"Bench Remarks" is a new series dealing with chemical transformations of descriptive chemistry. The series begins with brief descriptions of several experiments with flames in an article titled "Flames: A Demonstration Lecture for Young Students and General Audiences" by Henry A. Bent. (JN)

Suggesting that descriptive chemistry is basic to basic chemical literacy, offers examples of descriptive chemistry problems (with answers) based on inexpensive, short, safe, striking, and simple lecture experiments. Issues related to the teaching of descriptive chemistry are also addressed. (JN)

Suggestions are offered to illustrate concepts and processes by using simple materials such as paper, paper clip, rubber band (bonding, entropy, endothermic processes). Also suggests using basic terminology: elementary ratios, percent, reaction chemistry for entropy function; equilibrium constants for Gibbs energies; and chemical mechanics for…

Discusses combustion by suggesting several experiments and demonstrations using matches. Integrates quotes from famous scientists about the various phenomenon regarding combustion. (TW)

Described are different chemistry curricula that use lecture-experiments. Different components are discussed within the lecture-experiment format, such as determinism, memory, note taking, descriptive chemistry, and holistic chemistry. Also discussed are different personalities in chemistry education. (DS)

Discusses the properties of carbon dioxide in its solid "dry ice" stage. Suggests several demonstrations and experiments that use dry ice to illustrate Avogadro's Law, Boyle's Law, Kinetic-Molecular Theory, and the effects of dry ice in basic solution, in limewater, and in acetone. (TW)