Three chemistry demonstrations are described: (1) partition coefficients; (2) Rutherford simulation experiment; and (3) demonstration of the powerful oxidizing property of dimanganeseheptoxide. Background information, materials needed, and procedures are provided for each demonstration. (JN)

Background information, procedures, and typical results are provided for an experiment which integrates principles of fluorescent and kinetic analysis. In the procedure, mecuric chloride is used as a selective oxidizing agent for converting thiamine to thiochrome. The experiment can be completed in a two-hour laboratory period. (Author/JN)

Describes a straight-forward and relatively inexpensive method for routine isolation of purified soybean agglutinin, suitable for use as a starting material in most studies, especially for fluorescent-labeling experiments. The process is used as a project to provide advanced laboratory training at a two-year college. (Author/JN)

Describes experiments in which acid chromate oxidation rates of four secondary alcohols are determined and related to the differences in strain relief involved in the conversion of the alcohols to their respective ketone products. All four oxidations can be completed in a 4-hour laboratory period. (Author/JN)

Reviews three audiovisual instructional aids, providing information on time, format, catalog number, price, and supplier. "Distillation: Simple and Fractional,""The Periodic Table," and "Manmade Macromolecules" are considered to be excellent materials for secondary school chemistry classes. (JN)

Suggests uses for and possible adaptations of a set of semiflexible molecular models. Includes price and supplier information. Also suggests rubbing oil from human face/hands along the pouring lip of a beaker, allowing one to pour uniformly from the beaker spout and making the process as dripless as possible. (Author/JN)

Describes a procedure which identifies an experiment as unreasonably hazardous or indicates precautions to be taken rendering the experiment acceptable for assignment to undergraduate students. The procedure follows in parallel form the procedure used to prepare chemical labels. (Author/JN)

Suggesting that the scientific community must provide leadership to improve science education, discusses various issues in science, chemistry, and chemical education and the role of professional organizations (particularly the American Chemical Society) and its members in achieving educational goals by cooperative efforts and interactions with…

Because of drawbacks to the traditional lecture method, general chemistry lectures were stopped at appropriate times to allow students to complete prepared worksheets on problems related to current lecture material. Discusses rationale for and mechanics of the approach, including sample-problem worksheets used. (JN)

Representations of problem-solving routes were made to understanding how British sixth-form and Canadian first year college students solve problems in chemistry. Processes used (operations performed during problems) and entities (such as information taken from problem statement) were analyzed in terms of graphic representations: links (processes)…

Presents ideas to promote higher-level thinking in general chemistry classrooms/laboratories, focusing on applications of Patricia E. Blosser's taxonomy to enhance students' convergent/divergent/evaluative thinking. Compares Blosser's taxonomy with Bloom and Piagetian taxonomies, suggesting a combined Blosser/Piagetian taxonomy to achieve goals of…

Discusses the relationship between molecular structure, intermolecular forces, and tensile strengths of a polymer and suggests that this is a logical way to introduce polymers into a general chemistry course. (Author/JN)

Discusses advantages of incorporating descriptive chemistry into the high school curriculum and strategies to facilitate teaching both theoretical and descriptive chemical concepts. Also provides lists of chemistry goals for all students and more demanding goals in theoretical/quantitative aspects of chemistry for science-oriented students. (JN)

Reviews mathematical techniques for solving systems of homogeneous linear equations and demonstrates that the algebraic method of balancing chemical equations is a matter of solving a system of homogeneous linear equations. FORTRAN programs using this matrix method to chemical equation balancing are available from the author. (JN)

Discusses pros and cons of current methods of teaching electron configurations of elements. Offers alternative instructional strategies, suggesting that although tables of electron configurations are useful and in conjunction with periodic tables may help solve many problems, they should be included as reference material. (Author/JN)