This undergraduate organic laboratory exercise involves the sulfuric acid-catalyzed conversion of waste vegetable oil into biodiesel. The acid-catalyzed method, although inherently slower than the base-catalyzed methods, does not suffer from the loss of product or the creation of emulsion producing soap that plagues the base-catalyzed methods when…

Smaller amounts of materials are used in organic chemistry experiments as a means of improving air quality in the laboratory. Presents a preliminary study of the emissions from selected processes and the mixing of these emissions within the laboratory atmosphere. (JN)

For various reasons, students do not have access to laboratory facilities and yet need courses in the laboratory sciences such as chemistry. This paper describes "Outreach Chemistry," a course developed to provide a chemistry laboratory experience for students attending schools that lack science laboratories. Designed for off-campus students whose…

Discusses instructional strategies and activities designed to help students learn to recognize patterns and to create models to explain patterns. These include laboratory investigations and an exercise in which students are challenged to find the model used for the classroom seating arrangement. (JN)

Smaller amounts of materials are used in organic chemistry experiments as a means of improving air quality in the laboratory. Outlines benefits from this approach and describes two representative experiments in detail. These experiments are the Cannizzaro reaction and preparation of an aromatic nitrile. (JN)

The goal of many colleges is to make the organic chemistry laboratory completely flameless by using electric heating equipment. Benefits of eliminating the Bunsen burner, electrical heating equipment and accessories, hazards remaining in flameless laboratories, and design standards related to laboratory liability are the major topic areas…

Describes a three-week summer program teaching selected chemistry faculty how to incorporate polymer chemistry into chemistry courses. In addition to lectures, the program conducted many experiments and provided a trip to industry laboratories. (YP)

Chromium(VI) compounds are classified as oxidizers and must be specially packaged and transported for disposal while Cr(III) compounds are considered nonoxidizers. A process which reduces Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by adding sodium metabisulfite followed by neutralization with magnesium hydroxide is explored. (MVL)

How do you get a fourth-grader excited about history? How do you even begin to persuade high school students that mathematical functions are relevant to their everyday lives? In this volume, practical questions that confront every classroom teacher are addressed using the latest exciting research on cognition, teaching, and learning. How Students…

Describes the state-of-the-art in computer interfacing in the biology laboratory. Discusses hardware and software. Enumerates the educational benefits from instrumentation such as cost effectiveness and increased student opportunity and motivation. Includes 14 references. (CW)

This information booklet contains the information necessary to administer the annual Department of Defense Dependent Schools Pacific Region Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) at the school level. It is intended to be used by teachers and administrators as they manage the JSHS program within their schools and by students as they conduct…

This report presents the methodology and findings of a national survey of the performance of approximately 9,000 11-year-old children in science. Performance was assessed in six categories: (1) symbolic representation (reading information from graphs, tables, and charts); (2) use of apparatus and measuring instruments; (3) observation; (4)…

Provided is a model to depict how the development of process skills can be systematically achieved and in turn determine the students' achievement in science practicals. Modified laboratory instruction is compared with conventional laboratory instruction. The results of field testing on 164 ninth grade subjects are described. (MVL)

Addresses whether or not science laboratory activities should become a thing of the past. Discusses the impact of the curriculum reforms of the 1960s and 1970s, physical restraints which cause teacher overload, rationale, and objectives of laboratory work. (RT)

This guide was developed with the intention of helping teachers and school site administrators in California review the elementary science curriculum and compare it to an idealized model that is presented in the document. Part I of the guide provides a summary of a number of characteristics considered to be important to a strong elementary science…