Focuses on piezoelectric materials and devices in electronics. The discovery, present status, and future prospects of piezoelectricity are also presented. (HM)

This experiment is designed to acquaint the student with a macromolecular synthesis of a crown ether type compound. The starting materials are readily available and the product, a cyclic polyether, belongs to a class of compounds that has aroused the interest of chemist and biologist alike. (Author/BB)

This undergraduate experiment shows that the inclusion of an appropriate additive can have a very marked effect on the physical properties of a polymer. The polymer used is polypropylene and the additives are 2-hydroxy-4-octyloxy-benzophenone and benzophenone. (BB)

Derived is the classical partition function for the rotation of a rigid asymmetric molecule, by a transformation of variables in the phase integral circumventing the cumbersome manipulation of the canonical prescription. (Author/GA)

Describes the development and operation of a mastery learning scheme used with part-time students in an HNC chemistry course. (Author/GA)

Describes an experiment on light trapping in thin liquid films. Injection of a thin layer of solution at the boundary of a moving solvent is utilized to create a thin fluid sheet having an index of refraction greater than that of the surrounding medium. (Author/SA)

Describes a short undergraduate experiment which helps in explaining the concept of entropy and in illustrating the second law of thermodynamics. (GA)

Describes an attempt to develop and staff a new first-year laboratory course at the University of Jordan. A postgraduate course in chemical education is used as the development and training vehicle. (BT)

Presents a simple way to introduce Direct Methods program systems to solve phase problems in x-ray crystal structure determination. It is intended for the undergraduate chemistry student laboratory. (Author/SA)

Describes an exam question which challenges college freshmen, enrolled in chemistry, to derive temperature dependence of an equilibrium constant. The question requires cognitive response at the level of synthesis. (Author/SA)

Describes an experiment which uses a radioactive source, a Sodium Iodide detector, and a simple counting apparatus possessed by most universities and colleges. The decay scheme and the theory of nuclear beta decay are presented. (Author/SA)

Describes the undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum at the Speed Scientific School of the University of Louisville. The history of the department, a description of the chemical engineering courses, and the strengths and weaknesses of the program are also included. (HM)

Describes potentially dangerous classroom situations involving toxic minerals. The intent of the article is to make students aware of the dangers so that they may act responsibly in health-related decisions as professional geologists. (Author/SA)

Describes a constant-temperature observation chamber and includes instructions on constructing the apparatus. Suggestions for use are given as well as problems that might be encountered. (Author/SA)

Three derivations of the complete discharge time of a capacitor through a resistor are reviewed and examples of potential interest in the classroom are given. (Author/SA)