Explains an approach to presenting polymer chemistry to nonmajors that employs polystyrene foam, foam peanuts made from water soluble starch, and water soluble plastic bags. Students are presented with a pollution scenario and are guided to the discovery of solutions. (DDR)

Provides details of experiments that deal with the use of operational amplifiers and are part of a course in instrumental analysis. These experiments are performed after the completion of a set of electricity and electronics experiments. (DDR)

Discusses problems with undergraduate and graduate programs in mathematics and the physical sciences. Suggests that the BS/MS option is one way to address the problem of naive, haphazardly educated BS graduates entering narrowly focused Ph.D. programs. Argues for the need for refocusing Ph.D. programs on the needs of the student. (JRH)

Outlines the components of a technology center that supports over 5,000 students per semester. Discusses instructional computing environment and consistent student interface, management system, gradebook, classroom, networking, and application software. Concludes that the integration of computer-based instruction, multimedia presentations,…

Describes a "Synthesis and Reactivity" curriculum that focuses on the correlation of laboratory experiments with lecture topics and the extension of laboratory exercises beyond the usual four-hour period. Highlights experiments developed and an out-of-class computational chemistry exercise using CAChe, a versatile molecular modeling software…

Discusses the nature of scientific ethics and presents some ideas as to how it can be successfully incorporated into chemistry courses. Contains 13 references. (JRH)

Describes a course, Chemistry for Elementary Education Majors, collaboratively planned and taught by chemistry and teacher education faculty. Discusses the instructional bases of the course, the audience, themes and activities in the course, course expenses, student learning, and challenges for the future. Lists the course schedule with lab and…

Describes a pilot project for the home-study component of a first-year general chemistry course at Athabasca University that uses microscaled experiments. Presents four experiments and discusses home-study versus in-lab experience. (JRH)

Describes the inflation rate problem and offers an interesting analogy with chemical kinetics. Presents and solves the car devaluation problem as a normal chemical kinetic problem where the order of the rate law and the value of the rate constant are derived. (JRH)

Describes experiments that illustrate a number of general principles such as pattern identification, displacement chromatography, and salting-out adsorption, plus an experiment that demonstrates that identification by chromatography alone is impossible. Illustrates that chromatography is still possible with quite simple means, notwithstanding the…

Presents activities that can be used to introduce thin-layer chromatography at the undergraduate level in relatively less developed countries and that can be performed with very simple and commonly available apparati in high schools and colleges. Activities include thin-layer chromatography with a test-tube, capillary feeder, burette, and rotating…

Discusses chemistry in the National Science Education Standards with regard to chemistry teaching, content, student achievement, educational standards, curriculum, interdisciplinary approach, and inquiry. Presents a model as an attempt to understand the level of chemistry in the standards. (JRH)

Describes a final exam that is based on six papers from the primary chemical literature. Allows general chemistry students a chance to see a sample of the chemical literature and enables them to realize that the day-to-day use of chemistry requires a broad-brush approach - the simultaneous application of a myriad of concepts. Contains 12…

Describes the recent history, chemistry, and educational uses of the Orange Juice Clock demonstration in which a galvanic cell is made from the combination of a magnesium strip, a copper strip, and juice in a beaker. Discusses the chemistry basics, extensions for more advanced students, questions for student/teacher workshop participants, and…

Explores the comparative performance of various segments of the student sample in general chemistry courses relative to their scores on the mathematical SAT test. Results indicate that mathematical skill measured by the SAT scores is an important factor in determining grades while factors that are not important in determining grades are gender…