Discusses environmental resource assessment research conducted by undergraduate students as part of a non-science majors' chemistry course at Santa Clara University. Describes project procedures and course grading, chemistry connections, learning goals and outcomes, and implementing change on campus. (WRM)

Describes a four-week laboratory module for an introductory chemistry course that focuses on the analysis of trace levels of xenoestrogenic pesticides in local drinking water and a comparison of the molecular shapes of these pesticides to the hormone estrogen. (WRM)

Describes a laboratory exercise for undergraduate science students in which they evaluate soil samples for various parameters related to suitability for crop production and capability for retention of contaminants. (Contains 18 references.) (WRM)

Describes a chemistry experiment that allows students to calculate rates of reaction, orders of reaction, and activation energies. The activity demonstrates that to increase a reaction's rate, a catalyst need only provide any additional pathway for the reaction, not necessarily a pathway having lower activation energy. (WRM)

The time required to develop instructional material for an entire course tends to be longer than the lifetime of the system used in the authoring process. Argues that it is difficult to develop new approaches under these circumstances. (DDR)

Illustrates the basis of carbonless paper using sketches and examines the components of this kind of paper in detail. Discusses important chemical considerations and focuses on microencapsulation of the dye precursor and the reagent layer. (DDR)

Presents an activity that explores the factors affecting the rate of a chemical reaction. Contains information for the instructor such as details about the chemistry of the reaction, answers to student questions, and sources of additional information and related activities. (DDR)

Presents an analogy used in introductory college chemistry to help students understand the procedure for determining the percentage purity of sodium carbonate. Employs a monetary analogy. (DDR)

Describes an experiment in which the density of solutions of known sugar concentrations is measured. Data are then used to determine sugar content in commercial beverages. (DDR)

Considers how computers might help broaden assessment practices by examining the types of test items that might be used in computer environments. Explores ideas from cognitive psychology and research on problem solving. Contains 17 references. (DDR)

Presents an activity that provides a model of equilibrium with simple concrete examples. Uses an analogy that employs a box of matches and students in groups. (DDR)

Argues that consideration should be given to whether teaching solubility product calculations is at all useful. Claims that experienced teachers seriously misunderstand and misuse solubility product calculations. (DDR)

Argues that there are only a few cases in which solubility and Ksp are related in a simple way. States that illustrations of the solubility product principle for one-to-one salts are adequate for students. Contains 23 references. (DDR)

Discusses the furnace from a chemical thermodynamics perspective. Examines the enthalpy, entropy, and free energy change for each reaction of importance. These properties are interpreted on the molecular level then used to deduce the conditions necessary for each reaction to occur in its intended direction. Chemical kinetics is also discussed.…

Heat changes in a lecture setting can be safely shown on an overhead projector using a simple and inexpensive apparatus. Heat evolution can be observed on a projector with adapted digital thermometers or by illuminating the red fluid in nonmercury thermometers. Describes a setup for doing this as well as a collection of demonstrations involving…