Suggests ways that colleges can improve the problem-solving skills of chemistry majors and acquaint them with the realities of industrial research. Describes two projects in which undergraduate chemistry majors performed research and development work for a local chemical company. (TW)

Discusses some contributions chemists can make in the investigation of crime. Describes the optical properties of materials and defines the refractive index. Explains the refractive indices for liquids and for solids, and provides laboratory exercises for determining both. (TW)

Describes the concept of a unified laboratory program in which integrated experiments are brought together from several areas of chemistry. Discusses the design and implementation of the unified laboratory at Willamette University, including lists of laboratory experiments and projects. (TW)

Describes a study which was designed to determine the effect of a 25-hour introductory qualitative analysis course on high school students' understanding of formal concepts related to electrolytes. Suggests that introductory concrete experiences better prepare students to deal with more formal abstract concepts. (TW)

Discusses the use of a computer software package called ASYST for general laboratory computing. Describes the software's capacity for acquiring data in a flow injection analysis experiment. Reviews the series of commands used by students in carrying out the experiment. (TW)

Discusses the problems created by the insufficient number of major data collection and analysis instruments in most college chemistry courses. Suggests the use of less expensive microcomputer-controlled instrument emulators, which resemble the actual instruments. Discusses the application of one such emulator in an instrumental analysis course.…

Provides three descriptions of demonstrations used in various chemistry courses. Includes the use of a simple demonstration model to illustrate principles of chromatography, techniques for using balloons to teach about the behavior of gases, and the use of small concentrations of synthetic polyelectrolytes to induce the flocculation hydrophobic…

Addresses some concerns about the safety of handicapped students in school science laboratories, along with some of the litigating factors involved in not addressing those concerns. Offers some general suggestions for teachers in working with handicapped students, and describes specific laboratory teaching approaches for students with different…

Describes a first-year chemistry laboratory experiment which uses a simple computer program written in BASIC, to analyze data collected by students about the density of a set of marbles. A listing of the program is provided, along with a sample printout of the experiment's results. (TW)

Presents a technique for eliminating errors in the analysis of the nickel subgroup of the aluminum-nickel group cations. Describes the process of color and chemical changes that occur in this group as a result of ligand and coordination number changes. Discusses opportunities for student observations. (TW)

Describes a spectrophotometric titration experiment which uses a manual titration spectrophotometer and manually operated buret, rather than special instrumentation. Identifies the equipment, materials, and procedures needed for the completion of the experiment. Recommends the use of this experiment in introductory quantitative analysis…

Describes an experiment which uses the Gran plot for analyzing free ions as well as those involved in an equilibrium. Discusses the benefits of using Gran plots in the study of acids, as well as other analytes in solutions. Presents background theory along with a description of the experimental procedures. (TW)

Describes an experiment that demonstrates the use of HPLC in simultaneous multi-element analysis. Discusses the application of this process in identification of steels and trade effluents. (TW)

Describes a physical chemistry experiment which uses spectroscopy to measure the heat of formation of Na2SiF6. Discusses the opportunities for students to see the use of a familiar instrument in an unfamiliar application, emphasizing that there are often many ways to attack problems in science. (TW)

Describes an experiment in which stretching a rubber band can be used to compare the statistical theory of rubber elasticity with its continuum mechanics counterpart. Employs the use of the equation of the state of rubber elasticity and the Mooney-Rivlin equation. (TW)