Describes a forensic-oriented, college-level course in consumer chemistry. Includes course goals, topical outline, and list of chemical ingredients in consumer products useful for student research projects. The first section of the course focuses on mathematics since students in introductory courses may fear doing the most rudimentary mathematical…

Discusses a set of relations (addressing changes in volume and refractivity) for use in the study of binary systems. Suggests including such an experiment in undergraduate physical chemistry courses (measuring density/refractive index of pure compounds and their mixtures) to predict even small changes occurring during mixing process. (Author/JN)

Describes use of activation volumes derived from the effect of pressure reaction rates in aiding the understanding of reaction mechanism. Topics discussed include determination and interpretation of activation volumes, high pressure equipment/techniques, and application of activation volumes in mechanistic elucidation of several inorganic…

Although a large number of experiments on aquation kinetics of inert octahedral complexes exist, few exist on the reverse (anation) reaction. Preliminary considerations and laboratory procedures for a kinetic study of the anation reaction are provided. Several pairs of students can complete the experiment in a three-hour period. (Author/JN)

Describes an experiment illustrating how such chemical concepts as light absorption, thermodynamics, and solid-state photovoltaics can be incorporated into solar energy education. Completed in a three-hour period, the experiment requires about two hours for data collections with the remaining hour devoted to calculations and comparison of results.…

Background information, procedures, and results, are provided for an undergraduate experiment in which analgesic tablets are analyzed using liquid chromatography. The experiment, an improved, modified version of the Waters Associates Inc. experiment, is simple to prepare, requiring little glassware and minimal sample manipulation by students. (JN)

Background information, procedures, and results are provided for an experiment demonstrating techniques of solvent selection, gradient elution, pH control, and ion-pairing in the analysis of an analgesic mixture using reversed-phase liquid chromatography on an octadecylsilane column. Although developed using sophisticated/expensive equipment, less…

Discusses incorporation of descriptive chemistry and scientific/technical writing at the high school level. After discussing the periodic table, each student prepares a paper discussing the history, atomic data, occurring/extraction/purification, properties, and uses of an element. (JN)

Describes an experiment which gives students experience with uncertainties encountered in studying metabolic pathways; handling/use of radioisotopes; application of thin layer chromatography; and liquid scintillation counting and fluorography as methods of detecting radioactivity. The experiment can be accomplished in two to three laboratory…

Committee on Computers in Chemical Education is conducting workshops to illustrate what can be done with currently available software and provide opportunities to review representative samples of publishers' materials. Guidelines for those requesting workshops, responsibilities of host school, costs, and workshop format are provided. (JN)

Data prepared by the Committee of Professional Training of the American Chemical Society are used to examine Ph.D production in the United States and the types of universities where changes have occurred. Data indicate, among others, that graduate education had decreased in quantity at nearly all universities. (Author/JN)

Discusses the rationale for and development of an industrial chemistry program in chemistry at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. Includes an outline of the recommended 2-year curriculum and list of courses in this industrial chemistry option leading to a master of science degree. (Author/JN)

In N-solution problems, students identify N solutions using only the materials themselves as reagents. Students who solved N-solution problems as a practical examination were asked to solve hypothetical N-solution problems on a paper/pencil test. Results indicate that students can solve these problems and still have gaps in knowledge of…

Discusses long (expanded), short (condensed), and pyramidal periodic table formats and documents events leading to a periodic table in which subgroups (families) are designated with the letters A and B, suggesting that this format is confusing for those consulting the table. (JN)

Euler's theorem for homogenous functions is useful when developing thermodynamic distinction between extensive and intensive variables of state and when deriving the Gibbs-Duhem relation. Discusses Euler's theorem and thermodynamic applications. Includes six-step instructional strategy for introducing the material to students. (Author/JN)