The classic silver mirror reaction at room temperature in textbooks usually used glucose to react with silver nitrate and ammonium nitrate with the presence of caustic alkalis. But the aldehydes such as acetaldehyde and propionaldehyde were difficult to react under the same condition. In this paper, Na[subscript 2]CO[subscript 3] was used to…

A computational experiment investigating common organic chemistry mechanisms has been developed and implemented in a junior/senior-level physical chemistry laboratory course at two institutions. Students investigated various reactions that proceed via S[subscript N]1, S[subscript N]2, E1, and E2 mechanisms using hybrid Density Functional Theory…

The design and operation of an inverted cone, scalable vapor condenser, drawing cooling air from beyond the boundary layer and optionally working as a part of a gastight setup, are described and discussed. Besides its main use as a reflux condenser, it can also be used in one-plate distillations.

A highly visual, inexpensive, straightforward laboratory experiment for the determination of the activation energy of a demulsification process is presented. The experiment uses low-density polyethylene (LDPE) beads to clearly mark the interface between an NaCl(aq) solution and isopropanol. The NaCl(aq)-isopropanol system is shaken to produce an…

The problem of a disc or cylinder initially rolling with slipping on a surface and subsequently transitioning to rolling without slipping is often cited in textbooks. Students struggle to qualitatively understand the difference between kinetic and static frictional forces--i.e., whereas the magnitude of the former is known, that of the latter can…

In this supplement to our second-year supercapacitor lab (Bringing Real-World Energy-Storage Research into a Second-Year Physical-Chemistry Lab Using a MnO[subscript 2]-Based Supercapacitor. "J. Chem. Educ." 2018, 95 (11), 2028-2033), we incorporate a color indicator as indirect evidence for the manganese oxide's pseudocapacitive…

A six-laboratory session biofilm-focused biochemistry laboratory module is described. Through just six four-hour laboratory sessions over three weeks, students first master background knowledge and fundamental experimental techniques to explore questions involving bacterial biofilms at the interface of microbiology and biochemistry and then…

The study of gels and their properties is a compelling topic both technologically and scientifically, and should therefore be emphasized in chemistry and material science syllabuses. In the present laboratory experiment, we propose two experiences, aimed at introducing gelation and gel transport properties using silica gels made from sodium…

A laboratory exercise on the interaction between the herbicide pendimethalin (PM) and goat serum albumin (GSA), a carrier protein present in mammalian blood circulation, is described. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to study the binding reaction between PM and GSA. Titration of a constant amount of the protein (GSA) with increasing ligand (PM)…

Next generation sequencing has revolutionized molecular biology and has provided a mechanism for rapid DNA and RNA sequence analysis. Yet, there are few resources to introduce next generation sequencing into the undergraduate biochemistry and molecular biology curriculum. Herein, we describe the design, execution, and assessment of a four-week…

Demonstration of a colorimetric approach for nucleic acid detection represents an attractive educational experiment for chemistry undergraduate students in the time of coronavirus pandemic. Herein, a rapid and vivid detection method that visualizes the presence of a specific DNA sequence is described. The plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles…

A two-week summer camp was designed, implemented, and then updated for high school students focusing on organic chemistry, solar energy, and green chemistry principles. Students learn about laboratory safety, perform organic reactions, go on field trips, and take part in interactive lessons that focus on both fundamental chemistry topics as well…

In this article, we present a low-cost lab experience, enhanced by new technologies and easy to execute. The objective of the experiment is to explore the moment of inertia of a fidget spinner quantitatively. Our choice was to integrate the teaching of physics with the use of a popular toy, the fidget spinner, very popular among young people and…

This study addresses the measurement of high school students' epistemic knowledge associated with scientific experimentation (EKSE) which concerns "how" scientific experimentation generates knowledge and "why" that knowledge is justified. Based on philosophical, educational standards, and literature analyses, an EKSE construct…

University laboratories deliver unique hands-on experimentation opportunities for STEM students, but often lack state-of-the-art equipment and provide limited access to their equipment. The University of Texas Cloud Laboratory (CLAB) provides remote access to cutting-edge series elastic actuators for student experimentation regarding…