Study of strategies and procedures of 170 students and 40 teachers when solving chemical equilibrium problems found misconceptions emerging through: misapplication of Le Chatelier's Principle, use of rote-learning recall, incorrect control of variables, limited use of chemical equilibrium law, lack of mastery of chemical equilibrium principles,…

Investigates Chinese-Australian students learning of chemistry. Reports that despite students' efforts to learn chemistry with understanding, difficulties in speaking and writing English were factors that limited performance. Suggests that learning can be facilitated when Limited English Proficiency students are provided with opportunities to…

Describes a project designed to teach students how to measure ground-level ozone and determine ozone concentrations. Enables students to research the effects of ozone exposure and discuss ways to clean up the problem. Includes an activity based on the oxidation capability of ozone. (JRH)

Describes a chemistry classroom project of forming a company to acquire 10,000 pounds of zinc sulfate monohydrate from a company that wanted to dispose of it. The zinc was eventually sold to an agricultural company for use in fertilizer. (PR)

Provides specific procedures for the disposal of a variety of highly reactive chemicals and reports the results of a study of their safe disposal. Disposal of some problematic sulfur-containing compounds are included. Procedures are based on a combination of literature review and author development. (LZ)

Presents results of an interactionist analysis of data from a two-year ethnographic study of one high school chemistry classroom. Findings indicate that the teacher's uses of language fell into three related categories: accuracy and precision in science language, distinguishing between science and other disciplines, and personal pronouns to…

Describes and assesses the health and safety implications of school practical work involving the use of DNA. Includes a table of hazards, risks, and preventive or protective measures to limit risks in some educational activities using DNA. (MKR)

Presents profiles within the disciplines of neuroscience, mathematics, and chemistry characterizing how each field extends different atmospheres for women. Offers short reports on key issues that women face as they climb the career ladder, including the special problem of finding mentors. Mini-profiles of successful females and what it took for…

Discusses role of laboratory techniques in scientific investigations. Describes Rutherford's development of scattering techniques and von Wassermann's development of test for syphilis. States that discovering an effect requires a brilliant scientist, however, making it a technique requires that it be made usable by ordinary people. Uses Moseley's…

Presents a model, ChemSafe, that was developed to address and solve the allied problems of chemical purchase, storage, use, and disposal in schools. (ZWH)

Testing using the Golden State Examination, a performance test that employs a variety of testing modes, revealed that students share several misconceptions in biology and chemistry. Some of these misconceptions are shared in this article. (ZWH)

High school chemistry students' (n=183) applied and theoretical knowledge of dissolution, diffusion, effusion, and states of matter were compared. Study found that students' formal reasoning ability and their preexisting knowledge are associated with their conceptions and use of particulate theory. A significant difference between applied and…

Describes an activity that demonstrates the effect of specific variables on the acidity of coffee. (ZWH)

A chemistry teacher describes the elements of the ideal chemistry textbook. The perfect text is focused and helps students draw a coherent whole out of the myriad fragments of information and interpretation. The text would show chemistry as the central science necessary for understanding other sciences and would also root chemistry firmly in the…