The substitution of carbonyl compounds with liquid bromine as a brominating agent is the most commonly employed synthesis method for a-bromoacetophenone and its derivatives. However, liquid bromine possesses certain drawbacks, such as volatilization, high toxicity, strong corrosion, and poor reaction selectivity, which limit its application and…

The Van de Graaff (VDG) generator is ubiquitous in the physics laboratory, but the high-voltage discharges that emanate from it can cause user discomfort or damage to nearby electronics during experimentation. In this work, an augmented reality (AR) tool is developed to help students conduct the experiment safely. More specifically, it allows them…

The reaction between hydrochloric acid and calcium carbonate to produce carbon dioxide gas is a popular and engaging experiment to illustrate chemical reactions that result in the production of gases. It also provides a useful model for teaching concepts related to the effects of concentration on reaction rates. Although a prepared hydrochloric…

The synthesis of a [2]rotaxane through three- or five-component coupling reactions has been adapted to an organic chemistry experiment for upper-division students. The experimental procedure addresses the search for the most favorable reaction conditions for the synthesis of the interlocked compound, which is obtained in a yield of up to 71%.…

Cola beverages are widely consumed and popular among students; they can be used as safe reagents to replace toxic chemical dyes. In this study, a safe and improved experiment is described, which successfully demonstrates Beer's law and adsorption process using activated carbon as the adsorbent and cola as the adsorbate. The results of this study…

The Making Introductory Courses Real while Online (MICRO) laboratory project was developed to meet the need for hands-on experiments, focused on topics in analytical chemistry, to be delivered safely remotely or in a socially distanced in-person lab. Unlike more traditional lab experiments, MICRO laboratories use only microgram or nanogram amounts…

To prove that oxygen is irreversibly consumed in the blue bottle reaction, a manometer or a plastic bottle was used to show a permanent reduction in the gas pressure in a reaction vessel. This demonstration may be misleading because the change in gas pressure can be attributed to a number of other factors such as temperature change and involvement…

The chemistry of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has the potential to introduce high school and undergraduate students to the fundamental chemical principles of structure and bonding, enhance the development of skills in synthesis and crystal growth, and promote hands-on experience with gas capture and host-guest chemistry of emerging materials…

A method to synthesize biaryls through the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction using a recyclable fluorous precatalyst is described. This laboratory experiment, which demonstrates the safety benefits of green chemistry, is integrated into an upper-division course. Besides simply using the catalyst for a reaction, students can reuse the catalyst…

"N"-Formamides are important intermediates in the synthesis of many pharmacologically active compounds and are used as protecting groups for amines or as catalysts in different reactions. The current "N"-formylation experiment is designed as a part of an introductory organic chemistry course for undergraduate students. The…

Proteins must interact with a variety of other cellular components to properly perform their functions. We have developed a series of five experiments based on the robust bacterial single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) to characterize both known and unknown protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. Students work in groups to generate and…

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in healthcare and related science majors at the undergraduate level. This presents an opportunity to introduce health science training in middle school science classes to familiarize students to various healthcare-related fields. The pharmaceutical science-based hands-on activities for middle…

The topic of chemistry safety was included at the margins of traditional chemistry education in China. In order to understand the concerns of the safety issues based on the new chemistry curriculum in the mainland China secondary school, this study analyzed old and new secondary chemistry curriculum standards via the Natural Language Processing…

There currently exists a significant deficiency in the nuclear chemistry workforce within the United States, despite its importance in areas of medicine, national security, and energy. Poor coverage of this topic across many chemistry departments at the undergraduate level likely contributes to this shortage. Increasing interest and hands-on…

A two-week summer camp was designed, implemented, and then updated for high school students focusing on organic chemistry, solar energy, and green chemistry principles. Students learn about laboratory safety, perform organic reactions, go on field trips, and take part in interactive lessons that focus on both fundamental chemistry topics as well…