The intention of this article is to present a year-long interdisciplinary course, Mathematical Models in Chemistry. The course is comprised of eleven units, each of which has both a mathematical and a chemical component. A syllabus of the course is given and the format of the class is explained. The interaction of the professors and the content is…

In order for students to understand genetics and evolution, they must first understand the structure of the DNA molecule. The function of DNA proceeds from its unique structure, a structure beautifully adapted for information storage, transcription, translation into amino acid sequences, replication, and time travel. The activity described in this…

The study describes a teaching action undertaken in the belief that the use of methodologies based on active and cooperative learning could obviate some of the most worrying deficiencies in current scientific teaching, while at the same time supporting the validity of the constructivistic theory that prompted them. A teaching action on genetically…

In contrast to most other thermodynamic data, entropy values are not given in relation to a certain--more or less arbitrarily defined--zero level. They are listed in standard thermodynamic tables as absolute values of specific substances. Therefore these values describe a physical property of the listed substances. One of the main tasks of…

A single-semester elective combines Mendelian and molecular genetics in a problem-solving format. Students encounter a genetic disease scenario, construct a family pedigree, and try to confirm their medical diagnoses through laboratory experiences. Encouraged to generate ideas as they test their hypotheses, students realize the importance of data…

Discusses using the historical account of the concept of the tetrahedral carbon atom as a study in scientific methodology. (MLH)

Describes an undergraduate chemistry experiment in which an atomic absorption spectrophotometer is used for recording flame emission spectra of the diatomic carbon molecule. (MLH)

Includes a discussion of the structure of some molecules and the design of an experiment to replace CHEM Study Experiment 7. (GS)

Describes an experiment which monitors the population of the lowest triplet state by directly observing phosphorescence intensity as a function of time. Reviews the theory concerning triplet state lifetimes, describes the experimental apparatus and procedure, and presents the method and examples of data analysis. (GS)

A brief introduction to the periodic table of the elements is presented. The periodic relationships are demonstrated through the use of seven tables which include a breakdown of the periodic table by groups or families, valence ring electron populations by period, electronic configurations of the elements, electron configurations of the elements…

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)