Discusses enzymes, catalysts, and factors that affect the rate of a chemical reaction. Presents activities based on enzyme action on hydrogen peroxide and lactose intolerance. (Author/JRH)

Demonstrates some of the chemistry of chlorine on a microscale about the size of a water droplet. Chlorine gas was prepared from an acidified bleach solution in a plastic petri dish. Provides suitable hands-on experience for students at the secondary-school level. (MM)

Introduces a number of applications of a polymer which is capable of holding 800 times or more its weight in distilled water. Explores other chemical water absorbers. (ASK)

Explains the redux chemistry of the experiment of cleaning pennies with a vinegar-salt solution. (Contains 12 references.) (YDS)

Rx values in thin-layer chromatography (TLC) depend strongly on the solvent saturation of the atmosphere above the liquid in the TLC developing chamber. Presents an experiment illustrating the potentially dramatic effects on TLC Rx values of not equilibrating the solvent atmosphere during development. (ASK)

Described are experiments to give students experience in the synthesis of peptides from amino acids and to use visible spectroscopy to measure a rate of reaction. The activities were designed for undergraduate courses. (RH)

Describes an experiment designed to provide the opportunity for studying some of the parameters affecting the stability of Vitamin C in various environments, and to acquaint the student with an experimental procedure for studying simple reaction kinetics and the calculations of specific rate constants. (Author/JR)

Describes an approach for making chemistry relevant to everyday life. Involves the study of kinetics using the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by vegetable juices. Allows students to design and carry out experiments and then draw conclusions from their results. (JRH)

Explains an oxidation-reduction experiment using lemon cells made from zinc and copper strips of metal placed into a lemon. (YDS)

Presents an activity that demonstrates the effectiveness of flame retardants--substances added to combustible materials to slow down or hinder burning--that can be introduced when discussing combustion reactions or during a practical or everyday chemistry unit. (ASK)

Describes a laboratory method suitable for senior high school classes for investigating possible mechanisms of catalytic function. The Harcourt-Essen reaction is used to demonstrate a catalytic process that can be investigated quantitatively by standard kinetic methods. (JR)