Kinetics constitutes a core topic in both the lecture and laboratory components of lower- level chemistry courses. While textbook examples can ignore issues of time, temperature and safety, the laboratory can not. Reactions must occur slowly enough to be detected by students, occur rapidly enough for data collection in the few hours assigned to a…

Mass spectrometry is a widely used and versatile tool for scientists in many different fields. Soft ionization techniques such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) allow for the analysis of biomolecules, polymers, and clusters. This article describes a MALDI mass spectrometry experiment designed for students in introductory…

Presents an account of the life of Otto Diels and explains his research on the constitution of cholesterol, the Diels-Alder reaction, and synthesis of cantharadin. (GS)

A variety of equipment and instructional materials are briefly described. Included are slides, charts, transparencies, centrifuge, and a spectrometer. (GS)

Presents reactions for the formation of xenon compounds and compounds of the other inert gases. Provides bonding and structure theories for noble gas compounds and speculates on possible applications. (GS)

Demonstrates that the concept of covalent bonding can be effectively taught, without quantum mechanics, as one of the basic applications of Coulomb's law. (MLH)

Describes the use of balloons to show the shape of atomic orbitals and their orientation in molecules. (MLH)

A computer program is described for identification of chiral centers in molecules. Essential input to the program includes both atomic and bonding information. The program does not require computer graphic input-output. (BB)

Presents an instructional approach to be used in the teaching of equilibrium processes. (CP)

This paper is concerned with the thermodynamic formulation of the Activated Complex Theory (otherwise called Transition State Theory or Absolute Rate Theory). (Author/CP)

A method of preparing computerized subject and author indexes for research and development laboratory notebooks is described. Wiswesser Line Notation is used as the subject entry capable of listing specifically and unambiguously the compounds described in the notebooks. (Author)

Explains a new design for a cheap manual model to illustrate a popular alternative mechanism for pseudorotation, in five-coordinate compounds. (Author/GA)