

The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre is concerned with the retrieval, evaluation, synthesis, and dissemination of structural data obtained by diffraction methods. This paper describes the use of a computer-based file system of both bibliographic information and numeric data to produce a compendium of interatomic distances. (10 references)…

A new, universally applicable computer program is described for the whole complex of punched card oriented literature documentation. Its characteristics are: modular construction, therefore easily adapted to user-specific problems; extremely high searching capacity; comprehensive and elastic syntax makes possible new unconventional methods of…

The Scientific Documentation Center of the Romanian Academy acts as the focus of information activities. The organization of this activity and the individual tools are described, emphasizing the needs of chemistry and chemical engineering. (12 references) (Author/NH)