Flavor plays a crucial role and is the most important aspect of foods and beverages. [Beta]-Ionone is a common flavor compound with a characteristic violet-like odor. An undergraduate flavor compounds chemistry laboratory that provides preparation and characterization of the flavor compound inclusion complex between…

In this laboratory experiment, students apply a mass-based approach to determine the Henry's law constant for CO[subscript 2] using a small bottle of a diet carbonated beverage. The calculations are challenging; therefore, team-based learning is encouraged. Our students reported values of 0.033 ± 0.003 mol/(L[middle dot]atm) at room temperature…

One theme that both the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the National Research Council (NRC) agree pervades any science course (and specifically chemistry) is scale. Despite the fact that scale concepts and skills are at the core of a student's scientific literacy, scale or the skills related to understanding quantity…

Gold is an increasingly prominent transition metal in organic synthesis. The air-stable, water-insensitive cationic gold(I) catalysts enable varieties of synthetic transformations with a simple reaction setup. However, this increased importance has not coincided with an increase in the application of gold in second-year organic chemistry courses.…

Molecular orbital diagrams are commonly taught and used for describing chemical bonding chemistry courses including courses at the college level. Misconceptions that occur when students construct and/or use these diagrams are difficult to anticipate, diminish the diagram utility, and limit student learning. In this exploratory study, a combination…

This laboratory experiment introduces students to an important reaction in biomass valorization and allows them to gain a practical understanding of green chemistry. Acid-catalyzed dehydration reactions of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and thus humins were performed both with and without aqueous solvent, along with two different catalysts…

Stepped supporting tools were developed and used in the university seminar Organic Chemistry taken by nonmajor chemistry students, which supported self-regulated learning. These supporting tools were also used for accompanying homework, which included a QR code that led to additional supporting tools. The application of stepped supporting tools in…

This experiment provides students with a thorough understanding of electrolysis and the parameters that most greatly impact optimization of this process. In this laboratory exercise, students will focus on the anodization of bismuth metal to develop thin oxide films. When designing an electrolytic cell devoted to anodization, there are several…

In this experiment, students are asked to conduct a catalytic cross-metathesis experiment and compare this reaction to the Wittig reaction within the confines of green chemistry. Students synthesize stilbene from styrene using Grubbs second-generation catalyst. Products can be minimally characterized by IR spectroscopy and melting point, but using…

4-"tert"-Butylcyclohexanol is rapidly converted to 4-"tert"-butylcyclohexanone with swimming pool bleach in a homogeneous reaction at room temperature. This process introduces students to a heterocyclic compound not normally discussed in the introductory course and has significant advantages over standard procedures using…

Research has shown that within a traditional organic chemistry curriculum, organic chemistry students struggle to develop deep conceptual understanding of reactions and attribute little meaning to the electron-pushing formalism. At the University of Ottawa, a new curriculum was developed for organic chemistry in which students are taught the…

The relationship between chemical structure and physical and chemical properties is essential to chemistry. Studies have shown that students have difficulty using structural representations to predict properties, which is not surprising because of the sequence of inferences that are required for sense-making. However, obtaining a nuanced model of…

There is a need for more courses that directly address the role business plays in the development of new products and technology. This is particularly true in the areas of green and sustainable chemistry where altruism is often not enough to overcome perceived increased cost. Chemistry of Sustainable Products is an undergraduate chemistry course…

The implementation of environmentally friendly, solvent-free mechanochemical synthesis in an undergraduate chemistry teaching laboratory is described. As a model reaction, the experiment addresses the catalytic mechanochemical synthesis of a small library of sulfonylureas, including a known active pharmaceutical ingredient, tolbutamide. The…

The study explored the influence of principals' leadership styles on senior secondary school students' achievement in chemistry in the Kogi State of Nigeria. It was guided by one research question and three hypotheses. Correlation survey research design was used. The target population was Senior Secondary Class Three chemistry teachers and…