Biodiesel is an important alternative fuel synthesized by the trans-esterification of vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled greases. In this experiment, students prepared biodiesel through the base-catalyzed trans-esterification of several vegetable oils, which were subsequently analyzed in comparison with conventional petroleum-based fuels to…

With any piece of technology, there exists a learning curve where students need time to adjust to the ways in which the device works. If you struggle with having enough time for lab, it may be advantageous to have students learn how to operate one set of equipment and use that equipment as much as possible. In this article a unique application for…

This article describes a laboratory exercise designed for undergraduate students in the subject of "Regulation of cell proliferation" which allows the students to carry out a research experiment in an important field such as cell cycle control, and to be introduced to a widely used technique in molecular biology laboratories such as the…

The phenomenon of electric polarization is crucial to student understanding of forces exerted between charged objects and insulators or conductors, the process of charging by induction, and the behavior of electroscopes near charged objects. In addition, polarization allows for microscopic-level models of everyday-life macroscopic-level phenomena.…

On the basis of recent advances in battery research and technology, we have developed a novel laboratory exercise centered on an organic--inorganic battery using the redox chemistry of the organic molecule anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonic acid disodium salt (AQDS). Although most commercially available batteries are based on inorganic redox couples,…

This laboratory experiment allows one to study the effect of temperature in the process of formation of hydrogen bound cyclic dimers of benzoic acid (BA). The implementation of the proposed methodology, which comprises the use of FTIR spectroscopy and quantum chemistry calculations, enables the obtaining of the thermodynamic parameters of the…

Living cells are crowded. The presence of so many macromolecules packed into a confined environment affects the structure and function of biological components, and the kinetics and thermodynamics of biochemical reactions. In fact, crowding studies have already led to important biological insights, such as the existence of metabolons and other…

Guiding students to become practicing scientists entails teaching them the specialized ways of collaborating, writing, and thinking that these professionals utilize every day. Laboratory experiences provide unique opportunities for student-centered curricular activities that mimic these skills. The biodiesel laboratory experience described here…

This laboratory experiment showcases electroless deposition, an autocatalytic reduction process performed in aqueous solution containing a metal ion in the presence of a reducing agent yielding a coherent metal film. One set of experiments has been performed by second-semester general chemistry students in a 3 h lab session. After preparing an…

A robust laboratory protocol for the three-step synthesis of "p"-tolyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-"O"-benzoyl-1-thio-[beta]-d-glucopyranoside from commercial glucose pentaacetate is reported. The previously reported procedures have been modified to accommodate laboratories and students without proper training or equipment needed to conduct…

The purpose of this study is to determine the time management behaviours before starting experiments in the laboratory environment and to find out whether such behaviours are influential on academic achievement in the laboratory course. Nine pre-service science teachers were observed for 9-11 minutes per week before starting experiments for 6…

Wetlands are defined as areas of soil saturated with standing water. These areas are rich in biodiversity, containing numerous plants, animals and microorganisms. Wetlands act as natural filtering systems for runoff and can improve the water quality in an area. To demonstrate the importance of wetlands to a nonscience major introductory…

In a two-step synthesis starting with Ni(CH[subscript 3]COO)[subscript 2] ·4H[subscript 2]O and salicylaldehyde, students prepare Nethyl and N-isopropyl Ni(II) Schiff base (imine) complexes. After isolation and recrystallization, the products are characterized by room-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements, FTIR spectroscopy, and…

In the world of higher education, one of the struggles instructors face in the classroom is engaging students in the material. A second discussion in higher education pedagogy is how to weigh content versus activity in the science classroom. How should college teaching be set up when students now have every fact ever found at their fingertips on a…

The present study aimed to explore the availability and utilization of a science laboratory for the teaching and learning of science. This study was a joint collaboration with India's Ministry of Human Resource Development, the Government of India, and the National Council of Educational Research and Training. The study adopted descriptive survey…