Use in research, natural history, behavior and characteristics, care and maintenance, breeding, and classroom use of the Mongolian gerbil are discussed. (BB)

This elementary school science project involves making a car out of pegboard, spools, rubber bands, and dowel. (BB)

Two demonstrations are described. Materials and instructions for demonstrating movement of molecules into cytoplasm using agar blocks, phenolphthalein, and sodium hydroxide are given. A simple method for demonstrating that the rate of diffusion of a gas is inversely proportional to its molecular weight is also presented. (AJ)

Three studies investigated identity status and self-consciousness. In the first, 870 high school students were administered measures of identity status and self-consciousness. In the second, 160 students 18 to 20 years of age completed a self-focus questionnaire and engaged in a self-focused laboratory task. Study three provided a replication of…

Described are infrared windows made from Tupperware and polyethylene coffee can lids that provide acceptable spectra for low-frequency infrared. (RH)

Described is a quick, easy, and cheap, but effective method of obtaining infrared spectra of solids and nonvolatile liquids by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The technique uses tissue paper as a support matrix. (RH)

Described is an alternative method to infrared spectroscopy for the quantification of xylene mixtures. The method employs nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. (RH)

Described is an experiment to investigate the plasticizer content in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products. The experiment is designed for college students using an instrumental analysis laboratory. (RH)

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)

Discusses problems and prospects in: (1) multielement atomic adsorption spectroscopy (AAS); (2) inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission; and (3) other aspects of atomic spectrometry. (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 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)