A procedure for the solution polymerization of styrene using di-"tert"-butyl peroxide (DTBP) as the initiator is described. The use of DTBP allows for end-group analysis by [superscript 1]H NMR spectroscopy and calculation of the number-average molecular weight of the polymer. This experiment was designed as a laboratory introduction to…

Rheology is an enormously far-reaching branch of physics (or physical chemistry) and has a number of different guises. Rheological descriptions define fluids, semi-solids and conventional solids, and the application of this science defines the performance and utility of materials and substances as diverse as foods (such as yogurt and marmalade),…

To indicate that atomic weights of many elements are not constants of nature, in 2009 and 2011 the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW) of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) replaced single-value standard atomic weight values with atomic weight intervals for 12 elements (hydrogen, lithium, boron,…

Laboratory experiments provide students a tangible means of understanding dry, abstract concepts. A simple and engaging introductory wet chemistry laboratory has been developed relating quantum mechanics to color, which has been implemented for a class of about 600 students per academic year for over three years at Brown University. Color is an…

"Cannabis sativa" is a species of plant with a rich, yet controversial history. Although the utility of cannabis has been documented for thousands of years; during the last century, research has led to a more advanced understanding of its mechanism of action and therapeutic potential. Accordingly, there has been an explosion of interest…

Herein, we present an experience-based learning approach that uses the COVID-19 pandemics knowledge about virus spread and epidemics to establish an analogy between a simple epidemics model--the SIR model (susceptible--infected--removed), and a second-order autocatalytic reaction with subsequent catalyst deactivation. Our approach provides a…

A sudden pivot to online instruction required instructors to rapidly acquire new knowledge. Several online communities were built to satisfy their need for professional development. One such community, the Facebook group "Strategies for Teaching Chemistry Online", generated thousands of posts and comments about how to adapt chemistry…

On March 19, 2020, Argentina's government decided to close academic institutions for an indefinite time in an attempt to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the University established that, when the quarantine ends, 5 weeks will be reserved for face-to-face activities that could not be carried out virtually (laboratory lessons and…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many educators have been required to offer their courses online. A particular challenge is the implementation of practical laboratory experiments in the field of materials science. The central questions are the following: How can students carry out laboratory experiments at home? How are applications on mobile devices…

The need to develop clean-energy storage systems, harvesting technologies, and new functional materials are but a few of the many contemporary challenges in the domain of science today. To address these challenges, problem solving has become a key skill of the 21st century. It is generally documented, however, that experts and students differ in…

Using the Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy as the analytic framework, this study examined the impact of the reasoning flow scaffold (RFS) on students' written arguments. Two classes with a total of 88 10th grade students in a school participated in this study. One class, set as the experimental group, was taught scientific…

The comprehension of the reactivity of the elements is an important goal to be achieved in undergraduate courses in inorganic chemistry. Therefore, at Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), the B.Sc. in chemistry has a laboratory course dedicated to the chemistry of the elements. However, we have noticed a decrease in students' interest in…

Despite the importance of chemistry in addressing many of society's most significant challenges, there is a growing stigma associated with chemicals in our nation, often termed "chemophobia". We sought to appeal to the public, not only through education, but also through art as an avenue for appreciation with the development of a new…

Novel assessment tools are more often used in class especially after the Bologna Process (Pereira, D.; Flores, M. A.; Niklasson, I. Assess. "Eval. Higher Educ." 2016, 41, (7), 1008-1032, DOI: 10.1080/02602938.2015.1055233) in Europe. "Kahoot" has emerged as an attractive and interactive gaming platform, and considerable…

A characterization of the teaching of three chemistry professors was carried out using a case study with a phenomenographic approach to explore chemistry teachers' general pedagogical knowledge (GPK) through teachers' self-reflection. A video stimulated recall technique was used to identify and examine teachers' thoughts and decisions, as well as…