Compares two palladium (Pd/C) reducing systems to iron/tin-hydrochloric acid (Fe/HCl and Sn/HCl) reductions and suggests an efficient, clean, and inexpensive procedures for the conversion of nitrobenzene to aniline. Includes laboratory procedures used and discussion of typical results obtained. (JN)

A study to assess the impact of laboratory courses in medical school on subsequent University of Iowa house staff test use, and to assess the influence of attitudinal factors on test use patterns is reported. Physician preferences for style, format, and timing of laboratory training sessions are examined. (MSE)

Background information, apparatus, procedures, and typical results are provided for an experiment involving the direct synthesis of a phosphonium salt of the tetrachlorocobaltate(II) ion. A six-volt lantern battery supplies the necessary electric energy for the experiment. (SK)

Two different techniques, electrochemistry and spectroscopy, can be combined for studying the redox chemistry of inorganic, organic, and biological molecules. Several commonly used spectroelectrochemical methods and their applications are described. Includes discussions of optically transparent electrodes, optical absorption/fluorescence…

Several simple experiments illustrating how the light regime affects the final form of dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis) are provided. These experiments, which can also be done with other plants, focus on differences in the anatomy, morphology, and physiology of sun and shade leaves. (JN)

By using intense pulsed coherent x-ray sources it will be possible to obtain magnified three-dimensional images of living elementary biological structures at precisely defined instants. Discussed are sources/geometrics for x-ray holography, x-radiation interactions, factors affecting resolution, recording the hologram, high-intensity holography,…

Although a large number of experiments on aquation kinetics of inert octahedral complexes exist, few exist on the reverse (anation) reaction. Preliminary considerations and laboratory procedures for a kinetic study of the anation reaction are provided. Several pairs of students can complete the experiment in a three-hour period. (Author/JN)

Describes an experiment illustrating how such chemical concepts as light absorption, thermodynamics, and solid-state photovoltaics can be incorporated into solar energy education. Completed in a three-hour period, the experiment requires about two hours for data collections with the remaining hour devoted to calculations and comparison of results.…

Background information, procedures, and results, are provided for an undergraduate experiment in which analgesic tablets are analyzed using liquid chromatography. The experiment, an improved, modified version of the Waters Associates Inc. experiment, is simple to prepare, requiring little glassware and minimal sample manipulation by students. (JN)

Background information, procedures, and results are provided for an experiment demonstrating techniques of solvent selection, gradient elution, pH control, and ion-pairing in the analysis of an analgesic mixture using reversed-phase liquid chromatography on an octadecylsilane column. Although developed using sophisticated/expensive equipment, less…

Discusses the acylation version of malonic synthesis of three-ketoesters. Includes advantages of this method over other methodologies including a final selective removal of the "activating" ester function in such mild conditions that most of the organic functions may survive. (JN)

Describes an experiment which gives students experience with uncertainties encountered in studying metabolic pathways; handling/use of radioisotopes; application of thin layer chromatography; and liquid scintillation counting and fluorography as methods of detecting radioactivity. The experiment can be accomplished in two to three laboratory…

Briefly surveys the main structural types of sulfur-nitrogen compounds, and describes syntheses, suitable as undergraduate experiments, which illustrate four of the five types of cyclic species. Laboratory procedures, background information, and discussion of results for these experiments are provided. (Author/JN)

A microcomputer was used successfully to replicate Sternberg's 1966 study of retrieval from short-term memory and Sperling's 1960 study on sensory or iconic memory. Computers with a capacity for measuring reaction time are useful in the laboratory for introductory psychology courses. (SR)

Standing transverse waves in homogeneous strings have been demonstrated in lectures and used in experiments (called Melde's experiment). A variation to this experiment is discussed. Also discusses the use of the speed-of-sound resonance-tube apparatus to clean mercury. (Author/JN)