Self-efficacy, or a person's perception of his/her own mastery of a skill, affects subsequent task performance and predictions of future performance. To examine older adults' metamemorial knowledge with respect to predicting their performance on everyday and laboratory memory tasks, 28 adults (22 females, 6 males), aged 58 to 80 years, completed a…

Described is an independent study project for students in chemistry at New College, Sarasota, Florida. Six students collected and analyzed local plants to determine content of alkaloids, terpenes, and flavonoids. (RH)

Describes a series of experiments designed for general chemistry in which the students prepare metal complexes which are then used as samples for spectral study. (SLH)

Describes a technique of quantitative analysis based on measuring the temperature change accompanying a quantitative reaction in solution. Can be used for delta-H measurements and quantitative determinations by comparison of data obtained for an unknown with that obtained for a series of standards. (SLH)

Describes a procedure for freeing an element from either a mineral or organic matrix with the use of a radioactive tracer to determine recovery of the elements. (SLH)

Discusses the general design and operation of a quantitative analysis laboratory which is relevant to the student's career objectives and provides reliable and objective criteria for judging student performance. Included are a list of core experiments and a description of student responses. (CC)

Presents a series of activities which focus on the study of the physical characteristics of water, including temperatures, opacity, pH-values, oxygen concentrations, reagents, and free CO2 concentrations. Indicates that ponds can provide the students with opportunities to learn chemistry, geology, biology, botany, and the effects of weather. (CC)

This booklet of experiments was compiled from various teachers' guides in response to the many requests from students for help in preparing smoking demonstrations and exhibits. The booklet is divided into three sections. Part 1 illustrates a number of experiments, most of which require some laboratory equipment. Part 2 includes a number of…

Describes an experiment in which rat adipose tissue samples are exposed to labeled glucose; insulin is added to one sample. Subsequent scintillation counting demonstrates the ability of insulin to facilitate the entry of glucose into the tissue. (MLH)

In this simple experiment for an undergraduate laboratory a laser beam is passed through the mixing zone of two liquids with different refractive indices. The spatial variation of the refractive index, at different times during the mixing, can be determined from the observed deflection of the beam. (Author)

Describes four synthesis experiments, adapted for the general chemistry laboratory, in which compounds in unusual oxidation are prepared. The abnormal oxidation states involved in the synthesis products are: silver (II), chromium (II), lead (IV), and bromine (I). (MLH)

Describes two experiments, one involving the electrolysis of potassium iodide and the other involving a diffusion process in solid copper. (GS)