Suggests a laboratory introduction to solid-solid phase transitions, thermochromism, and color changes associated with changes in ligand coordination suitable for undergraduate students in physical and general chemistry. Describes the preparation and analysis of the experiment. (CW)

Describes an apparatus that can be used to measure low gas pressures over a range of temperature in the undergraduate teaching laboratory. Discusses an experimental procedure and theory for pressure temperature measurements with this apparatus. (CW)

Described is an interactive database of chemical information called "KC? Discoverer: Exploring the Periodic Table." An overview of the program and details of specific functions are given. The uses of this program in teaching undergraduate inorganic chemistry are stressed. (CW)

Described are two reviews of a computer software package: "The Periodic Table Stack," a Hypercard stack that operates on a database of information about the properties and reactions of the elements and designed to help users of Macintosh computers access data found on "KC? Discoverer." Discussed are features of the program and…

Described is a five-week introductory inorganic laboratory course for first-year undergraduate students. Included are details of three preparations and three analyses conducted by the students in the course. (CW)

Describes a study of students' ability to balance equations. Answers to a test on this topic were analyzed to determine the level of understanding and processes used by the students. Presented is a method to teach this skill to high school chemistry students. (CW)

Identifies a technique using methylene blue and glucose to explain a genetically related enzyme shortage causing blue skin in humans. Offers a laser technique to study solubility of silver salts of chloride and chromate. Encourages the use of models and class participation in the study of chirality and enantiomers. (ML)

Describes a project that can be used to encourage intellectual independence in students and teach them some of the inquiry procedures used in scientific research. Discusses procedures, safety precautions, and sample results. (CW)

Presents a flow chart for naming inorganic compounds. Although it is not necessary for students to memorize rules, preliminary skills needed before using the chart are outlined. Also presents an activity in which the mass of an imaginary atom is determined using lead shot, Petri dishes, and a platform balance. (JN)

Describes a laboratory experiment to determine the rate law for a substitution reaction of a transition metal. Derives the corresponding rate law from the accepted mechanism for the reaction using the steady state approximation and determines the conditions under which the two agree. (CW)

Proposed is a flow-chart and related formulas to obtain expressions for the derivatives of the old thermodynamic function in terms of new variables, the new function and its derivatives, and derivatives of the old function, involving only measurable quantities. (CW)

Described is an analytical method that may be used to replace the more difficult, traditional approach for the analysis of silicates. It is argued that this method allows the use of smaller samples and is more sensitive than other techniques. (CW)

Presents four articles dealing with chaotic systems. Lists sources for nine demonstrations or experiments dealing with self-organization. Provides a vocabulary review of self-organization. Describes three chemical oscillator models. Discusses the role of chaos in flow systems. (MVL)

ChemSource is designed as a strategy to help preservice and inservice high school chemistry teachers promote student learning more effectively. Its major premise is that well-designed laboratory investigations are an important avenue for cultivating student interest, engagement, and meaningful learning in chemistry. The SourceBook component of…

Provides suggestions for two exercises designed to assist and involve students in understanding chemical concepts. Includes a laboratory experiment for determining the Ksp of a saturated solution of calcium sulfate and a scheme for naming oxyacids and their salts. (ML)