Describes an interdisciplinary approach designed to use the humanities as a source of material to exemplify chemical principles, stimulate critical thinking along scientific lines, and demonstrate to nonscience majors that chemistry is relevant to their academic experiences. A sample unit on environmental pollution, drugs, and poisons is also…

Presents background information on nitric acid including old names, history, occurrence, methods of preparation, uses, production, and price. Includes such chemical properties as decomposition; acidity, oxidation of metals and nonmetals; reactions with organic and inorganic compounds; gaseous fluorine; and nitrating properties. Also discusses bond…

Describes two techniques for making 35 millimeter slides without using photographic film. One method uses clear adhesive contact paper and the other uses transparency film. Both techniques are inexpensive and require only a few minutes of preparation per slide. (JM)

Describes a series of writing exercises specifically designed to improve students' comprehension of physics. Students are given a RAFT which defines their role, audience, format, and task. Format for writing essays focuses on key ideas, general ideas, specific cases, and additional insights. (JM)

Describes an inexpensive and versitile interface which can be readily adapted to many on-line experimental projects in scientific fields by educators who are not computer experts. Hardware and software requirements are noted. (JN)

Presented is the full American Chemical Society (ACS) report on the number of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral graduates in chemistry and chemical engineering. Includes a complete list of degrees awarded by institution. Indicates that although bachelor's and master's degrees have increased, the number of master's degrees awarded has decreased.…

Proposes an approach to chemical kinetics and mechanism using statistical games, illustrating its use in monomolecular, catalytic, autocatalytic, consecutive, and equilibrium reactions. Major features of the games are also outlined and discussed. (JN)

Because class size often limits student opportunity to handle individual models, teachers use stereoscopic projections to demonstrate structural features. Describes three-dimensional pointers for use with different projection systems so teachers can indicate a particular atom or bond to entire classes, avoiding the perspective problems inherent in…

Background information (including optical properties of inorganic materials) and procedures are provided for an experiment which introduces students to preparation of a doped semiconductor; phosphorescence; gettering procedures; reducing atmospheres; and use of a high-temperature furnace with associated thermocouples, temperature controllers, and…

Describes studies at winter bird feeders which enhance instruction of ecology at the University of Michigan biological station. Background material is provided for field activities in which black-capped chickadees are observed and for home range determination and population estimate activities. (DH)

Examines techniques used to make ultrasensitive spectroscopic measurements. They include excitation, thermal lens, photo acoustic, and ionization spectroscopies. Guidelines and methods are provided for each technique; common uses and applications are explained. (DH)

Discusses: (1) the conflict about the importance of research at predominantly undergraduate schools; (2) sources of funding for undergraduate research (several of which are targeted at predominantly undergraduate institutions); and (3) undergraduate research at doctoral-granting institutions. (JN)

Describes an apparatus developed for photochemical studies, particularly those involving the fluorescence of halogenated acetones. The apparatus is constructed from equipment normally found in a moderately sized physical chemical laboratory. Also provides background information on some aspects of the photophysics of halogenated propanones. (JN)

Describes a set of experiments (for senior-level biochemistry students) which permit evaluation and estimation of rate and equilibrium constants involving an intermediate in the alpha-chymotrypsin mediated hydrolysis of ortho-hydroxy-alpha-toluenesulfonic acid (I). The only equipment required for the experiments is a well-thermostated double beam…

The advantages of DNA hybridization procedures for classroom and clinical use can now be realized by the recent development of nonradioactive DNA labeling/detection procedures. These methods (which are described) can replace the use of isotopes in standard DNA hybridization procedures. (JN)