Explores questions, dilemmas, and issues facing individuals who teach and/or development undergraduate curricula in chemical instrumentation. Areas addressed include the instrumental analysis course, the laboratory, the role of electronics, and computer use. (JN)

Describes an experiment for recording two individual spectrophotometer response curves. The two curves are directly related to the power of transmitted beams that pass through a solvent and solution. An absorption spectrum of the solution can be constructed from the calculated rations of the curves as a function of wavelength. (JN)

Highlights an American Chemical Society (ACS) survey of 103 chemistry departments on their instrumentation needs. The 2-year study affirms that instruments used for chemical research and education are becoming outdated because of their age and changes in technology. The survey also reveals how departments plan to use newly acquired instruments.…

Laser enhanced ionization (LEI) occurs when a tunable dye laser is used to excite a specific atomic population in a flame. Explores the origin of LEI's high sensitivity and identifies possible avenues to higher sensitivity by describing instrument used and experimental procedures and discussing ion formation/detection. (Author/JN)

Discusses developments in electrochemical instrumentation, including the role of computers, measurement/control instruments, present needs and future prospects. Indicates that microprocessors are used primarily for data processing, and that progress depends on noninstrumental factors such as electrode materials. (Author/JN)

Discusses major themes and interrelationships common to bioselective potentiometric membrane electrodes including the nature of bioselective electrodes, applications, and future prospects. Includes tables on traditional ion-selective membrane electrodes, nontraditional electrodes, and typical biocatalytic potentiometric electrodes. (Author/JN)

Presents a description of the world's largest radio/radar antenna, the Areciba Observatory in Puerto Rico. Activities at the observatory are discussed as well as the scientific research in the field of radio astronomy. (SA)

Discusses the role of the Francis Bitter National Magnet Laboratory of the Massachusetts of Technology, and its significance in the world of research. Applications of research on magnetism to medicine are emphasized. (SA)

Describes two variations of an air sampler and analyzer that are inexpensive to construct, easy to operate, and designed to be used in an educational program. Variations use vacuum cleaners and aquarium pumps, and white facial tissues serve as filters. Samples of air pollution obtained by this method may be used from early grade school to advanced…

Some of the important modern developments of thin-layer chromatography are introduced. Discussed are the theory and instrumentation of thin-layer chromatography including multidimensional and multimodal techniques. Lists 53 references. (CW)

This document contains a project report and procedures manual from a project in which a group of junior colleges and postsecondary technical schools in Texas developed, pilot tested, and disseminated performance criterion-referenced occupational examinations for technical occupations. The report describes how teachers and industry personnel…

A study was conducted to assist two-year postsecondary educational institutions in providing technical specialty courses for preparing nuclear technicians. As a result of project activities, curricula have been developed for five categories of nuclear technicians and operators: (1) radiation protection technician, (2) nuclear instrumentation and…

Describes a two-term course in electronic instrumentation for chemistry and physics students. The first term focuses on analog circuits and the measurement of voltage, current, and impendance. The second-term course focuses on digital pulses/logic, microcomputer organization, and assembly language programing and interfacing to experiments. (JN)

Presents three ideas to help hold costs down in purchasing and using science equipment. These include (1) use of pencils and other graphite rods as sensors in potentiometric titrations, (2) rubber bulb modification for pipetting, and (3) a heater for a glassware bath. (JM)

Describes a modular approach to help select the most effective instruments for particular applications. In the approach, an instrument is considered to be a system composed of modules, each module performing a particular function. General input/output functions of various modules, how they modify signals, and module sensitivity are discussed. (JM)