THE FEASIBILITY AND PRACTICABILITY OF USING A DIGITAL COMPUTER (IBM 1620) TO GRADE PHYSICS LABORATORY REPORTS WAS INVESTIGATED. IN ORDER TO TEST THE VALUE OF USING THE COMPUTER, TWO TYPES OF COMPUTER PROGRAMS WERE WRITTEN FOR EACH OF FOUR EXPERIMENTS. ONE PROGRAM COMPLETELY GRADED THE REPORTS BY ENTERING THE STUDENT'S DATA AND HIS CALCULATED…

This paper reports an experiment carried out by a sixth-grade science class by a pupil as part of the requirements of the laboratory section of the class. (Author)

The growth and study of lower fungi, especially Oomycetes and Zygomycetes, in the biology classroom are described. (BB)

Compares the preparation and decomposition of potassium dibromoiodate and of phenyl iodine dichloride in a flexible experiment which accustoms the student to handle halogens, to test for halogens in mixtures, and to appreciate the difference between thermodynamic and kinetic control of reactions. (Author/MA)

Presents material dealing with an application of statistical thermodynamics to the diatomic solid I-2(s). The objective is to enhance the student's appreciation of the power of the statistical formulation of thermodynamics. The Simple Einstein Model is used. (Author/MA)

Two demonstrations are described which are suitable for introductory chemistry classes. The first involves the precipitation of silver, and the second is a demonstration of the relationship between rate constants and equilibrium constants using water and beakers. (BB)

Describes two elementary experiments involving plasma electrical conductivity. (SL)

Background information (including chemical reactions) and procedures used are provided for (1) three buffer demonstrations and (2) a demonstration of phase transfer catalysis and carbanion formation. (JN)

Describes experiments in which students determine the ground state ionization constant (GSIC) by analyzing the absorption spectra of 2-naphthol in acidic, basic, and buffered solutions. Information on the ground and excited state ionization constants and on the kinetics of the excited state deprotonation-protonation reaction is included. (JN)

Background information, procedures used, and equipment needed are provided for an experiment in which a series of readily available, inexpensive, and relatively nontoxic phenols are separated using thin-layer chromatographic techniques. The experiment permits a discussion of how relative Rf values may be rationalized by considering a molecule's…

A retroreflector is a mirror that removes distortion from a light beam. Describes experiments using the retroreflector as well as related phenomena. (JN)

Job's method of continuous variations is a commonly used procedure for determining the composition of complexes in solution. Presents: (1) a review of the method; (2) theory of a new procedure for measuring Job's plots; and (3) an undergraduate experiment using the new method. (JN)

Determining the pounds of sodium chloride needed for a water softener to replace all the calcium/magnesium ions in a month's water supply for a typical local household is used as an exercise to integrate several chemistry concepts. The solution to this problem and suggestions for related laboratory experiments are offered. (JN)

Background information, procedures, equipment, and results for two experiments are presented. The first involves the measurement of the mass-average and degree of coiling of polystyrene and is interpreted by the full mathematical theory of light scattering. The second is the study of transitions in gelatin. (JN)

Describes a physical chemistry experiment which allows such concepts as kinetics, catalysis, isotope shifts, coupling constants, and the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for quantitative work to be covered in the same exercise. Background information, experimental procedures used, and typical results obtained are included. (JN)