Highlights of the Eighth Biennial Conference on Chemical Education are presented, pointing out current issues, trends, and areas of concern discussed in presentations and symposia. Indicates that university, college, and high school teachers attending showed unity of purpose as the science education reform movement takes hold. (JN)

Discusses the development of the concept of atomicity and some of the many which can be used to establish its validity. Chemical evidence, evidence from crystals, Faraday's law of electrolysis, and Avogadro's number are among the areas which show how the concept originally developed from a purely philosophical idea. (JN)

Highlights a symposium which focused on chemistry courses, content, and objectives designed to meet the needs of nonscientist citizens. Examples of courses, objectives (such as the ability to solve social problems), and instructional strategies are provided. (JN)

Gives a detailed description of the constructon of equipment needed for redox equilibria experiments and the measurement of the electromotive force of voltaic cells. This information is provided to solve the problem of inadequate, expensive equipment required for A-level chemistry practical work. (JN)

Describes a strategy in which students complete 12 types of reports during a chemistry course. The goal is to improve their ability to communicate effectively in a variety of styles without sacrificing the traditional goals of imparting an understanding of experimental chemistry and an ability to critically analyze experiments/results. (JN)

Procedures for demonstrating thermodynamic changes, kinetics and reaction mechanisms, equilibrium, and LeChatelier's principle are presented. The only materials needed for these demonstrations are beakers, water, assorted wooden blocks of varying thickness, assorted rubber tubing, and a sponge. The concepts illustrated in each demonstration are…

Provides information on updating older fume hoods. Areas addressed include: (1) adjustment of the hood's back baffle; (2) hood air leakage; (3) light level; (4) hood location in relation to room traffic and room air; and (5) establishing and maintaining hood performance. (JN)

Recognizing that success in general chemistry is dependent on the development of disciplined study habits, the author motivates his students to develop these skills through prelecture assignments that introduce them to various studying strategies. The format and use of the prelecture assignments are described. (JN)

Presents American Chemical Society statistics on bachelor's, master's, and doctoral graduates from approved schools from 1980-84. Comparisons are made for yearly growth, certified/noncertified graduates, and men/women for both chemistry and chemical engineering. Also lists numbers and types of chemistry/chemical engineering degrees awarded by each…

Chemical reaction rates can be controlled by varying composition of miniscule clusters of metal atoms. These bimetallic catalysts have had major impact on petroleum refining, where work has involved heterogeneous catalysis (reacting molecules in a phase separate from catalyst.) Experimentation involving hydrocarbon reactions, catalytic…

Presents salary data and findings from the 1983 annual survey of the economic status of American Chemical Society members. Indicates that unemployment is down, median salaries are 5 percent higher than last year for Ph.D chemists (3 percent for non-Ph.Ds), and that raises are moderate compared to previous years. (JN)

Reports on axiomatic approach to systems design that has emanated from documentation work in field of chemistry and closely related disciplines. It is based on five axioms: definability, order, sufficient degree of order, representational predictability, and representational fidelity. Mandatory indexing is discussed; a glossary is appended. (106…

The effect of administrative service as department chair on the scholarly careers of academic chemists is explored through an analysis of their publication and doctoral student productivity records over a two-decade period. The results indicate no significant difference in the productivity levels of the experimental and control groups. (Author/MLW)

A special five and one-half year program for training upper secondary school chemistry teachers has been developed and tested over the past decade at Roskilde University near Copenhagen. The program (which emphasizes project work) and a student project on epoxy glue are described. Program graduates are generally problem-oriented and…

Describes the use of an inexpensive apparatus (based on a butane lighter fluid can and a standard tire pressure gauge) in measuring the atomic/molecular mass of an unknown gas and in demonstrating the mass of air or the dependence of pressure on the mass of a gas. (JN)