Described is an easy to assemble, and inexpensive, torsional pendulum which gives an accuracy of measurement of the modulus of rigidity, G, comparable to the accuracy obtained with the more expensive commercially available student models. (Author/GA)

Describes an apparatus which allows one to study the speed distribution, the gravitational distribution, and the mean free path of steel balls agitated into two-dimensional motion through collisions with the moving walls of their enclosure. (Author/GA)

Presents a qualitative activity whereby students observe the effects of temperature on commercial lightsticks. Includes Internet resources. (WRM)

Describes a chemistry experiment that allows students to calculate rates of reaction, orders of reaction, and activation energies. The activity demonstrates that to increase a reaction's rate, a catalyst need only provide any additional pathway for the reaction, not necessarily a pathway having lower activation energy. (WRM)

Biodiesel was synthesized by transesterification of waste vegetable oil using common glassware and reagents, and characterized by measuring heat of combustion, cloud point, density and measuring the heat of combustion and density together allows the student the energy density of the fuel. Analyzing the biodiesel can serve as a challenging and…

Describes a general chemistry level kinetics experiment requiring three 3-hour laboratory periods. Data analyses can be accomplished with graphical techniques or a non-linear least squares computer program. (MLH)

Describes a computer simulation experiment in which physical chemistry students can determine all of the kinetic parameters of a reaction, such as order of the reaction with respect to each reagent, forward and reverse rate constants for the overall reaction, and forward and reverse activation energies. (MLH)

A reaction kinetics experiment for the chemical engineering undergraduate laboratory course was developed in which in-situ Fourier Transfer Infrared spectroscopy was used to measure reactant and product concentrations. The kinetics of the hydrolysis of acetic anhydride was determined by experiments carried out in a batch reactor. The results…

Describes an experiment for estimating molecular size and Avogadro's number. Uses the diffusion length of iodine in air at 100 degrees Celsius as a function of time, and the change in volume of a small quantity of carbon dioxide as it goes from the solid to the gaseous state. (GA)

Describes an experimental procedure for illustrating general principles of photochemical reaction kinetics. (SL)

Two demonstrations are described. The first (useful as an introduction to kinetics) shows how the rate of a reaction is fast at first and then gradually decreases to zero when one reactant has been used up. The second is a gas density demonstration using 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoro ethane. (JN)

Background, procedures used, and typical results are provided for an experiment in which students carry out the necessary measurements on the acid-catalysis of penicillin in two hours. By applying kinetic theory to the data obtained, the reaction pathways for the hydrolysis of potassium benzyl penicillin are elucidated. (JN)

Provided are procedures and list of materials needed to demonstrate that the pressure inside a container with a porous surface can be changed due to the rate of diffusion of low molecular weight gases. Typical results obtained are included. (JN)

Describes the construction and operational procedures of a simple setup which enables undergraduate students to conduct experiments on critical phenomena in gases. Indicates that the experimental features are proved comparable to those of the Reamer and Sage apparatus. (CC)

Describes advanced undergraduate laboratory exercise examining the dependence of the rate constants and the instantaneous concentrations with the nature and energy content in a gas-phase complex reaction. Computer program (with instructions and computation flow charts) used with the exercise is available from the author. (Author/JN)