This sixth-form chemistry activity describes how students can use acid-base titrimetry to investigate how adding salt to the aqueous phase may change the value of the partition coefficient of an organic acid between water and 2-methylpropan-1-ol. While the presence of lithium chloride and sodium chloride increases the value of the partition…

Chemicals entering the atmosphere come from a number of sources but, in broad terms, are either from human activity or from the biosphere (natural systems). What happens to these chemicals once in the atmosphere is very important, of course. If they are toxic they can impact on the health of humans, animals and natural ecosystems. Therefore, it is…

This article outlines the reasons why practical work is declining in schools. Microscale chemistry is put forward as a sustainable way of remedying this. The advantages of its use are outlined, including a description of some practical techniques that can be used to illustrate these advantages. There is also a description of how you can make the…

Short articles on the alkylation of aniline, the preparation and properties of perbromate, using scrap copper in chemistry instruction, a safe method of burning hydrogen, and the use of an ion-charge model as an alternative to the mole concept in secondary school instruction. (AL)

Short articles on the kinetics of the hydrogen peroxide-iodide ion reaction, simulation of fluidization catalysis, the use of Newman projection diagrams to represent steric relationships in organic chemistry, the use of synthetic substrates for proteolytic enzyme reactions, and two simple clock reactions"--hydrolysis of halogenoalkanes and…

Short articles describing the construction of a self-testing device for learning ionic formulae, problems with standard'' experiments in crystallizing sulfur, preparative details for a cold-setting adhesive and vermillion dye, and providing data related to the industrial manufacture of sulphuric acid. (AL)

Describes a procedure for establishing a viscosity trend through a homologous series and presents sample data. (GS)

Examines four processes involving homogeneous catalysis which highlight the contrast between the simplicity of the overall reaction and the complexity of the catalytic cycle. Describes how catalysts provide circuitous routes in which all energy barriers are relatively low rather than lowering the activation energy for a single step reaction.…

Explains why sucrose does not reduce Fehling's or Benedict's solution while maltose, fructose and glucose do. (LS)

Compares results in organic chemistry during the first year in a polytechnic school with a separate survey of sixth-form achievement. The findings are discussed in terms of the implications for post-A-level chemistry, the debate on chemical nomenclature, and the application of Piagetian concepts to chemistry courses. (Author/CP)

Short articles on the determination of the activation energy of the thiosulphate-acid reaction, an experiment on hydrolysis of similar metal salt solutions, the preparation and electrolytic properties of iodine monochloride and iodine trochloride, and instructions for apparatus enabling laboratory study of the thermal cracking of ethylbenzene. (AL)

Considered are the underlying ideas of nucleophilic substitution and some of the misconceptions regarding this topic. Discusses methods for teaching this topic and includes definitions for key ideas and terms. (Author/CW)

Contains contributed suggestions for laboratory equipment, chemistry activities, and explanations of chemical reactions. (CP)

Describes some recent advances in enzyme structure and action, including a description of enzyme-substrate interaction. Discusses the methods for determination of amino acid sequences in proteins; the actions of chymotrypsin, trypsin, and elastase; and details of the enzyme-substrate complex derived from kinetic studies and x-ray diffraction…