In this paper we present a novel approach to teach kinetic energy as an observable and measurable concept. The fundamental principles have been outlined for gravitational potential energy in an earlier work, that we extend here. By accelerating or decelerating bodies with springs we begin, in a first step, with a direct comparison method for…

A laboratory experiment is detailed that entails the separation and derivatization of the artificial sweetener sucralose from a commercially available sweetener mixture. The experiment utilizes 1 g packets of a sucralose-based artificial sweetener and involves the separation of the synthetic sweetener from the more polar bulk additives by…

A reliable method for bleach-based alcohol oxidation has been developed. Use of sodium bisulfate as the acid additive in the reaction mixture eliminates the various problems associated with acetic acid, which has commonly been used for this type of oxidation. By conducting the reaction in an ethyl acetate/water two-phase reaction mixture,…

Teaching the concept of pH buffers is considered to be important both in the final high-school years and at the early undergraduate level. Here, we propose the use of pH-log C diagrams to investigate the properties of pH buffers. This graphical approach is extremely simple to employ because it only requires drawing a simple square that can then be…

A collaborative learning module for teaching protein mass spectrometry has been developed to overcome common obstacles to incorporating the modern topic of biological mass spectrometry into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. Protein mass spectrometry data is provided to eliminate the need for expensive instrumentation, and an instructor's…

A physical model has been designed to help students visualize concepts involved when solving infrared spectra. The physical model uses balls and springs to incorporate the harmonic oscillator model and Hooke's law to study dynamic vibrations within diatomic molecules. Various concepts are addressed with the model to abstract principles about how…

This quasi-experimental study evaluated middle- and high-school science teachers' implementation of three-dimensional (3D) instruction as defined by the "Next Generation Science Standards." Teachers participated in a long-term professional development (PD) program designed to increase their use of inquiry-based science instruction. We…

Purpose: Self-efficacy plays a crucial role in achievement; and thus, it is important to determine the factors affecting self-efficacy. It has been known that one's reflections and evaluations of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are of paramount importance in the development of self-efficacy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to…

In this mixed-methods study, undergraduate students identified with a learning disability indicated their preferred instructional approaches to learning in college-level STEM courses. The relationships between preferred instructional strategies and learner characteristics: (a) declared major; (b) learning disability; and (c) gender were examined.…

NMR is a fundamental part of any undergraduate chemistry degree, and training students how to measure and interpret NMR spectra is essential for postgraduate research or chemistry-based careers. Traditionally, the undergraduate laboratory experience with NMR is restricted to sample submission for NMR analysis, which is typically conducted by a…

A laboratory experiment utilizing locally available Indian Gooseberry ("Phyllanthus emblica" Linn.) extract as a bioreagent to determine iron(III) is described with the goal of providing students with hands-on experience in spectrophotometry and green chemistry. Spectrophotometry was used to measure the concentration of the complex…

A laboratory experiment introducing the concept of chemical bioconjugation of proteins to undergraduate students in a therapeutically relevant context was developed. Initially, students installed an aldehyde functionality into a protein via the oxidation of the N-terminal threonine residue of the cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) protein, which was…

A spin coater is widely used for thin film coating in nano/microtechnology. In this paper, a spin coater with inexpensive mechanical and electronic components was fabricated based on an open-source Arduino microcontroller. To measure and control the spin speed of the spin coater, two sensor types including two infrared (IR) light-emitting diodes…

The labs presented here build on a simple speed of sound activity and models medical ultrasound imaging by demonstrating how multiple reflections propagate in a closed system. A short sound pulse is emitted into a pipe that is closed at one end and contains one or more partially reflecting surfaces within the pipe. The variety of reflections and…

This paper presents the usage of an Excel spreadsheet for studying charged particle dynamics in the presence of uniform electric and magnetic fields. The equation of motion of the charged particle is developed under different conditions and the data is obtained in an Excel spreadsheet under variation of parameters such as the velocity of charged…