An introduction to the noble gases and chemical bonding via Lewis theory and the octet rule are common inclusions in secondary school curricula. However, the usual approach may lead to misconceptions and difficulties when valence bond (VB) theory and valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory are taught at a later pre-university stage.…

Understanding redox reactions in biochemistry requires a clear grasp of three definitions: electron exchange, oxidation number, and oxygen atom insertion. Here, the electrochemical cell is explained for redox-active ions, introducing a new comparison between the measurement of midpoint potential and the measurement of initial velocity for enzymes.…

Nanoscale phenomena are under increasingly intense investigation both in academia and industry. The unique physical and chemical properties stemming from their high surface area and confined space lead to properties that are distinct from atomic and bulk materials. Students need experience in nanoscience to enter this growing field of nanoscience…

Electromagnetic radiation can be classified into two major types depending on its ability to detach electrons from atoms: ionising and non-ionising. The aforementioned categorization is significant due to the effects of ionising radiation on human tissue (e.g. carcinogenesis). However, many students around the globe cannot distinguish these two…

NMR spectroscopy is traditionally taught to students during Organic Chemistry as a tool used for the determination of structures after synthesis. However, modern NMR spectroscopy has many important applications beyond structure elucidation, including molecular profiling of complex mixtures as biofluids and food samples. In this experiment,…

This paper examines the genetic ("nature") and environmental ("nurture") influences on why students vary in their reading skills. We review core findings from the field of modern behavioral genetics, a discipline that studies the interplay of genetic and environmental influences, on reading science. Additionally, we provide an…

While chemistry exists in three dimensions, it is presented in two. This down-conversion results in a significant loss in information and often necessitates multiple images/figures to convey the complexity, intricacy, and beauty of a given structure. Currently, three-dimensional models are built to allow students to interact with molecules.…

Curriculum-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) have been shown to increase student retention in STEM fields and are starting to become more widely adopted in chemistry curricula. Here we describe a 10-week CURE that is suitable for a second-semester organic chemistry laboratory course. Students synthesize small molecules and use…

Until now, the concept of metal (0) atomic quantum clusters or nanoclusters (NCs) and their increasing role in nanotechnology due to their novel and exceptional properties in important industrial fields (such as catalysis) has not been included at the education level. Here, syntheses of both metal nanoparticles (NPs) and metal nanoclusters (with…

Anthocyanins are natural pigments belonging to the flavonoid family that generate the red, blue, and purple colors of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Their structure and color are dependent on various factors, like the pH. Anthocyanins appear red in acidic, purple in neutral, and blue in basic solutions, making them suitable for use as natural pH…

Single-type, 6-fold symmetrically grooved, and commercially accessible interlocking disks (ILDs) have been used for modeling of sp[superscript 2] hybridized carbon-based nanoarchitectures and complex polyhedral and reticular material models. In the case of the carbon-based nanoarchitectures, we showcase that the primary ILDs can be directly used…

The abstract nature of physical chemistry and spectroscopy makes the subject difficult to comprehend for many students. However, bridging arts and science has the potential to provide innovative learning methods and to facilitate the understanding of abstract concepts. Herein, we present a high-school project based on the conversion of selected…

From a physical point of view, the "partial pressure" of a component "i" in a gas mixture is defined as the contribution of molecules "i" to the force per unit area that the molecules of the mixture exert on the wall. The relation pi = x[subscript i]P (where x[subscript i] is the mole fraction of "i" and…

Dispersion forces are ubiquitous in chemistry, yet they are often misunderstood. This article provides background into why they are called dispersion forces and explains how to describe them in terms of time-independent quantum mechanics. The article also describes the breakdown of the multipole series that is often used to describe dispersion…

With many universities now admitting students into their science programs with little or no prior knowledge of the relevant field, significant challenges arise in the way these fields are introduced. Challenges mount with various preconceived ideas regarding the levels of difficulty, thus necessitating introductory concepts be presented in…