The use of instant agar-free media in high school biology classes is discussed. The synthetic media are relatively inexpensive, heat stable, dependable, and time-saving. (Author/PEB)

Laser enhanced ionization (LEI) occurs when a tunable dye laser is used to excite a specific atomic population in a flame. Explores the origin of LEI's high sensitivity and identifies possible avenues to higher sensitivity by describing instrument used and experimental procedures and discussing ion formation/detection. (Author/JN)

Describes experiments in which acid chromate oxidation rates of four secondary alcohols are determined and related to the differences in strain relief involved in the conversion of the alcohols to their respective ketone products. All four oxidations can be completed in a 4-hour laboratory period. (Author/JN)

Background information and procedures are provided for an experimental study on aminophenylacetic acid (phenylglycine). These include physical chemistry (determination of isoelectric point by pH measurement) and organic chemistry (synthesis of an amino acid in racemic form) experiments. (JN)

To illustrate the behavior of polymeric fluids and in what respects they differ from Newtonian liquids, an experiment was developed to account for the shear-rate dependence of non-Newtonian fluids. Background information, procedures, and results are provided for the experiment. Useful in transport processes, fluid mechanics, or physical chemistry…

Background information and procedures are provided for an experiment designed to introduce (1) crystal defects and their reactivity upon crystal dissolution; (2) hydrates electron and its reactivity; (3) application of radiochemical method of analysis; and (4) the technique of competitive kinetics. Suggested readings and additional experiments are…

Discusses a method for viewing the square of a curve directly. Results are seen immediately and the curve can be manipulated to show, for example, the continuous effect of changing the zero level. The method is useful in studying the effect of squaring a curve or waveform in optics/electronics courses. (JN)

Describes a course which emphasizes all facets of analytical chemistry, including sampling, preparation, interference removal, selection of methodology, measurement of a property, and calculation/interpretation of results. Includes special course features (such as cooperative agreement with an environmental protection center) and course…

Background information, laboratory procedures (including matings performed), and results are presented for an open-ended investigation using the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. Once data are collected, students develop hypotheses to explain results as well as devise additional experiments to test their hypotheses. Calculation of chi-square for…

Compares two palladium (Pd/C) reducing systems to iron/tin-hydrochloric acid (Fe/HCl and Sn/HCl) reductions and suggests an efficient, clean, and inexpensive procedures for the conversion of nitrobenzene to aniline. Includes laboratory procedures used and discussion of typical results obtained. (JN)

A study to assess the impact of laboratory courses in medical school on subsequent University of Iowa house staff test use, and to assess the influence of attitudinal factors on test use patterns is reported. Physician preferences for style, format, and timing of laboratory training sessions are examined. (MSE)

Background information, apparatus, procedures, and typical results are provided for an experiment involving the direct synthesis of a phosphonium salt of the tetrachlorocobaltate(II) ion. A six-volt lantern battery supplies the necessary electric energy for the experiment. (SK)

Two different techniques, electrochemistry and spectroscopy, can be combined for studying the redox chemistry of inorganic, organic, and biological molecules. Several commonly used spectroelectrochemical methods and their applications are described. Includes discussions of optically transparent electrodes, optical absorption/fluorescence…