Described are the natural trace radionuclides in ground water. Indicates the geologic origin of these radionuclides. Discusses the importance of these radionuclides. Suggests future uses of a number of additional radionuclides. (CW)

A description of the EPA/NIH (Environmental Protection Agency/National Institutes of Health) Chemical Information System provides background for a discussion of the management of the system by public agencies; problems which led to the decision to transfer the system of the private sector; and the current status of the database. (CLB)

Describes the experiences and involvement of a public school teacher with deep sea exploration involving the deep submersible submarine "Alvin" from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Details some of the teacher's responsibilities in the project. Discusses what he learned through this experience. (CW)

Reported the development and validation of an integrated model of performance on chemical concept-volumetric analysis. Model was tested on 265 chemistry students in eight schools.Results indicated that for subjects using algorithms without understanding, performance on volumetric analysis problems was not influenced by proportional reasoning…

Reports the results of two experiments that examined the relative effects of questions requiring decisions, statements providing the decision information to the students, questions not requiring decisions, and control procedures on student's memory for chemistry text reading materials. Discusses results in terms of an elaboration perspective on…

Discusses the possibilities of toxins present in medicinal herbs. Describes an experiment in which toxic constituents can be selectively detected by thin-layer chromatography and NMR spectroscopy. (TW)

The number of women obtaining degrees in chemistry has increased and many indicators suggest that the trend will continue. The percentage of women obtaining BS, MS, and PhD degrees in chemistry is also expected to continue to rise. Doctoral women chemists are beginning to be distributed in governmental, academic, and industrial workplaces in the…

Presents two discussions which focus on the rationale for and goals of teaching electrochemistry at high school and college levels. The first is "Electrochemistry" by Ronald Perkins and the second is "Goals in Teaching Electrochemistry" by J. T. Maloy. (JN)

Compared performance in A-level science examinations of students who took an integrated science course (SCISP) with students who studied the separate subjects of physics, chemistry, and biology to 0-level standard. Results show no significant differences between the performance of the two groups. (JN)

Discusses a study that assessed how students felt about computers and how they perceived computers performed as instructional tools. A majority of the tested students indicated that the computer was a useful tool in their chemistry classes, that the labs were realistic, but computer grading should not be used. (ML)

Describes activities in which students: (1) propose creative atomic models that account for observed properties and predict additional experimental data; (2) calculate empirical formulas for 27 binary compounds; (3) propose a model to explain why certain elements have certain valences; and (4) arrange hypothetical elements into a periodic chart.…

The standard two-semester organic chemistry course at Texas Christian University was reorganized as a two-cycle course. In addition, lectures and laboratories were made into separate courses with the laboratory consisting of a formal lecture session and experimental work. The structure, advantages, and disadvantages of the course are discussed.…

Provides general background on basic concepts of systems theory. Discusses applications of systems theory to computational and inferential chemistry in molecular and reaction systems, systems analysis, and synthesis. Describes methodology for studying chemical systems by computer and gives advantages of an integrated computational environment. (JM)

Provides background information about paper. Describes the manufacturing process, chemical composition and structure, associated environmental effects, uses of paper, and recycling. (JM)

Analyzes three approaches (physical, mental, combined practice) to improving freshman chemistry psychomotor laboratory skills. Although no significant differences were found between treatments, there were significant differences when each was compared to the control sections. Mental practice appears to offer an efficient methods for reinforcement…