Provides background information and methodology for an experiment in which a mixture of o-, m-, and p-hydroxyacetophenones are separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and in which the constituents are identified and estimated by ultra-violet light spectroscopy. (Author/JN)

Discusses a common error found in organic chemistry textbooks regarding the phenomenon of "conjugate reduction." Provides a table of experimental data involving the reduction of alpha-, beta-unsaturated compounds. An accompanying discussion explains reasons for the lack of correspondence between textbook information and the experimental…

Described is an advanced undergraduate kinetics experiment using buffer dilutions to determine spontaneous rate, catalyzed rate, and reaction order. The reaction utilized is hydrolysis of p-nitro-phenyl acetate in presence of imidazole, which has been shown to enhance rate of the reaction. (Author/JN)

Suggests using National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) criteria documents as a source for special topics material in chemistry. Presents a list of selected NIOSH documents, ordering information, and reviews one document on formaldehyde in some detail. (SK)

Background information and experimental procedures are provided for three lecture-demonstrations (involving hydrolysis of tetra-butyl chloride) illustrating: (1) common-ion or mass law effect; (2) effect of changing ionizing power of a solvent on a solvolysis reaction; and (3) collecting/plotting data to illustrate a first-order reaction.…

A Fortran IV program is described which calculates relative peak intensities of any molecular or fragment ion and displays them graphically as a bar graph resembling a mass spectrum. Documentation, including listing, sample usage, and sample execution is available free of charge. (Author/JN)

Describes a sequence of experiments developed at Texas A&M University for use in one-semester and two-semester (nonmajors) organic chemistry courses to teach a maximum number of separation and purification techniques such as distillations, recrystallization, liquid-liquid extraction, and chromatography. (SK)

Outlined are recent developments in the field of organosilicon chemistry. Discussed are processes for synthesizing organosilanes, chemical bonding in silicon compounds, silicone polymers, and catenated polysilanes. (CS)

Describes a synthetic organic laboratory experiment which ensures independence of students but is not excessively demanding of instructor time. Each student is provided with different starting materials to prepare different flavones but use the same general procedure, the "organic synthesis" flavone preparation. Various features of this procedure…

The salient features and importance of chain-reaction polymerization are discussed, including such topics as the thermodynamics of polymerization, free-radical polymerization kinetics, radical polymerization processes, copolymers, and free-radical chain, anionic, cationic, coordination, and ring-opening polymerizations. (JN)

Following a rationale for focusing on this topic, a molecular and nonmathematical approach is used to explain the basics of the flow (rheological) behavior of polymer melts, emphasizing the behavior of melts compared to that of solutions. (JN)

Suggests the topic of macromolecules and synthetic polymers be included in undergraduate courses. Two macromolecular systems (polyethylene in a state unperturbated by long-range interactions and a polypeptide undergoing a helix-coil transition) are described which are suitable for inclusion in the statistical mechanics section of physical…

Reviews the characteristics, reactions, importance, and commercial applications of block and graft copolymers. (JN)

The concept of stereochemical nonequivalence (heterotopicity) of apparently identical ligands, or of apparently identical faces, is discussed. (HM)

Reports a procedure for the formation of alkyldiazenido complexes of molybdenum in the absence of dioxygen, suitable for inclusion in an advanced inorganic chemistry laboratory. Includes background information and experimental procedures for two complexes. (SK)