Provides background information on polymeric films and membranes including production methods, special industrial and medical applications, laboratory preparation, and an experimental investigation of a porous cellulose acetate membrane. Presents a demonstration to distinguish between high- and low-density polyethylene. (JM)

Natural gas from regular commercial lines contains enough carbon-8 and above hydrocarbon contaminants to serve as a satisfactory sample for breakthrough experiments. Procedures used, typical results obtained, and theoretical background information are provided. (JN)

Background information, procedures used, and typical results obtained are provided for an experiment (based on the potassium bromide pressed-pellet method) involving the infrared spectroscopy of deuterated compounds. Deuteration refers to deuterium-hydrogen exchange at active hydrogen sites in the molecule. (JN)

Background information is provided on the natural products found in marine organisms in general and the brown algae in particular. Also provided are the procedures needed to isolate D-mannitol (a primary metabolite) and cholesterol from brown algae. (JN)

Describes the design and evaluation of a Spectronic 20-based detector as well as a simple system for postcolumn derivatization useful for metal-ion chromatographic detection. Both detection and derivatization can be performed in the ultra-violet (UV) mode using a low-cost UV-visible spectrophotometer and UV-region derivatization reagents. (JN)

Describes an experimental program to examine flow curve determination for non-Newtonian fluids. Includes apparatus used (a modification of Walawender and Chen's set-up, but using a 50cc buret connected to a glass capillary through a Tygon tube), theoretical information, procedures, and typical results obtained. (JN)

Highlights difficulties that occur when teachers attempt to devise new experiments (use of hydrogen peroxide decomposition) and how seemingly useless results can be turned into productive student projects. Considers effects of ions present in tap water, pH, dust, and nature of vessel's surface. Reaction order and safety precautions are noted. (JN)

Background information/theory, procedures used, and typical results obtained are discussed for a system in which kerosene, water, and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) are used to demonstrate the principles of liquid-liquid extraction in a Graesser rotary contractor. The DNP is almost equal between the two disimilar solvents. (JN)

An experimental simple ion-exchange experiment in which the amount of calcium present in dietary supplement tablets has been developed is described and some typical student results for several brands of tablets are presented. (JN)

Describes a simple apparatus used to demonstrate the thermal conductivity of gases. Procedures for completing the demonstration are included. (JN)

Describes the physics of an experiment in which an air wedge is formed between two glass plates inclined at a small angle by means of a thin spacer. Implications for instruction are noted. (JN)

Describes simple speckle photography experiments which are easy to set up and require only low cost standard laboratory equipment. Included are procedures for taking single, double, and multiple exposures. (JN)

Two experiments designed to assess brain hemispheric specialization of function are described. The first experiment involves tactile letter and number identification; the second one, verbal interference with a manual task. The experiments provide an excellent introduction to research methodology for undergraduate students. (Author/RM)

Describes the design and use of a projectile motion apparatus to illustrate a variety of projective motion results typically discussed in an introductory course. They include independence of horizontal (constant speed) and vertical (constant acceleration) motions, parabolic path shape, and other types of motion. (JN)

Background information and procedures are provided for experiments that illustrate the nature of cyclic voltammetry and its application in the characterization of organic electrode processes. The experiments also demonstrate the concepts of electrochemical reversibility and diffusion-controlled mass transfer. (JN)