Describes a polymerization reactor engineering course offered at Michigan Technological University which focuses on the design and operation of industrial polymerization reactors to achieve a desired degree of polymerization and molecular weight distribution. Provides a list of the course topics and assigned readings. (TW)

Describes a classroom experiment designed to teach students the fundamentals underlying the normal coordinate analysis procedure of a polyatomic molecule. Uses a reverse procedure from traditional experiments of this type by providing the values for the force field and working backwards. (TW)

Describes an inexpensive molecular model which is small enough to manipulate and large enough to be seen by large audiences. Discusses models of atoms and double and triple bonds. (JM)

Thirteen computer/calculator programs (available from authors) are described. These include: representation of molecules as 3-D models; animated 3-D graphical display of line drawings of molecules; principles of Fourier-transform nuclear magnetic resonance; tutorial program for pH calculation; balancing chemical reactions using a hand-held…

Two demonstrations are described: (1) a sunset effect using a gooseneck lamp and 20 sheets of paper and (2) the preparation and determination of structural features of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) by infrared spectroscopy. (SK)

Describes a Simple Huckel Molecular Orbital (SHMO) computer program written in BASIC and suitable for use on a variety of common microcomputers. (SK)

Described is a method that can be used to obtain molecular or atomic term symbols. Several examples accompany an explanation of the method. (CW)

Finds that a logical application of the simple rules of the molecular orbital bonding theory for diatomic molecules predicted the existence of three spin isomers of the oxygen molecule: one triplet form with two unpaired electrons and two singlet forms with all electrons paired. (MVL)

A decision tree which can be used to help students determine the proper stereochemical relationship between two isomeric structures is presented. The proper use of this chart is discussed. (CW)

Presented are three demonstrations: "The Construction and Use of Commercial Voltaic Cell Displays in Freshman Chemistry"; Dramatizing Isotopes: Deuterated Ice Cubes Sink"; and "A Simple Apparatus to Demonstrate Differing Gas Diffusion Rates (Graham's Law)." Materials, procedures, and safety considerations are discussed. (CW)

Described is the application of microcomputers to predict reaction rates based on theoretical atomic and molecular properties taught in undergraduate physical chemistry. Listed is the BASIC program which computes the partition functions for any specific bimolecular reactants. These functions are then used to calculate the pre-exponential factor of…

An activity that introduces students to the correct handling of bacterial recombinants, antibiotic sensitivity testing, insertional inactivation, plasmid DNA isolation, restriction endonuclease digestion, agarose gel electrophoresis, Southern blotting, hybridization, and autoradiography is presented. A list of needed materials, procedures, safety…

Explains how a useful stereo image for overhead projection can be easily produced using technology available to most teachers. Red and green transparency films and red/green glasses are used to produce the three-dimensional view. (PR)

Two experiments were conducted to assess the performance of freshmen chemistry students with poor spatial visualization skills. In the first experiment, 31 chemistry students with academically deficient backgrounds completed a diagnostic test of their ability to visualize and interpret pictorial representations of simple molecular structures. At…

Reports on a study which examined the relationship between spatial ability and performance in organic chemistry. Results indicated that students with high spatial scores did significantly better on questions requiring problem solving skills, as well as on those requiring the mental manipulation of two-dimensional representations of a molecule. (TW)