There are significant contradictions in undergraduate organic chemistry textbooks as to the mechanism of nucleophilic substitution reactions at saturated secondary carbons. Some texts say that only the S[subscript N]2 mechanism operates, others say that solvolysis reactions go entirely by the S[subscript N]1 mechanism, while most texts say that…

A simple method for studying the kinetics of a chemical reaction is described and the significance of reaction orders in deducing reaction mechanisms is demonstrated. In this student laboratory experiment, oxidation of iodide by iron(III) ions in an acidic medium is transformed into a clock reaction. By means of the initial rates method, it is…

Describes a method of flow injection analysis intended for calculation of complex-formation and redox reaction stoichiometries based on a closed-loop configuration. The technique is suitable for use in undergraduate laboratories. Information is provided for equipment, materials, procedures, and sample results. (JM)

Reports an experimental procedure for studying Einstein's theory of Brownian movement using commercially available latex microspheres and a video camera. Describes how students can monitor sphere motions and determine Avogadro's number. Uses a black and white video camera, microscope, and TV. (ML)

Describes a procedure for studying the kinetics of the second-order hydrolysis of ethylene bromohydrine in alkaline medium by incorporating a substance that changes color as one of the reacting components is depleted. (MLH)

Describes a laboratory experiment that utilizes NMR Spectroscopy to determine the rate constant for the C-N bond rotation in dimethylacetamide. (MLH)

Describes a study of the kinetics of the recombination of nitrogen atoms in which concentration-time relations are determined directly by utilizing visual observations of emissions to make gas phase titrations of N atoms with NO. (MLH)

Describes a kinetics experiment in which the student measures both a second-order rate constant and an overall third-order rate constant for the oxidation of benzoin to benzil in an alkaline medium. (MLH)

Describes a laboratory exercise involving methylene blue and L-ascorbic acid in a simple clock reaction technique to illustrate the basic concepts of chemical kinetics. If stock solutions are supplied and each type of experiment takes no more than half an hour, the entire investigation can be completed in three practical sessions of three hours…

Describes a biochemistry experiment involving the kinetics of passive diffusion of solutes across artificial membranes formed by dispersing phospholipids in aqueous medium. (MLH)

Describes an undergraduate kinetics experiment, including advantages of this particular system, sources of error, and expected results. (MLH)

Describes the theory, apparatus, and procedure for an experiment that measures the bimolecular quenching constant for the deactivation of an excited ruthenium ion complex using dissolved oxygen. (MLH)

Describes an experiment in which the reaction rate and equilibrium constant are obtained for the fumarase-catalyzed interconversion of fumaric acid and L-malic acid. (MLH)

Describes an experiment that utilizes fluorescence intensity measurements from a Spectronic 20 to determine the rate constant for the fluorescence quenching of various aromatic hydrocarbons by carbon tetrachloride in an ethanol solvent. (MLH)

Describes a kinetics experiment that utilizes timed reactions and colored endpoints and is suitable for large laboratory sections. (MLH)