Discusses the vibrations of a linear triatomic chain and shows that the addition of the third atom gives rise to an extra optical branch. The nature of the normal modes in ionic crystals and molecular crystals is also discussed. (GA)

Outlines a mathematical paradox obtained when calculating the dimensions of a hydorgen molecule using relativistic wave mechanics. (MLH)

Discusses the origin of surface tension in terms of the basic molecular nature of liquids and the contractile property of surfaces. (MLH)

Demonstrates that the concept of covalent bonding can be effectively taught, without quantum mechanics, as one of the basic applications of Coulomb's law. (MLH)

Although polymers are regarded as electrical insulators, it was discovered that they can be made to conduct electricity. This discovery has opened vast new practical and theoretical areas for exploration by physicists and chemists. Research studies with these conducting polymers and charge-transfer salts as well as possible applications are…

Illustrates that, contrary to some assertions made in the popular press, scientific literature, and introductory textbooks, glass does not flow in historic time. Contends that glass is a rigid solid with a lower degree of molecular order than a crystal but with greater molecular order than a liquid. (Contains 27 references.) (WRM)

Describes an inexpensive double-beam laser photometry experiment to determine the molar heat of sublimation of I-2. The experiment employs common laboratory materials and components and gives results with a two percent to three percent accuracy. (Author/GA)

Provides a theoretical model of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) helix-to-coil transition in order to obtain magnitude information about the strength of the molecular bonds involved. (Author/CP)

Describes the discovery, physical properties, and future applications of liquid crystals. (SK)

Introduces a simple one-dimensional model of a diatomic molecule that can explain all the essential features of a real two particle quantum mechanical system and gives quantitative results in fair agreement with those of a hydrogen molecule. (GA)

Formulae are proposed for the distinct cases of monatomic and diatomic gas volumes. Eight figures illustrate the article. (Author/MA)

Discusses major events leading to the development of the octet rule. Three conclusions based on the work of Mendeleev, Abegg, Thompson, Kossel, Lewis, and Langmuir are considered as is the debate over the rule's validity. (JN)

Discussed is the classical partition function for the ideal gas and how it differs from the exact value for bosons or fermions in the classical regime. The differences in the two values are negligible hence the classical treatment leads in the end to correct answers for all observables. (Author/DS)

This is the second of several papers which attempts to introduce group representation theory to students of molecular or solid-state physics in as intuitive and simple a fashion as possible. (Author/BB)

Discusses the role of semiclassical theory in chemical physics both as a computational method and conceptual framework for interpreting quantum mechanical experiments and calculations. Topics covered include energy wells and eigenvalues, scattering, statistical mechanics and electronically nonadiabiatic processes. (JM)