Activities in which students explore the fundamental reasons behind the unusual instability of the trans isomers in medium-sized cycloalkenes by using the results of molecular modeling are described. Exercises have been proposed to explore the structures of cycloheptene and cyclooctene by Hehre and others which would be helpful to disabuse…

A project was designed to introduce students to fungi in which students surveyed their school buildings for different types of mold. The students were able to make connections between structure and function of the fungal components and learn how these different components enhance survival in the environment.

A discussion on how a spreadsheet simulation of linear-molecular spectra could be used to explore the dependence of rotational band spacing and contours on average bond lengths in the initial and final quantum states is presented. The simulation of hydrogen chloride IR, iodine UV-vis, and nitrogen UV-vis spectra clearly show whether the average…

The different levels of protein structure that can be easily understood by creating a model that simulates protein folding, which can then be evaluated by applying it to a relevant activity, is presented. The materials required and the procedure for constructing a protein folding model are mentioned.

A chemical mystery with an emphasis on qualitative inorganic analysis, forensic chemistry and medicinal substances is discussed. The mystery is solved by Sherlock Holmes with the help of clues provided.

Some exercises to introduce students to the concept of green chemistry are given. By doing these exercises, students develop an appreciation for the role of green chemistry on feedstock substitution, milder reaction conditions, reduced environmental exposure, and resource conservation.

The synthesis of twenty different chalcones in the absence of solvent is presented. The results indicated that out of the twenty different chalcones investigated seventeen can be obtained in a matter of minutes by mixing the corresponding benzaldehyde and acetophenone in the presence of solid NaOH in a mortar with pestle.

As a result of listening to and acting upon the ideas and suggestions of the children in the authors' reception class, a simple science activity grew into a multi-curricula "team-building" project. It wasn't until staff were assembling all the information to make a big book to enable the children to look back on their work, that the…

This brief article presents some quick and easy science experiments for those dreary winter days when classrooms need a pick-me-up. These seemingly easy science experiments will make a lasting impact on students.

Students can use seed characteristics to discriminate between the different kinds of legumes using taxonomic classification processes of sorting and ranking, followed by construction of taxonomic keys. The application of the Learning Cycle process to taxonomic principles, hierarchical classification, and construction of keys presents the…

In 1990, a group of geologists discovered a large number of shatter cones in southwestern Montana. Shatter cones are a type of metamorphosed rock often found in impact structures (the remains of a crater after a meteor impact and years of Earth activity). Scientists have discovered only 168 impact craters around the world. If rocks could talk,…

Outlined is a simple design for a working wave-powered electrical generator based on one made on the BBC "Rough Science" TV series. The design has been kept deliberately simple to facilitate rapid pupil/student involvement and most importantly so that there is much scope for their own ingenuity and ideas. The generator works on the principle of…

Displays of living organisms are a great way to generate student interest and enthusiasm in the science classroom. Creating these displays is part of the author's job as a member of the Environmental Education Committee at the Appalachian Laboratory. One of her favorite displays features macroinvertebrates (mostly insects), gathered from a local…

This case is based on an article that considered the problems that would arise if a person were to cross over into a mirror-image environment (Yee 2002). Some of the stereochemistry problems posed in that article are woven into this case study. (Contains 8 figures.)

Graduate students should be exposed to molecular-based equations of state (EOS), in addition to commonly used empirical equations. We present a project for a graduate thermodynamics course where students are asked to determine the vapor-liquid equilibria, including the critical point, of a pure substance using three different EOS: (a) cubic, (b)…