Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-tandem MS (GC-MS/MS) are useful in many separation and characterization procedures. GC-MS is now a common tool in industry and research, and increasingly, GC-MS/MS is applied to the measurement of trace components in complex mixtures. This report describes an upper-level undergraduate experiment…

A set of highly atom-economic experiments was developed to highlight the differences between acid- and base-catalyzed ester syntheses and to introduce the principles of atom economy. The hydrochloric acid-catalyzed formation of an ester was compared with the 4-dimethylaminopyradine-catalyzed ester synthesis.

This study investigates how high school students respond to an environment of authentic science inquiry while participating in an intensive summer institute, the Waksman Student Scholars Programme at Rutgers University. We examined how students apprenticed with expert scientists in a study of contemporary questions in molecular genetics. Students…

Presents the theoretical explanation of the observation that when a pen that is stuck in a hard rubber ball and dropped, the pen may bounce to several times the dropped height. Includes the procedure and models created to explain the observations. (DS)

Discusses an experiment on the conservation of momentum and Q-values for elastic and inelastic collisions with frictional energy dissipation taken into account. Indicates that the apparatus is readily fabricated from easily available materials. (CC)

Presents an experiment to measure the threshold limit of the adhesion of water. Discusses types of thresholds and pseudo thresholds. Provides 13 examples of thresholds in science. (MVL)

Describes an experiment to determine the density of air within a 10 percent error range using a basketball and a triple beam balance. Provides the typical data and a graph. (YP)

Presents an examination of the buoyancy principle which can serve as a simple but rigorous illustration of a falsification test that not only clears up a possible misconception but also points the way to a number of practical uses of buoyancy measurements that have not generally been recognized. (MVL)

Discusses the mechanism and the change of pH during the reaction. Notes that a dramatic rise in pH occurs when the reaction nears completion. Evaluates theories by other authors. (MVL)

Shows the difficulties of understanding the hypothesis a posteriori. Describes a scientific method containing phenomenologic, hypothetic, and theoretic phases. Provides the results of an experiment on simple pendulum oscillation by using this method. (YP)

Plant tissue culture has developed into a valid botanical discipline and is considered a key area of biotechnology, but it has not been a key component of the science curriculum because of the expensive and technical nature of research in this area. This manual presents a number of activities that are relatively easy to prepare and perform. The…

Presents a device to illustrate the concepts of entropy of mixing and the contribution of one term in the Gibb's equation. Notes the device is relatively easy to construct and provides a visual demonstration on diffusion. (MVL)

This book includes 20 science activities in the fields of scientific method, earth science, life science, and physical science. Each activity is composed of two parts--an explanatory section for the teacher and a student lab sheet. The explanatory section begins with a brief introduction designed to give an overview of the activity's main concept.…

This book includes 25 science activities in the fields of environmental science, soil science, life science, and physical science. The activities are designed to be used in outdoor settings. Each activity is composed of two parts--an explanatory section for the teacher and a student lab sheet. The teacher explanatory section begins with a brief…

This resource book includes 163 science activities for both preservice and in-service teachers. Activities have been field-tested and are cross-referenced according to the processes of science and the content area covered. Each activity has been written to evoke ideas from the reader, thus enabling each activity to serve a base for additional…