Background information on the biology of myxomycetes is provided, examining their life cycle, identification, isolation, taxonomy, and ecology. Also provides suggestions for laboratory investigations and project work related to these and other topic areas. Among the suggestions are distribution, plasmodial, phenological, habitat, food preference,…

Background information and procedures are provided for a lecture experiment which uses indicators to illustrate the concept of differing buffer capacities by titrating acetic acid/sodium acetate buffers with 1.0 molar hydrochloric acid and 1.0 molar sodium hydroxide. A table with data used to plot the titration curve is included. (JN)

Oxidation kinetics in metals and the role defects play in diffusion-controlled reactions are discussed as background for a junior/senior-level experiment in the physical or inorganic chemistry laboratory. Procedures used and typical data obtained are provided for the experiment. (JN)

Suggests that pseudophase liquid chromatography, which uses aqueous surfactant solutions instead of organic solvents for the mobile phase, can be substituted for thin-layer chromatography in the introductory organic course. Outlines the method as it applies to common separations in the laboratory. (JN)

Describes an experiment (using plastic bags) designed to give students practical understanding on using statistics to evaluate data and how statistical treatment of experimental results can enhance their value in solving scientific problems. Students also gain insight into the orientation and structure of polymers by examining the plastic bags.…

Describes a user-friendly computer program that will analyze the data from one kinetics experiment for 84 different rate laws (sets of partial orders). Information on obtaining the program (written in VAX-Basic and implemented on a VAX-780 computer), its instruction, and related programs are included. (JN)

Procedures are provided for a test that (1) demonstrates principles of derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine; (2) is a thin layer chromatography experiment that visually demonstrates separation of colored compounds of different polarities; and (3) introduces microscale experimentation to students in sophomore organic chemistry…

The separation of derivatives of aliphatic compounds (2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones) is used to introduce methods and techniques typically employed in thin layer chromatography and to provide a clear illustration of chromatographic principles in general. Procedures used in the separation are presented. (JN)

Although infrared spectroscopy is used primarily for qualitative identifications, it is possible to use it as a quantitative tool as well. The use of a standard curve to determine percent methanol in a 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol sample is described. Background information, experimental procedures, and results obtained are provided. (JN)

Describes a complementary pair of radiochemistry experiments for instruction of isotopic dilution analysis and secular equilibrium. Both experiments use the readily available cesium-137 nuclide and the simple precipitation technique for cesium with the tetraphenylborate anion. Procedures used and typical results obtained are provided and…

Background information, experimental approach, materials needed, procedures used, and typical results obtained are provided for genetic engineering experiments. The course in which these experiments are performed is also described. (JN)

Describes an experiment which allows students to identify the nature of the time-course for chymotrypsin and to obtain mechanistic information on the two kinetic phases in terms of their concentration dependence. Also describes the computer simulation (available from the author) used in the experiment. (JN)

Background information, procedures used, typical results obtained, and calculations are provided for a short (4-6 hours) kinetic experiment which includes different methods both in performance and in analysis of the results. The experiment can be modified and extended depending on the level of students and the available laboratory time. (JN)

Describes a typical presentation in which slime is prepared for young, concrete operational students. Includes the procedures used and a summary written by a fourth-grade teacher after completing the slime experiment with her class. (JN)

Background information, list of materials needed, and procedures used are provided for a demonstration involving the transformation of a hydrophobic liquid to a partially hydrophobic semisolid. Safety considerations are noted. (JN)