One of the main topics of elementary physics is the idea that every material is composed of "little particles that move around in perpetual motion, attracting each other when they are a little distance apart, but repelling upon being squeezed into one other." These particles could be atoms or molecules. Atoms are the smallest part into…

Understanding the relationship between protein structure and function is a core-learning goal in biochemistry. Students often struggle to visualize proteins as three-dimensional objects that interact with other molecules to affect its biochemical consequences. We describe here a partial course-based undergraduate research experiences that has…

Metabolism and its regulation is one of the most complex and difficult topics for students learning biochemistry. A problem-/case-based learning (PBL) approach can be useful to help biochemistry students to fulfill the goal of acquiring an integrated view of metabolism and its regulation. The present article describes our experience enrolling…

Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical techniques are very important for characterizing energy materials. In the search for new sources of renewable energy, water splitting for hydrogen production and CO[subscript 2] reduction is attracting significant attention. These applications require efficient and durable catalysts and a detailed…

Although residues and resource shortages are major problems of modern living, these topics are not usually properly covered in university curricula. To tackle this situation, we have guided undergraduate students through the design of a group of active learning activities, to demonstrate the science behind separation and recycling: trash…

Tungsten oxide semiconductors are used to photooxidize water. Students prepare WO3, CuWO4, and mixed composition thin film photoanodes. The syntheses are simple, allowing for the quick production of a range of materials. Photoanodes are tested in a photoelectrochemical cell assembled from common equipment, allowing for the direct comparison of…

The Briggs-Rauscher reaction is a popular demonstration to illustrate chemical oscillations in laboratories, classrooms, and public seminars because of its simplicity and visual appeal. Here, we adapt the Briggs-Rauscher reaction to present reaction-diffusion-convection patterns in the undergraduate general or physical chemistry laboratory. By…

Given the great interest that black holes arouse among non-specialists, it is important to analyse misconceptions related to them. According to the author, the most common misconceptions are that: (1) black holes are formed from stellar collapse; (2) they are very massive; (3) they are very dense; (4) their gravity absorbs everything; and (5) they…

Gross anatomy is often taught and assessed based on a "standard" view of the human body, limiting students' exposure to normal variation, creating a potential curricular gap in the training of future anatomists and health care professionals. This scoping review explores learning objectives and teaching approaches associated with…

An ordinary soap bubble immersed in a pure carbon-dioxide atmosphere, created e.g. by sublimating chunks of dry ice (solid CO[subscript 2]), will expand within a few minutes to a volume exceeding the original one with a factor of almost ten. Considering that the bubble simultaneously experiences a cooling of ~30 ?C one would perhaps expect a tiny…

A fast, operationally simple, and reproducible synthetic protocol for anthraquinone dyes (AQDs), suitable for upper-division undergraduate industrial and organic chemistry laboratory courses, has been developed. This experiment is composed of three stages; the first step deals with the synthesis of AQDs, followed by a purification step, and…

Student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are commonly used in performance evaluations of university faculty. However, evidence regarding the association of SETs to student learning has been inconsistent. One way to assess the connection between SETs and actual learning is to compare SETs in the first course in a sequence to student performance in…

The ability to collaborate with culturally diverse groups is essential, not only to further scientific knowledge but also to solve complex global problems. However, not all students have opportunities to develop intercultural competencies through study abroad programs, due to various issues such as cost, rigid curriculum, and unrelated field of…

A novel undergraduate analytical chemistry experiment involving the identification and quantification of linalool in essential oils was developed. The experiment uses the internal standard method with headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography--mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This method is applicable to any linalool-containing…

This communication describes an activity where upper-level chemistry students explore the determinability of rate constant values without concentration dependences (k[subscript true]) related to a solvent-ligand exchange in a transition metal carbonyl complex. By performing a series of multivariable linear regression (MVLR) analyses of…