Journal of Chemical Education

Celebrating a Volume and Heralding the Next

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Editorial
Norbert J. Pienta
It hardly seems fair that with an official start in September, I should be declaring a celebration already. But the last issue of a volume is traditionally a time for acknowledgments—an opportunity to thank everyone for all of their efforts. Most of the 2009 issues were produced under the…

Teaching Is a Privilege

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Especially for High School Teachers
Laura E. Slocum and Erica K. Jacobsen
Recently, I have spent many hours working with seven students as they develop their own demonstrations and hands-on activities focusing on elements—the theme of this year’s National Chemistry Week (NCW)—“Chemistry—It’s Elemental!” What a special privilege this has been…

Research Advances

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Reports from Other Journals: Research Advances
Angela G. King
Cutting edge research can be done on a small scale, literally. This month's Research Advances column focuses on innovations that come in small sizes, including microscopic "hands" for building tomorrow's machines; a "micro"-sized mass spectrometer; and "microswimmers" that are making a big splash for improved drug delivery…

The Origin of the Meker and Tirrill Laboratory Burners

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Ask the Historian
William B. Jensen
In response to a reader query, the column traces the origins of the well-known Meker and Tirrill laboratory burners…

My Favorite Element

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Commentary
Mary Virginia Orna
The long-sought and elusive Element 87 was finally discovered by Marguerite Perey, the first woman to be elected to the French Academy of Sciences. Following this distinction, which was early in her illustrious career, Perey's painstaking efforts—carrying out hundreds of fractional crystallizations and then quickly and skillfully analyzing…

JCE in Transition

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Report
JCE Editorial Staff
Last month, the Journal of Chemical Education announced the agreement between the Publications Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Division of Chemical Education to co-publish the JCE, starting in 2010…

News & Announcements

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

em> JCE news and announcements for this month.

Incorrect Mathematical Operators in a Two-Dimensional Quantum Problem

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Letters
Ranjan Das
In a recent article in this Journal, Ellison (1) has observed that quantum chemistry, even though it is central to an understanding of modern chemistry, “is a difficult subject to teach and one that students have great difficulty grasping”. In order…

Response to Incorrect Mathematical Operators in a Two-Dimensional Quantum Problem

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Letters
Mark Ellison

The author replies to Das.

There are several corrections to the article “The Particle inside a Ring: A Two-Dimensional Quantum Problem Visualized by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy” (1). My mistake was conceptualizing the problem as…

Molecules That Changed the World (K. C. Nicolaou and T. Montagnon)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Book & Media Reviews
Luis D. Montes
Molecules That Changed the World provides students, teachers, and those interested in the field with a richly illustrated resource that details the history, development, and application of natural product…

Theo Gray's Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do at Home—But Probably Shouldn't (Theodore Gray)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Book & Media Reviews
Robert E. Buntrock

Book Review Editor's Note

December is a gift-giving month in many cultures. This month we present some gift book suggestions for your favorite chemist. The first three books reviewed are large format coffee-table books. Written by and for chemists, Nicolaou and Montagnon&rsquo…

The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe (Theodore Gray)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Book & Media Reviews
Cheryl Baldwin Frech

Book Review Editor's Note

Landmarks in Organo-Transition Metal Chemistry—A Personal View (Profiles in Inorganic Chemistry Series) (Helmut Werner)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Book & Media Reviews
Kenneth M. Nicholas

Book Review Editor's Note

Connecting with JCE

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

To see the most recent information about JCE, go to our HTML Information Page in the About JCE section of this Web site.

To see the information that was printed in this issue of JCE, use the Full Text…

Advertising in This Issue

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

A list of current advertisers in JCE.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: It Is All about Chemistry

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Jessica Epstein
Discussion about weapons of mass destruction (WMD) has increased since so many saw the World Trade Towers collapse. The term evokes anxiety, political debate, and ethical concerns. But, what are WMD and how do the work? The topics involved with WMD touch many areas of chemistry, including general chemistry, organic chemistry…

Inexpensive, Near-Infrared Imaging of Artwork Using a Night-Vision Webcam for Chemistry-of-Art Courses

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Cost-Effective Teacher
Gregory D. Smith, Elizabeth Nunan, Claire Walker, and Dan Kushel
Imaging of artwork is an important aspect of art conservation, technical art history, and art authentication. Many forms of near-infrared (NIR) imaging are used by conservators, archaeologists, forensic scientists, and technical art historians to examine the underdrawings of paintings, to detect damages and restorations, to enhance faded or overpainted inscriptions…

New Bouncing Curved Arrow Technique for the Depiction of Organic Mechanisms

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Andrei R. Straumanis and Suzanne M. Ruder
Many students fail to develop a conceptual understanding of organic chemistry. Evidence suggests this failure goes hand-in-hand with a failure to grasp the techniques, meaning, and usefulness of curved arrow notation. Use of curved arrow notation to illustrate electrophilic addition appears to be a critical juncture in student understanding…

A Method for Writing Open-Ended Curved Arrow Notation Questions for Multiple-Choice Exams and Electronic-Response Systems

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Suzanne M. Ruder and Andrei R. Straumanis
A critical stage in the process of developing a conceptual understanding of organic chemistry is learning to use curved arrow notation. From this stems the ability to predict reaction products and mechanisms beyond the realm of memorization. Since evaluation (i.e., testing) is known to be a key driver of student learning…

An Integrated, Statistical Molecular Approach to the Physical Chemistry Curriculum

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Stephen F. Cartier
As an alternative to the "thermodynamics first" or "quantum first" approaches to the physical chemistry curriculum, the statistical definition of entropy and the Boltzmann distribution are introduced in the first days of the course and the entire two-semester curriculum is then developed from these concepts. Once the tools of statistical…

Interaction of Simple Ions with Water: Theoretical Models for the Study of Ion Hydration

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Molecular Modeling Exercises and Experiments
Jorge S. Gancheff, Carlos Kremer, and Oscar N. Ventura
A computational experiment aimed to create and systematically analyze models of simple cation hydrates is presented. The changes in the structure (bond distances and angles) and the electronic density distribution of the solvent and the thermodynamic parameters of the hydration process are calculated and compared with the experimental data. The influence…

Quantifying the Electron-Donating Strength of Phosphine Ligands

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Ashley L. Morris and John T. York
This laboratory experiment for use in inorganic or organometallic chemistry allows students to examine the property of ligand electron-donor strength and its impact on a transition-metal center. Students synthesize a series of four cis-Mo(CO)₄(PR₃)₂ complexes…

Synthesis and Characterization of Transition-Metal Complexes Containing 1,1'-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Chip Nataro and Stephanie M. Fosbenner
Learning synthetic techniques is an important component of the inorganic laboratory experience. However, if a lab only requires students to prepare a compound, they can be left questioning if the compound they made serves any useful purpose. In this lab, the ligand 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) can either be prepared…

The Trans Effect: A Guided-Inquiry Experiment for Upper-Division Inorganic Chemistry

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Janet L. Shaw, Christopher R. Dockery, Scott E. Lewis, Lindsay Harris, and Richard Bettis
This article describes a guided-inquiry laboratory for upper-division inorganic chemistry. The experiment is designed to teach students about the trans effect through synthesis of the cis and trans geometric isomers of diamminedichloroplatinum(II). Students discover which factors lead to trans-substitution versus cis-substitution in square-planar transition-metal…

Synthesis of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Enzyme Mimetics

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Graziella Vecchio and Valeria Lanza
The study of mimetics of metalloenzymes is a fascinating field. In the light of the clinical data surrounding the use of the superoxide dismutase enzymes, low molecular mass mimics of superoxide dismutase enzymes have recently been proposed for the treatment of a variety of diseases. We propose the synthesis of the…

The Preparation of Allyl Phenyl Ether and 2-Allylphenol Using the Williamson Ether Synthesis and Claisen Rearrangement

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Elizabeth M. Sanford, Christina C. Lis, and Nikolas R. McPherson
Ether chemistry is essential to organic synthesis. The Williamson ether synthesis of allyl phenyl ether and its subsequent Claisen rearrangement to 2-allylphenol introduces two important reactions of ethers to the undergraduate laboratory. Purification is accomplished using acid–base extraction, which reinforces understanding of the pK

Monitoring the Nitroxide-Mediated Polymerization of Styrene Using Gel Permeation Chromatography and Proton NMR

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Eric S. Tillman, Nathan D. Contrella, and Joshua G. Leasure
This laboratory exercise is designed to give students experience in controlled radical polymerization (CRP) techniques, with an emphasis on monitoring the conversion of monomer into polymer as the reaction proceeds. Specifically, nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP) is used to synthesize polystyrene, with reaction-mixture aliquots removed and analyzed via gel permeation chromatography…

Surveying Students' Attitudes and Perceptions toward Guided-Inquiry and Open-Inquiry Laboratories

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Chemical Education Research
Suparna Chatterjee, Vickie M. Williamson, Kathleen McCann, and M. Larry Peck
Inquiry-based laboratory experiments can play an important role for students in developing concepts and promoting deeper understanding. This study examined students' ability to differentiate between guided- and open-inquiry laboratories near the end of a semester of general chemistry at a large southwestern university that utilized both types of inquiry…

Emphasizing Multiple Levels of Representation To Enhance Students' Understandings of the Changes Occurring during Chemical Reactions

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Chemical Education Research
A. L. Chandrasegaran, David F. Treagust, and Mauro Mocerino
An alternative program of instruction was implemented with 33 high-achieving Grade 9 students (15–16 years old) in Singapore that overtly focused on the use of macroscopic, submicroscopic, and symbolic representations to describe and explain the changes that occurred during the burning of metals, reactions of dilute acids, ionic…

Teaching Molecular Diffusion Using an Inquiry Approach

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Chemical Education Research
Lisette van Rens, Joop van der Schee, and Albert Pilot
This design research describes the development of a student inquiry project in which upper-secondary school chemistry students learn domain-specific concepts by doing inquiry in a simulated inquiry community. The design of the inquiry project is based on the extended procedural and conceptual knowledge in science (PACKS) model; the student…

Kinetic versus Static Visuals for Facilitating College Students' Understanding of Organic Reaction Mechanisms in Chemistry

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Chemical Education Research
Abdulwali H. Aldahmash and Michael R. Abraham
Using animated computer-generated graphics to assist instruction has recently attracted the attention of educators and educational researchers. The specific focus of this study is to compare the influence of animated visuals with static visuals on college students' understanding of organic reaction mechanisms in chemistry. This study also focuses on the…

Assessment of Chemistry Anxiety in a Two-Year College

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Wanda C. McCarthy and Bozena Barbara Widanski
Chemistry anxiety encompasses apprehension regarding learning chemistry, evaluation in chemistry courses, and fears about handling chemicals. Our goal was to ascertain the prevalence of these three types of anxiety in college students enrolled in a two-year college. In our sample, chemistry-evaluation provoked the most chemistry anxiety followed by handling…

A Simple Spreadsheet Program for the Calculation of Lattice-Site Distributions

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

John G. McCaffrey
A simple spreadsheet program is presented that can be used by undergraduate students to calculate the lattice-site distributions in solids. A major strength of the method is the natural way in which the correct number of ions or atoms are present, or absent, at specific lattice distances. The expanding-cube…

Equations of State and Phase Diagrams of Ammonia

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

L. Glasser
We present equations of state relating the phases and a three-dimensional phase diagram for ammonia with its solid, liquid, and vapor phases, based on fitted authentic experimental data and including recent information on the high-pressure solid phases. This presentation follows similar articles on carbon dioxide and water published in…

Ion Pairs or Neutral Molecule Adducts? Cooperativity in Hydrogen Bonding

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

Roger L. DeKock, Laura A. Schipper, Stephanie C. Dykhouse, Lee P. Heeringa, and Benjamin M. Brandsen
We performed theoretical studies on the systems NH₃·HF·mH₂O, NH₃·HCl·mH₂O, with m = 0, 1, 2, and 6. The molecules with m = 0…

The Proof Is in the Calculation

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

JCE Concept Connections
Randall J. Wildman
The paper by Roger L. DeKock et al. gives its interesting results by analyzing proven mathematical models (ab initio molecular modeling calculations) for aspects that correspond to physical phenomena (H-bond and covalent bond distances). Instead of developing mathematical arguments leading to a unique model of…

Fostering Creativity and Learning Using Instructional Symbolic Mathematics Documents

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

JCE SymMath: Symbolic Mathematics in Chemistry
Theresa Julia Zielinski
Historically the two highest levels in the cognitive domain of Bloom’s Taxonomy in increasing hierarchical order were synthesis and evaluation (1). In the mid 1990s Lorin Anderson, a former student of Bloom, renamed and reordered the levels so that synthesis and evaluation are…

Conventional Entropies and the Third Law of Thermodynamics

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

JCE SymMath: Symbolic Mathematics in Chemistry
Todd M. Hamilton and Theresa Julia Zielinski
In this document, conventional entropies for several substances are calculated using the third law of thermodynamics and heat capacity data (Figure 1). Students explore the contributions of different phases to the total entropy of a substance by integrating the heat capacity within each phase and adding the individual entropy…

Effect of Activity Coefficients on Excess Functions and Phase Equilibria

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

JCE SymMath: Symbolic Mathematics in Chemistry
Inmaculada Suárez and Baudilio Coto
The comparison between ideal and nonideal behavior in liquid mixtures in terms of experimental properties such as vapor pressures or boiling temperatures is easy to show. However, it is quite complex for students to understand such behavior in terms of activity coefficients, activities, or excess functions. In addition, a numerical problem…

Intermolecular Interactions: Dipole–Dipole, Dipole–Induced Dipole, and London Dispersion Forces

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

JCE SymMath: Symbolic Mathematics in Chemistry
Thomas S. Kuntzleman and Masayuki Shibata
This Mathcad document introduces students to simple potential functions, which allows them to compare and contrast various intermolecular interactions. In particular, dipole–dipole interactions, dipole–induced dipole interactions, and London dispersion interactions are explored. Many students are surprised to learn that most molecules simultaneously exhibit all three types of…

Rotational States of Carbon Monoxide

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

JCE SymMath: Symbolic Mathematics in Chemistry
David M. Hanson and Theresa Julia Zielinski
This document provides a format for computing rotational absorption spectra of diatomic molecules using carbon monoxide as an example. A Lorentzian line shape is used, and centrifugal stretching, energy level degeneracy, fraction of molecules in vibrational and rotational states at specified temperatures, and the molecular dipole moment are taken into account…

Molecule Models of Chemical Weapons and Warfare Agents

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

JCE Featured Molecules
William F. Coleman
Jessica Epstein, in her paper on chemistry and weapons of mass destruction, does an excellent job of introducing students to this field, and addresses the discomfort that some, if not many, students may feel about this subject (1). Our Featured Molecules for this month come…

Information for Volume 86, 2009 of the Journal of Chemical Education

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:59:09 -0000

JCE Online: Index
Information for Volume 86, 2009 of the Journal of Chemical Education is available at our HTML Information Page and at our Features information page in the About JCE section of this Web site.