An introductory guide to deducing the mechanism of chemical reactions is presented. Following a typical workflow for probing reaction mechanism, the guide introduces a wide range of kinetic and mechanistic tools. In addition to serving as a broad introduction to mechanistic analysis for students and researchers, the guide has also been used by…

Describes an experiment in which a recycling oscillator has been designed having a fiber optic data link that closes the loop. Outlines the use of this wink-around system to determine the speed of light and suggests additional application for measuring integrated circuit propagation delays to subnanosecond resolution. (GS)

Discusses how holography can be used as part of undergraduate physics laboratories. The authors propose a single beam technique of holography, which will reduce the recording scheme as well as relax the isolation requirements. (HM)

Describes the use of cassette tape recordings in preparing freshman chemistry students for experiments in laboratories. The tapes are said to have decreased student anxiety in the laboratory and increased laboratory skills. (SA)

Described are some experiments on geotropism that may be done using dandelions. (PB)

Background information, laboratory procedures, and a discussion of the results of an experiment designed to investigate the difference in energy gained from the aerobic and anaerobic oxidation of glucose are presented. Sample experimental and calculated data are included. (CW)

Distillation in the chemistry laboratory is an essential part of a practicing chemists' and a chemistry educators' work. Nevertheless, regardless of the degree of importance in each of the aforementioned professions, few educational studies on teaching and learning distillation exist. In an effort to rectify this oversight, the Department of…

Discussed are the procedures and results involved in this activity. Student results in undergraduate laboratories indicate high quality results and relative ease of the analysis. (CW)

Described is a base-friction modeling technique for studying the development of collapse structures in jointed rocks. A moving belt beneath weak material is designed to simulate gravity. A description is given of the model frame construction. (Author/SA)

Presented are the procedures and a discussion of the results for an experiment in which students select unknown carboxylic acids, determine their melting points, and investigate their solubility behavior in water and ethanol. A table of selected carboxylic acids is included. (CW)

Describes the state-of-the-art in computer interfacing in the biology laboratory. Discusses hardware and software. Enumerates the educational benefits from instrumentation such as cost effectiveness and increased student opportunity and motivation. Includes 14 references. (CW)

An inexpensive apparatus for demonstrating low temperature mineral synthesis in an undergraduate geology laboratory is described. (Author/SA)

Recommendations are given for obtaining high quality preparations of chromosomes with relatively little equipment using an improved Feulgen-squash technique. (Authors/SA)

Presents a method for microscopically examining cytoplasmic streaming in root cells, and physiologically examining the delivery of ions to the xylem exudate. The expected result does not occur and the authors believe that students learn to re-examine the assumptions, thereby increasing their skills in scientific inquiry. (Authors/SA)

Clarifies the issues of animal rights as they effect animal use in research and education through an examination of the current use of animals, a historical look at animal use, and a consideration of the philosophical underpinnings of the animal rights and pro-use viewpoints. (PR)