Supplies short descriptions of several computer applications in the college science classroom and laboratory, including: applications; interfacing and data collection with the TRS-80; programs for activity corrections in acid/base and precipitation titration curve calculations; computer-assisted data analysis of enzyme kinetics; and microcomputer…

Background information and experimental procedures are provided for three lecture-demonstrations (involving hydrolysis of tetra-butyl chloride) illustrating: (1) common-ion or mass law effect; (2) effect of changing ionizing power of a solvent on a solvolysis reaction; and (3) collecting/plotting data to illustrate a first-order reaction.…

A Fortran IV program is described which calculates relative peak intensities of any molecular or fragment ion and displays them graphically as a bar graph resembling a mass spectrum. Documentation, including listing, sample usage, and sample execution is available free of charge. (Author/JN)

Investigated (1) changes in community college students' (N=208) attitudes toward introductory biology, school, and academic self and (2) relationships between attitudes/achievement (measured by Nelson Biology Test and course grade). Data indicated that while cognitive behavior was changed during the course, attitudes either stayed the same or…

Aluminum foil can be used to make impressions of structures preserved in sedimentary rock. The impressions can be projected onto a screen, photographed, or a Plaster of Paris model can be made from them. Impressions of ripple marks, mudcracks, and raindrop impressions are provided in photographs illustrating the technique. (Author/JN)

Describes a sequence of experiments developed at Texas A&M University for use in one-semester and two-semester (nonmajors) organic chemistry courses to teach a maximum number of separation and purification techniques such as distillations, recrystallization, liquid-liquid extraction, and chromatography. (SK)

A fast-flow discharge reactor has been used in an analytical chemistry demonstration of gas phase titration, in inorganic preparative chemistry, and in physical chemistry as a "practice" vacuum line, kinetic reactor, and spectroscopic source as well as an undergraduate research tool. (SK)

Computer applications in scientific instrumentation are traced from early data processing to modern computer-based instruments. Probable pathways toward instruments with increased "intelligence" include, among others, implementation of hierarchical computer networks and microprocessor controllers and the simplification of programing. The…

Cognitive preference, a cognitive style acquired through life and learning experiences and representing a distinct orientation to information processing, was related to creativity of college students (N=135). Correlations were observed between cognitive preference and verbal creativity but not with figural creativity as measured by the Torrance…

Assesses the impact of teaching assistants' background on the achievement of chemistry students in laboratory sessions they taught. Includes methodology, nature of background data collection, results, and limitations of the study. (SK)

Presented is a card game (loosely based on Canasta) for use in teaching microbial systematics. The cards and rules are described for the game, which is based on the construction of named microorganisms drawn from a collection of cards carrying a range of characteristics. (CS)

Reviews the dangers of benzene as a toxin as well as a flammable substance. (CS)

Outlined are recent developments in the field of organosilicon chemistry. Discussed are processes for synthesizing organosilanes, chemical bonding in silicon compounds, silicone polymers, and catenated polysilanes. (CS)

Describes a synthetic organic laboratory experiment which ensures independence of students but is not excessively demanding of instructor time. Each student is provided with different starting materials to prepare different flavones but use the same general procedure, the "organic synthesis" flavone preparation. Various features of this procedure…

The salient features and importance of chain-reaction polymerization are discussed, including such topics as the thermodynamics of polymerization, free-radical polymerization kinetics, radical polymerization processes, copolymers, and free-radical chain, anionic, cationic, coordination, and ring-opening polymerizations. (JN)