Background information, procedures used, and safety considerations are provided for experiments using natural gas. They include: (1) exploding a mixture of natural gas and oxygen; (2) testing for unsaturated hydrocarbons in natural gas; (3) substituting higher saturated hydrocarbons contained in kerosene with bromine; and (4) the pyrolysis of…

Describes quick and easy experiments that yield quantitative information on a variety of levels, emphasize the concept of experimental controls, and integrate the experimental with the theoretical using the organic phosphates as the experimental system. Background information, list of materials needed, and procedures used are included. (JN)

Describes a laboratory exercise which demonstrates qualitatively the specificity of the transport mechanism, including a consideration of the competitive inhibition, and the role of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in active transport. The exercise, which can be completed in two to three hours by groups of four students, consistently produces reliable…

Describes an undergraduate enzyme kinetics experiment which uses bovine erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase, a very stable enzyme commercially available in lyophilized form. Includes background information, reactions involved, procedures used, and the calculation of typical results obtained. (JN)

Provides background information on the development and action of the coumarin family of anticoagulants, focusing on an experimental procedure for the synthesis of dicumerol. Includes procedures used and safety considerations. (JM)

Provides background information and procedures for the multi-step synthesis of tiger moth and boll weevil pheromones (sex attractants). These syntheses require several laboratory periods. The tiger moth pheromone synthesis is suitable for introductory organic chemistry while the boll weevil pheromone is recommended for an advanced laboratory…

Describes a senior-level experiment dealing with the synthesis and characterization of a perovskite. Since most perovskites are cubic, their characterization by x-ray diffraction is simplified. In addition, magnetic ordering may be observed and the effects of a Jahn-Teller distortion seen. (JN)

An experiment for determining polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) isomers is described. The very low vapor pressures of PCB's allow them to be handled safely in the laboratory. In addition, this low volatility permits their analysis by thin-layer chromatography and recovery from the developed plate with effectively no evaporative losses. (JN)

Procedures for using soap films to determine the shortest series of lines connecting several points. (CP)

Describes a method for the extraction and bioassay of natural germination inhibitors, requiring only inexpensive equipment and minimal experimental skill. The method has been used to demonstrate qualitative/quantitative differences in germination inhibitor levels in a variety of different fruits or in different tissues within a single fruit.…

Reports results of experiments favoring use of 0.5 percent nitric acid with an oxidant (potassium dichromate or potassium permanganate) to preserve samples in polyethylene containers for mercury analysis. Includes procedures used and statistical data obtained from the experiments. (JN)

Preparation of cis and trans isomers of the kinetically labile bis glycinato copper (II) has a number of advantages including its facility, economy, ready theoretical interpretation, and biological relevance. Background information, laboratory procedures, results/discussion are provided for this experiment which can be completed in a single,…

This experiment presents one direct titration for water soluble base and an indirect titration after dissolving a sample (oak ashes) in a known excess of acid. A titer method of calculation is given to allow use by students without knowledge of molarity-volume-mole calculations. (Author/JN)

Describes how a sulfate-iodide "clock reaction" experiment can be used to emphasize the importance of observations and hypotheses in revealing cause-effect relationships. Investigative steps, theory, experimental principle, procedure, and the experiment report are discussed. (CS)

Procedures are provided for separating the principal metalloproteins (albumin, ceruloplasmin, and transferrin) from plasma using column chromatographic techniques. The experiment can be completed in two separate three-hour laboratory periods during which column chromatography is illustrated and the effect of pH on charge and affinity of a protein…