Presents experiments that avoid using mercury by using pressure transducers to investigate the gas laws. (Author/JRH)

Suggests that Robert Frost's poem entitled "West-Running Brook" should be used to illustrate the second law of thermodynamics. The poem is included in the article. (ZWH)

Describes a new demonstration that uses an apparatus like the ammonia-fountain apparatus but with modifications designed to produce ammonium-chloride smoke. This demonstration is easy to perform, interesting to observe, and allows demonstration of the solubility of ammonia in water, the basic nature of ammonia, the acidic nature of hydrogen…

Presents a method to measure the mass of a definite amount of a gas that occupies a known volume at a given pressure in order to determine experimentally the root mean square speed of molecules of a gas. (JRH)

Describes a simple manual apparatus designed to serve as an effective demonstration of the differences between isothermal and adiabatic processes for the general or elementary physics student. Enables students to verify Boyle's law for slow processes and identify the departure from this law for rapid processes and can also be used to give a clear…

Presents an alternative approach to teaching reaction thermodynamics in introductory chemistry courses using calculations of enthalpies, entropies, and free energies of atomization. Uses a consistent concept, that of decomposition of a compound to its gaseous atoms, to discuss not only thermodynamic parameters but also equilibrium and…

Describes an experiment that involves the determination of the enthalpy change for a single reaction of the decomposition of aqueous hydrogen peroxide. (CCM)

Introduces a demonstration that can be used to explain elementary chemical thermodynamics of heating and boiling. (YDS)

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…

Discusses some of the conceptual difficulties encountered by undergraduate students in learning certain aspects of chemical equilibrium and thermodynamics. Discusses teaching strategies for dealing with these difficulties. (JRH)

Describes an activity in which the story of "Frosty the Snowman" is reviewed and students are challenged to come up with ways to save Frosty. In cooperative groups, students brainstorm, share ideas, and write a prelaboratory report. After the approval of plans by the teacher students construct the snowmen and begin the three-day experiment. (DDR)

Explains procedures, observations, and directions for demonstrating properties of butane using reclosable plastic storage bags. States that the demonstration provides for discussion of topics such as the liquefaction of gases, heat of vaporization and refrigeration techniques, and thermodynamics. (RT)

Explains a series of laboratory activities which employ a microwave oven to help students understand word problems that relate to states of matter, collect data, and calculate and compare electrical costs to heat energy costs. (DDR)

Presents a mathematical and abstract approach to teaching the second law of thermodynamics in physical chemistry that is not used in any undergraduate physical chemistry text to date. (CW)

Described is a demonstration utilized to measure the heat of vaporization using the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. Explained is that when measurement is made as part of a demonstration, it raises student's consciousness that chemistry is experimentally based. (Author/DS)