This article (1) defines risk management and discusses alternatives to treating exposures facing those operating chemical laboratories; (2) indicates how two Virginia universities did or did not apply the risk management concept to their laboratory settings; and (3) identifies potential sources of information on this subject. (JN)

Describes an exercise in which the entropy maximum is illustrated with a chemical example. The exercise allows students to work with an isolated, chemically reactive system and shows that the entropy of a nonisolated system can pass through a maximum but does so at a nonequilibrium point. (JN)

Solid ionic conductors are unusual materials that may find valuable applications in devices ranging from high-energy density batteries to lasers. The nature of these materials and their potential uses are discussed. (JN)

Explains and illustrates strange events which occur when two pendulums interact through a variety of interconnections. Phenomena addressed include: pendulums coupled by a spring, rod, or string; vertical and rotational oscillations, and synchronous and mirror-image swinging. A resonant-spring pendulum and a Wilberforce pendulum are also discussed.…

Explores the extent to which, in polycyclic hydrocarbons, the total pi electron population tends to form small (4n plus 2) groups and avoid the formation of 4n groups. Also discusses the relation of this trend to resonance energy stabilizations. (JN)

Although various methods are used to study solution chemistry, relationships between them are generally not self-evident, and the theory and procedure underlying each technique are frequently learned and memorized separately. Therefore, all of these methods are classified within a unified framework that clearly demonstrates relationships and…

Describes a method by which teachers can either produce their own silver of "technical" quality or recycle silver chloride residues to recover the silver for similar reuse. Procedures used are outlined and economics of the method are discussed. (JN)

Immediately following a lecture discussion on early hominid characteristics and behavior, students participate in a laboratory study of bipedal locomotion based on an analysis of footprints. The development and use of this simulation are described. (JN)

Discusses equilibrium distribution functions and provides an alternative "derivation" that allows the student, with the help of a computer, to gain intuitive insight as to the nature of distributions in general and the precise nature of the dominance of the Boltzmann distribution. (JN)

Shows how thermodynamic cycles can be used to understand trends in heats of formation and aqueous solubilities and, most importantly, how they may be used to choose synthetic routes to new ionic compounds. (JN)

Outlines how the radiative properties of a surface can be tailored so as to be favorable for efficient utilization of energy. The radiative properties of concern are transmittance, reflectance, absorptance, and emittance. (JN)

Presents three reasons for teaching science to students headed for career in other fields: curiousity, technological bewilderment, and technological necessity. Briefly describes two college courses which center on solving a science problem with social, political, and moral implications. (KH)

Provides a qualitative discussion on the force of a charged particle on itself. Areas addressed include: (1) time delay effects; (2) accelerating spherical charge; and (3) radiation resistance. (JN)

The classical vacuum of physics is not empty, but contains a distinctive pattern of electromagnetic fields. Discovery of the vacuum, thermal spectrum, classical electron theory, zero-point spectrum, and effects of acceleration are discussed. Connection between thermal radiation and the classical vacuum reveals unexpected unity in the laws of…

Briefly describes most of the currently available scientific word processing software packages. Unless noted, these products (including Molecular Presentation Graphics, ProofWriter, Spellbinder Scientific, Volkswriter Scientific, and WordMARC) run on the IBM PC family of microcomputers. (JN)