Describes activities (demonstrations/experiments) used to introduce history of periodic properties--without electrons, orbitals, filling shells, or any conception of atoms beyond Dalton's model. Activities supplement first chapter in a currently available chemistry text. Indicates potential danger of experiments if proper safety precautions are…

Clarifies misunderstanding of Millikan's experiment measuring charge on electrons. Most books describing the experiment indicate ionization of air in the apparatus caused liberation of electrons, and that these electrons were picked up by oil droplets. However, in Millikan's discussion, it is stated clearly that ions were attached to oil droplets.…

Electronic energy levels in noble gas atoms may be determined with a simple teaching apparatus incorporating a resonance potentials tube in which the electron beam intensity is held constant. The resulting spectra are little inferior to those obtained by more elaborate electron-impact methods and complement optical emission spectra. (Author/SK)

Presents history, nature of evidence evaluated, and philosophical questions to justify the view that experiments on parity nonconservation were "crucial" experiments in the sense that they decided unambiguously and within a short period of time for the appropriate scientific community, between two or more competing theories or classes of theories.…

Describes a classroom experiment designed to teach students the fundamentals underlying the normal coordinate analysis procedure of a polyatomic molecule. Uses a reverse procedure from traditional experiments of this type by providing the values for the force field and working backwards. (TW)

Demonstrates a variety of electrical phenomena to help explain atomic structure. Topics include: establishing electrical properties, electrochemistry, and electrostatic charges. Recommends demonstration equipment needed and an explanation of each. (MVL)

Presents the organization of a one-semester graduate course in structural chemistry including lectures and problems. Discusses the coverage of diffraction from real crystals and structure determination. Summarizes experiments on real crystals conducted by students in the X-ray laboratory. (CW)

Reviews the history of alchemy including personalities and methods. Discusses the philosophy associated with various early chemists and alchemists. Attempts to show that it was not unreasonable for ancient alchemists to believe in the possibility of transmutation. (CW)

Describes the design, construction, and use of oversize lecture-demonstration atomic/molecular models. These models appeal to both concrete and formal operational students. Also describes construction and use of an "spdf" sandwich board and an experiment using attribute blocks. (JN)

Describes a crystallography experiment using both diffraction-angle and diffraction-intensity information to determine the lattice constant and a lattice independent molecular parameter, while still employing standard X-ray powder diffraction techniques. Details the method, experimental details, and analysis for this activity. (CW)

Uses simple pulse NMR experiments to discuss Fourier transforms. Studies the generation of spin echoes used in the imaging procedure. Shows that pulse NMR experiments give signals that are additions of sinusoids of differing amplitudes, frequencies, and phases. (MVL)

Outlines a variety of laboratory procedures, discussions, and demonstrations including polarizing power and chemical properties of copper and zinc, preparation of boron coordination complex, demonstration of amino-acid synthesis in the primordial environment, classification and reactions of carbohydrates, and four others. (DS)