Four questions chemistry teachers should regularly ask are How well informed am I on safety? Do I instruct students about safety in an appropriate manner? How well do I plan for safety? Do I accept my responsibility to supervise personally all laboratory activities? Answers to these questions are provided. (JN)

Background information and procedures are provided for an experiment in which an oxidation reaction is used to distinguish saturated from unsaturated fats. Results of the experiment lead to discussions and investigations of such areas as digestion chemistry, enzymes, hydrogenation, and the relationship between heart disease and fat consumption.…

Describes a pre-class, warm-up exercise consisting of an "Appetizer Booklet" divided into five sections: puzzles; creations; questionnaires; pictures; and reading. Students are limited to 5 or 10 minutes and the work is not graded but occasionally collected and shared. Example exercises are provided. (BC)

Discusses various aspects related to nutrition and athletics. Examines nutritional requirements, energy use, carbohydrate loading, and myths and fallacies regarding food and athletic performance. Indicates that scientific evidence does not validate the use of any special diet by an athlete. (JN)

Suggests humanizing physics classes by incorporating class-wide, local, or national contests. Several examples of this approach are offered and discussed. (JN)

As alternatives to the well-known Kodak Kodalith film for making presentation slides, suggests using Kodak Technical Pan Film, 2415 and Kodak Precision Fine Film LPD4. Although less known, both films are capable of making excellent quality slides with minimum effort and, for the occasional user, offer advantages over the Kodalith-Diazochrome…

Discusses effects of Kimax and Pyrex glass on: (1) 0.4956 molar (M) ethanolic potassium hydroxide; (2) 0.1116 M aqueous sodium Hydroxide (NaOH); (3) 0.01081 M aqueous NaOH; (4) 0.001148 M aqueous NaOH; and on (5) distilled water. (JN)

Explains how and why mirages are formed. The three basic types of mirages (inferior--seen below an object, superior--seen above an object, and the fata morgana--which occurs when inferior and superior mirages coexist) are considered. (JN)

Provides a physics explanation for a toy top driven by a magnet. Draws parallels to electric watches which use balance wheels with small permanent magnet mounts on them and having the coils mounted at one side. (JM)

Presents a selection from a revised and updated version of "The Red Limit" by Timothy Ferris. The book is a completely nontechnical introduction to 20th century cosmology, the study of the large-scale properties of the universe. (JN)

A model of twin octahedrons having a common line which is useful for teaching stereochemistry (especially that of complex ions) can be made easily by using a sealed, empty envelope. The steps necessary to accomplish this task are presented. (JN)

A model of a cube which is necessary for teaching stereochemistry (especially of inorganic compounds) can be made easily, by using a sealed, empty envelope. The steps necessary to accomplish this task are presented. (JN)

A model of a trigonal prism which is useful for teaching stereochemistry (especially of the neodymium enneahydrate ion), can be made easily by using a sealed, empty envelope. The steps necessary to accomplish this task are presented. (JN)

A model of a square antiprism which is necessary for teaching stereochemistry (for example, of the octafluorotantalate ion) can be made easily by using a sealed, empty envelope. The steps necessary to accomplish this task are presented. (JN)

A model of a dodecahedron which is necessary for teaching stereochemistry (for example, that of dodecahedrane) can be made easily by using a sealed, empty envelope. The steps necessary for accomplishing this task are presented. (JN)