Describes a laboratory demonstration in chemical equilibrium using ferric chloride and ammonium thiocyanate that would serve as a useful basis for an inquiry investigation. (BT)

Describes a programed, independent study, college level, general chemistry course designed to develop good technical laboratory skills with no attempt made to relate laboratory experiments and classroom topics. A list of experiments used and a sample laboratory examination are included. (BT)

Described is a base-friction modeling technique for studying the development of collapse structures in jointed rocks. A moving belt beneath weak material is designed to simulate gravity. A description is given of the model frame construction. (Author/SA)

An experiment for senior college undergraduate physics students is described. Amorphous tungsten trioxide films are suggested for use since they have a unique electrochromic system. (Author/SA)

Describes a high school chemistry experiment which involves the reaction between calcite and hydrochloric and sulfuric acids. This reaction can be carried out as a projected demonstration and on an individual basis. (HM)

A course is described that is designed to encourage exploration, conceptual invention, and expansion of an idea. Results are given that relate to curricular experimentation with chemistry. (SA)

This inexpensive but informative experiment for undergraduate biochemistry students involves isolating phosphatidyl choline from spinach leaves. Emphasis is on introducing students to techniques of lipid extraction, separation of lipids, identification using thin layer chromatography, and identification of fatty acids. Three periods of three hours…

Describes projects for high school physics classes that use computer tools including integrated software packages, graphing calculators, and calculator-based lab and microcomputer-based lab. Sites available on the World Wide Web are discussed and specific examples of experiments based on Galileo and Newton are included. (LRW)

Describes a physics experiment investigating temperature prediction and the relationship between the physical properties of heat units, melting, dissolving, states of matter, and energy loss. Details the experimental setup, which requires hot and cold water, a thermometer, and ice. Notes that the experiment employs a deliberate counter-intuitive…

Describes an experiment to illustrate the effect of food source and added nutrients (N) on microbial activity in the soil. Supplies include air-dried soil, dried plant material, sources of carbon and nitrogen, a trap such as KOH, colored water, and a 500-mL Erlenmeyer flask. Includes a diagram of an incubation chamber to demonstrate microbial…

Describes a classroom unit that provides preschoolers with hands-on experience, using common dirt as a way to develop scientific thinking and foster an appreciation of biology, ecology, and the natural world. Focuses on practicing the basic steps in the scientific process, including prediction, observation, documentation, conclusions, and…

Presents numismatic experiments that cover a range of topics that tie physical science and chemistry to society and history. Discusses measuring length; measuring mass; metals, alloys, and amalgams; reactivity of metals and electrochemistry; reactions of metals with acids; money to burn; magnetic properties of coins; inertia; refraction;…

Presented are the procedures and a discussion of the results for an experiment in which students select unknown carboxylic acids, determine their melting points, and investigate their solubility behavior in water and ethanol. A table of selected carboxylic acids is included. (CW)

Presents a laboratory experiment which illustrates the formation of tris(phenanthroline)cobalt complexes in the 2+ and 3+ oxidation states, the effect of coordination on reactions of the ligand, and the use of a ligand displacement reaction in recovering the transformed ligand. Uses IR, UV-VIS, conductivity, and NMR. (MVL)

Presents a short reaction sequence that allows the student to determine by spectroscopic methods the constitution and stereochemistry of the reaction products. Reports the interpretations needed to illustrate the usefulness of the spectroscopic method. Notes the products of the Michael-Aldol reaction have not been reported in the literature. (MVL)