Outlined are recent developments in the field of organosilicon chemistry. Discussed are processes for synthesizing organosilanes, chemical bonding in silicon compounds, silicone polymers, and catenated polysilanes. (CS)

Describes a synthetic organic laboratory experiment which ensures independence of students but is not excessively demanding of instructor time. Each student is provided with different starting materials to prepare different flavones but use the same general procedure, the "organic synthesis" flavone preparation. Various features of this procedure…

Reports a procedure for the formation of alkyldiazenido complexes of molybdenum in the absence of dioxygen, suitable for inclusion in an advanced inorganic chemistry laboratory. Includes background information and experimental procedures for two complexes. (SK)

Describes an experiment which illustrates the general aspects of intermolecular energy transfer between triplet states in rigid solutions of organic compounds solved in an ethanol-ether mixture. Measurements of quenching and energy transfer processes are made using the chemicals of benzophenone and naphthalene. (CS)

Three methods are given for the synthesis of N-4 substituted sulfonamides. An example elucidates the procedures involved in one of the methods. The example is intended as a model for students. (SA)

Describes a classification test that uses a sodium nitroprusside reagent to identify aliphatic and aryl amines. (MLH)

An introductory undergraduate physical organic chemistry exercise that introduces the harmonic oscillator's use in vibrational spectroscopy is developed. The analysis and modeling exercise begins with the students calculating the stretching modes of common organic molecules with the help of the quantum mechanical harmonic oscillator (QMHO) model.

This experiment was designed to help students improve the critical thinking skills that are required to analyze and discuss the results of an organic chemistry experiment in an effective manner. The initial objective indicated in the prelab handout for this puzzle experiment was the synthesis of methyl 4-bromobenzoate using the Fischer…

Describes an undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory experiment which utilizes the solvolysis of organic halides to demonstrate first and second order reaction kinetics. The experiment also investigates the effect of a change of solvent polarity on reaction rate, common-ion and noncommon-ion salt effects, and the activation parameters of a…

Describes thin-layer chromatography experiments in which the students separate natural products, such as paprika, chile powder, and peppers. (MLH)

Describes an organic chemistry experiment in which seven possible mechanisms for the isomerization reaction are tested with simple sense observations and melting point determinations. (MLH)