Describes a simple method to determine potential chemical formulas for a given molecular weight and to calculate all of the typical mass spectrometric parameters which can be obtained experimentally. Calculated values can then be compared to experimental values to obtain the most reasonable formula. (JN)

Describes a gas chromatographic experiment for the quantitative determination of volume percent ethanol in water ethanol solutions. Background information, procedures, and typical results are included. Accuracy and precision of results are both on the order of two percent. (JN)

Background information, laboratory procedures, and results are provided for the preparation of vanillin from isoeugenol acetate. Reaction scheme used to prepare the vanillin and a table indicating the different oxidation experiments carried out on isoeugenol or isoeugenol acetate are also provided. (JN)

Converting carboxylic acids into their anilides, which usually involves preparation of acid chloride or mixed anhydride followed by treatment with aniline, is tedious and/or time-consuming. A quick and easier procedure, using phenyl isothiocyanate, is provided. Reactions involved and a summary table of results are included. (JN)

Provides background information, procedures, and results of an undergraduate physical chemistry experiment on the polarization of absorption spectra of cyanine dyes in stretched polyvinyl alcohol films. The experiment gives a simple demonstration of the concept of linear dichromism and the validity of the TEM method used in the analyses. (JN)

Three experiments demonstrating the feasibility of encapsulating liquids within a starch matrix are described, including encapsulation of linseed oil using the zanthate method and of turpentine and butylate using the calcium adduct procedure. Encapsulated materials, including pesticides, are slowly released from the resulting matrix. Considers…

Background information, laboratory procedures, and discussion of results are provided for the synthesis and chemiluminescence of adamantylideneadamantane-1,2-dioxetane (I). Results provided were obtained during a normal junior level organic laboratory course. All intermediates and products were identified using routine spectroscopic analysis.…

Background information, laboratory procedures, and discussion of results are provided for experiments designed to familiarize students with the biochemistry of nicotinamide coenzymes and the chemistry involved in their reactions. In addition, students are exposed to ultraviolet (UV)-spectroscopy as a tool for investigating reaction mechanisms in…

Presents an experiment which includes fractional distillation with gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and infrared analysis. Objectives are to introduce students to fractional distillation and analysis of each fraction by GLC, to induce them to decide if each fraction is sufficient for infrared analysis, and to identify unknowns. (Author/JN)

Describes a computer program (FORTRAN and APPLESOFT) demonstrating the effect of copolymer composition as a function of conversion, providing theoretical background and examples of types of information gained from computer calculations. Suggests that the program enhances undergraduate students' understanding of basic copolymerization theory.…

Provides background information procedures, and results for the photochemical synthesis and reactions of nitrosomethane dimer. The experiments described have shown a high degree of reliability with student use and are suggested to illustrate some problems of physical and organic photochemistry. (Author/JN)

Gas phase acidity data shown are offered to writers of elementary organic chemistry texts for replacement of the aqueous phase data that are universally used. Relative acidities in the gas phase are controlled virtually exclusively by enthalpic factors. Structural-energetic explanations of acidic trends can therefore be used. (SK)

Organic v inorganic dichotomy in chemistry has begun to disappear while a new formal research discipline, bioinorganic chemistry, is emerging. The field has been developed with the realization that a third of all proteins and bioenzymes contain an inorganic element such as a metal critical to their chemical nature. (Author/RE)

Reactions utilized to incorporate a metal-containing moiety into a polymer chain (addition, condensation, and coordination) are considered, emphasizing that these reactions also apply to smaller molecules. (JN)

Theory of nuclear magnetic resonance spin-spin coupling constants and nature of the three types of coupling mechanisms contributing to the overall spin-spin coupling constant are reviewed, including carbon-carbon coupling (neither containing a lone pair of electrons) and carbon-nitrogen coupling (one containing a lone pair of electrons).…