High test scores may measure general intelligence or test taking "savvy" rather than acquisition of knowledge of a particular subject. Pretests may help instructors differentiate between material students already know and good performance based on flaws in the wording of tests as indicated by pretests administered to college chemistry…

Describes the Center for History of Chemistry housed at the University of Pennsylvania. Discusses aims of the Center, sources of funding, staff, policy council, advisory board and various activities associated with the Center. (SK)

Describes design and implementation of two reading minicourses in German at University of Nottingham, England, for students of chemistry and music, none of whom had any previous knowledge of German. (Author/BK)

Summarizes symposium proceedings and provides topic titles and speakers. An appendix lists useful periodicals and books describing the chemical industry. (CS)

Describes a companion experiment to the experimental study of the di-iodide visible absorption spectrum. Experimental details, interpretation, and data analysis are provided for an analysis of the di-iodide fluorescence excited by a visible laser, using a Raman instrument. (CS)

Background information procedures and results are provided for a diffusion (permeation) experiment using an inexpensive instrument and performed during a single three-hour laboratory period. (JN)

Discusses principle themes/issues of risk assessment, using examples from the "nuclear debate." Indicates that while an objective scientific core to decisions on risks exists, this is conditioned in its interpretation by inexactness, uncertainty, and value-commitments. Considers risk assessment elements, risk quantification in real…

Discusses the practical problems accompanying the teaching of chemistry to visually impaired students, including communication problems, improvement of lecturing, laboratory orientation, and safety considerations. (CS)

Reviews factors specific to hearing impairment, special potential teaching problems and how they may be resolved, and problems involved with lecture and laboratory experiences in chemistry for hearing impaired students. (CS)

Describes senior research project centered around three facets of wine made from locally grown grapes: methods of deacidification, effect of pectic enzyme use during vinification, and qualitative/quantitative composition of total phenols of wines. Includes student participation (1975-1980) in and outcomes of the program, and laboratory techniques…

Experimental procedures, typical observations, and results for the simultaneous analysis of Fe(III) and Cu(II) in a solution are discussed. The method is based on selective interaction between the two ions and potassium hexacyanoruthenate(II) in acid solution involving no preliminary sample preparations. (Author/JN)

A simple, three-step procedure for synthesizing a dipeptide from its component amino acids is described. The dipeptide synthesized uses inexpensive amino acids having hydrocarbon side-chains and can be observed in E/Z forms by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Each step in the synthesis produces white crystalline products using standard…

Provides tips for stimulating interest in high school chemistry while imprinting safe laboratory practice. Suggests safe alternatives to potentially dangerous "magic show" and other chemical reactions. Also suggests that safety education be a prerequisite for certification of secondary school chemistry teachers. (Author/JN)

Discusses major themes and interrelationships common to bioselective potentiometric membrane electrodes including the nature of bioselective electrodes, applications, and future prospects. Includes tables on traditional ion-selective membrane electrodes, nontraditional electrodes, and typical biocatalytic potentiometric electrodes. (Author/JN)

Two demonstrations are described: (1) red cabbage and electrolysis of water to bring together acid/base and electrochemical concepts; and (2) a model to demonstrate acid/base conjugate pairs utilizing magnets. (SK)