In this activity, students observe chemical and physical properties of elements using an online periodic table, where these properties were shown numerically and by colors. Then the elements were divided into metals, nonmetals, and metalloids, and their periodic properties were visualized using statistical concepts such as normality, kurtosis,…

Quinacridone red and violet are visually different colors, an observation confirmed by their visible reflectance spectra and CIE L*a*b* coordinates. However, their IR spectra are extremely similar. Though chemically identical, the two quinacridones are polymorphs. In this experiment, designed for and tested by nonscience majors, the pigments are…

Interfacial, or surface tension, is a significant topic in chemical education. This paper describes the directional motion of gallium-based liquid metal drops, resulting from a difference of interfacial tension across the drop. This demonstration can engage students in discovering the underlying chemical principles. A mechanism for the drop's…

This communication shows that although some textbooks do not discuss how to apply Raoult's law to electrolyte solutions, we should not ignore dissociation, and the van't Hoff factor must be considered.

Stereoselective reduction of ketones to alcohols using baker's yeast is a classic experiment in the undergraduate laboratory. Here we illustrate the reduction of racemic ethyl 2-fluoro-3-oxobutanoate to the corresponding alcohol using a set of four commercially available ketoreductases (KREDs). The reaction sets two stereocenters with four…

Photochemical reactions are the reactions that are induced by light. Many of these reactions are found in natural processes, including photosynthesis and the formation and decomposition of ozone in the atmosphere. Classroom demonstrations are effective in enhancing students' learning and retention. Herein, we have developed a simple demonstration…

The addition of research-focused experiences to undergraduate chemistry laboratory courses has been shown to bolster student learning, enhance student retention in STEM, and improve student self-identity as scientists. In the area of synthetic organic chemistry, the preparation of libraries of compounds with novel optical and electronic properties…

Spectroscopic methods of molecular structure identification and analysis constitute part of inorganic, organic, analytical, and physical chemistry in both undergraduate and postgraduate chemistry curricula. Despite the importance and complexity of the relevant concepts, it is only recently that studies on spectroscopy have started to appear in the…

When structure-property relationships are discussed in inorganic chemistry and materials science, the common perception is that materials with the same composition and atomic arrangement have the same properties. In this laboratory experiment, we show that "processing"--the exact conditions under which materials are made--can in fact…

The acquisition of quantitative measurement data has been a challenge in chemistry education for a long time, as the required measurement devices are often too old, error-prone, complicated to operate, or simply too expensive. This paper presents the LabPi digital measurement station, which addresses this problem and provides a solution for…

Conventional mobile phone colorimetry usually utilizes the RGB color mode to measure concentration of solutions, but the paper entitled "Determining the Amount of Copper(II) Ions in a Solution Using a Smartphone" proposes the use of hue ("H") to measure the concentration. It is pointed out that the "H" value increases…

The synthesis of 4-amino-3-nitrobenzoic acid methyl ester is a simple Fischer esterification reaction designed as an experiment for use in an introductory organic chemistry course. The compound was synthesized as a one-pot reaction within 30 min to 16 h, with 1 h producing a workable yield. The bright-yellow solid was purified using liquid--liquid…

This article describes the implementation of a student-generated open educational resource project into a majors' organic chemistry laboratory. This scaffolded semester-long project was organized into six phases and designed to promote the goals of teaching students about both green chemistry and real-life applications of the reactions covered in…

Student motivation within a STEM course is dependent on their perceived relevance and utility of the topics learned. This paper presents an Informative Utility Value Intervention (IUVI) designed to promote perceptions of utility. The IUVI was designed as a series of assignments for general chemistry students in large lecture courses, but the…

Green development is an effective mode of economic growth and social development aiming at efficiency, harmony, and sustainability, which has become an important trend. The development of green industry is taken by many countries as an important measure to promote economic restructuring and highlighting environmental awareness. The green chemistry…