Celebrating National Chemistry Week 2019
The October 2019 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: marvelous metals; reducing hazards and increasing safety; engaging activities on nuclear chemistry and self-healing hydrogels; chemistry activities for students studying nursing; fostering community; mathematics and computer models in chemistry; innovative experiments; challenges of demonstrating the atmospheric greenhouse effect; chemical education research; resources for teaching.
Marvelous Metals
To celebrate the value of chemistry in our everyday life, National Chemistry Week is being held this year October 20–26, 2019 with the theme "Marvelous Metals". Articles featuring metals in this and past JCE issues (see the From the Archives: Marvelous Metal Materials in JCE section below) can help you make the most of this ACS annual celebration, including Electroless Deposition on Three Substrates: Brass Washers, Cicada Exoskeletons, and Beetles. In this laboratory experiment, Craig J. Donahue, Amina Marini, Codruta Savu, and Hanan Yehya showcase electroless deposition, an autocatalytic reduction process performed in aqueous solution containing a metal ion in the presence of a reducing agent, yielding a coherent metal film. (The cover shows a nickel-plated cicada exoskeleton being held by a neodymium magnet.)
Additional metal-oriented articles in this issue:
Would We Have Chemistry without Marvelous Metals? ~ Donald Wink
Hands-On Experiment To Verify Consistency from Bulk Density to Atomic and Ionic Radii with Lumps of Metals and Ionic Compounds ~ Seong Kyun Kim and Seoung-Hey Paik
Exploring Thermal Effects and Behaviors of Chemical Substances Using an Infrared Camera ~ Choun Pei Wong and R. Subramaniam
Heterogeneous Catalytic Oxidation of Ammonia by Various Transition Metals ~ Petrus C. M. Laan, Mareena C. Franke, Richard van Lent, and Ludo B. F. Juurlink (available to non-subscribers as part of ACS AuthorChoice program)
Ultrasonic-Assisted Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of a Metal–Organic Framework: A Green General Chemistry Laboratory Project ~ Yujuan Liu, Emily J. Myers, Stephanie A. Rydahl, and Xisen Wang
Synthesizing Gold Nanoparticles Using Honey in Basic Solution under Leidenfrost Conditions To Aid Students in Reliably Reproducing Observable Color Changes ~ Sofie Palmans, Jens Vermeulen, Natalie Chiaverini, and Tom Mortier
Synthesis, Purification, and Characterization of Negatively Charged Gold Nanoparticles for Cation Sensing ~ Giacomo Favero, Mattia Brugia, Fabrizio Mancin, and Renato Bonomi
Gold-Catalyzed Rearrangement of Propargyl Alcohols Using Coupling Constants To Determine Isomeric Ratios ~ Xinpeng Cheng, Jonna Chen, Morgan J. Gainer, and Liming Zhang
Introducing Manganese-Doped Lead Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots: A Simple Synthesis Illustrating Optoelectronic Properties of Semiconductors ~ Hanjun Yang, Winnie Fan, Katie Hills-Kimball, Ou Chen, and Li-Qiong Wang
The Computational Design of Two-Dimensional Materials ~ Daniel P. Miller, Adam Phillips, Herbert Ludowieg, Sarah Swihart, Jochen Autschbach, and Eva Zurek
Influence of Exam Blueprint Distribution on Student Perceptions and Performance in an Inorganic Chemistry Course ~ Karin J. Young, Sarah Lashley, and Sarah Murray
Commentary
Eamonn F. Healy poses the question Should Organic Chemistry Be Taught as Science?
Reducing Hazards and Increasing Safety
A Convenient, Effective, and Safer Flame Demonstration ~ John P. Canal, Rajendra Dev Sharma, and Hamel N. Tailor
Assessing College Students’ Risk Perceptions of Hazards in Chemistry Laboratories ~ Clara Rosalía Álvarez-Chávez, Luz S. Marín, Karla Perez-Gamez, Mariona Portell, Luis Velazquez, and Francisca Munoz-Osuna
Measuring and Reducing Chemical Spills by Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Providing Feedback ~ Aimilia M. Tsokou, Alix Howells, and Moray S. Stark
Engaging Activities on Nuclear Chemistry and Self-Healing Hydrogels
Radioactive World: An Outreach Activity for Nuclear Chemistry ~ Sierra C. Marker, Chilaluck C. Konkankit, Mark C. Walsh, Daniel R. Lorey, II, and Justin J. Wilson
Simple and Versatile Protocol for Preparing Self-Healing Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels ~ Rylie K. Morris, Abby P. Hilker, Taylor M. Mattice, Shane M. Donovan, Michael T. Wentzel, and Patrick H. Willoughby
Chemistry Activities for Students Studying Nursing
A Complementary Laboratory Exercise: Introducing Molecular Structure–Function Topics to Undergraduate Nursing Health Professions Students ~ Angela L. Mahaffey
It’s All Relative! Engaging Nursing and Exercise Science Students in Chemical Education Using Medical Case Studies ~ Angela L. Mahaffey
Fostering Community
Grassroots Efforts To Quantify and Improve the Academic Climate of an R1 STEM Department: Using Evidence-Based Discussions To Foster Community ~
Christiane N. Stachl, Emily C. Hartman, David E. Wemmer, and Matthew B. Francis
Increasing Expression of Civic-Engagement Values by Students in a Service-Learning Chemistry Course ~ Audrey E. McGowin and Rebecca Teed
Mathematics and Computer Models in Chemistry
Chemistry and Mathematics: Research and Frameworks To Explore Student Reasoning ~ Kinsey Bain, Jon-Marc G. Rodriguez, and Marcy H. Towns
Helping Students Connect Interdisciplinary Concepts and Skills in Physical Chemistry and Introductory Computing: Solving Schrödinger’s Equation for the Hydrogen Atom ~ Oka Kurniawan, Li Ling Apple Koh, Jermaine Zhi Min Cheng, and Maggie Pee
Teaching Entropy from Phase Space Perspective: Connecting the Statistical and Thermodynamic Views Using a Simple One-Dimensional Model ~ Dhritiman Bhattacharyya and Jahan M. Dawlaty
Demystifying Mathematical Modeling of Electrochemical Systems ~ Lisa I. Stephens and Janine Mauzeroll
From Benzene to Graphene: Exploring the Electronic Structure of Single-Layer and Bilayer Graphene Using Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ~ Janna Domenico, Alexis M. Schneider, and Karl Sohlberg
Innovative Experiments
Developing and Implementing Multioutcome Experiments in Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories To Promote Student Ownership of the Experience: An Example Multioutcome Experiment for the Oxidation of Alcohols ~ Kasey L. Yearty, Caroline E. Glessner, and Richard W. Morrison
Using a Flatbed Scanner and Automated Digital Image Analysis To Determine the Total Phenolic Content in Beer ~ Claudia Martins Ledesma, Larissa Mascarenhas Krepsky, and Endler Marcel Borges
Carbohydrate Experiments in the Organic Laboratory: A Robust Synthesis and Modification of Thioglycosides ~ Michael P. Mannino, Ariel P. Dunteman, and Alexei V. Demchenko
Implementation of Earth’s Field NMR Spectroscopy in an Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratory ~ Patrick Bergstrom Mann, Samuel Clark, Samuel T. Cahill, Craig D. Campbell, Matthew T. Harris, Simon Hibble, Trang To, Andrew Worrall, and Malcolm Stewart
Challenges of Demonstrating the Atmospheric Greenhouse Effect
Benchtop Global-Warming Demonstrations Do Not Exemplify the Atmospheric Greenhouse Effect, but Alternatives Are Available ~ Jerry A. Bell
Reply to “Benchtop Global Warming Demonstrations Do Not Exemplify the Atmospheric Greenhouse Effect, but Alternatives Are Available” ~ Jessica C. D’eon, Jennifer A. Faust, C. Scott Browning, and Kristine B. Quinlan
Correction to “Exploring the Phases of Carbon Dioxide and the Greenhouse Effect in an Introductory Chemistry Laboratory” ~ Jessica C. D’eon, Jennifer A. Faust, C. Scott Browning, and Kristine B. Quinlan
Chemical Education Research
Arguing from Spectroscopic Evidence ~ Ryan L. Stowe and Melanie M. Cooper (available to non-subscribers as part of ACS Editors’ Choice program)
Assessing Affective Differences between a Virtual General Chemistry Experiment and a Similar Hands-On Experiment ~ Cory Hensen and Jack Barbera
Developing Student Process Skills in a General Chemistry Laboratory ~ Gil Reynders, Erica Suh, Renée S. Cole, and Rebecca L. Sansom
Evaluation of Subset Norm Stability in ACS General Chemistry Exams ~ Jessica J. Reed, Jeffrey R. Raker, and Kristen L. Murphy
Resources for Teaching
Understanding Similarities and Differences between Two Prominent Web-Based Chemical Information and Data Retrieval Tools: Comments on Searches for Research Topics, Substances, and Reactions ~ Troy Mutton and Damon D. Ridley
Design and Construction of a Low-Cost Arduino-Based pH Sensor for the Visually Impaired Using Universal pH Paper ~ Abubaker Qutieshat, Rayhana Aouididi, and Rayan Arfaoui
From the Archive: Marvelous Metal Materials in JCE
Celebrate National Chemistry Week 2019: Marvelous Metals! with metal resources in this and past issues of the Journal of Chemical Education, such as:
Hands-On Activities for Exploring Metals and Their Uses
Silver to Black—and Back ~ JCE staff
Trusty or Rusty? Oxidation Rate of Nails ~ Stephen W. Wright
A Magnetic Meal ~ JCE staff
Memory Metal ~ JCE staff
Flame Tests: Which Ion Causes the Color? ~ Michael J. Sanger
Cooking Up Colors from Plants, Fabric, and Metal ~ Jennifer E. Mihalick and Kathleen M. Donnelly
Chemistry and Art in a Bag: An Easy-To-Implement Outreach Activity Making and Painting with a Copper-Based Pigment ~ Anne C. Gaquere-Parker, N. Allie Doles, and Cass D. Parker
Photochemistry and Pinhole Photography: An Interdisciplinary Experiment ~ Angeliki A. Rigos and Kevin Salemme
Aluminum–Air Battery ~ Modesto Tamez and Julie H. Yu
Electrochemistry with Simple Materials to Create Designs and Write Messages ~ Thomas S. Kuntzleman
Sequestration of Divalent Metal Ion by Superabsorbent Polymer in Diapers ~ Yueh-Huey Chen,
Experiments for Understanding Metals and Their Properties
Constructing Chemical Concepts through a Study of Metals and Metal Ions: Guided Inquiry Experiments for General Chemistry ~ Ram S. Lamba, Shiva Sharma, and Baird W. Lloyd
Hands-On Experiment To Verify Consistency from Bulk Density to Atomic and Ionic Radii with Lumps of Metals and Ionic Compounds ~ Seong Kyun Kim and Seoung-Hey Paik
Exploring Solid-State Structure and Physical Properties: A Molecular and Crystal Model Exercise ~ Thomas H. Bindel
“Greening” a Familiar General Chemistry Experiment: Coffee Cup Calorimetry to Determine the Enthalpy of Neutralization of an Acid–Base Reaction and the Specific Heat Capacity of Metals ~ A. M. R. P. Bopegedera and K. Nishanthi R. Perera
A Simple Penny Analysis ~ Nicholas C. Thomas and Stephen Faulk
Preparation and Properties of an Aqueous Ferrofluid ~ Patricia Berger, Nicholas B. Adelman, Katie J. Beckman, Dean J. Campbell, Arthur B. Ellis, and George C. Lisensky
Experimenting with a Visible Copper–Aluminum Displacement Reaction in Agar Gel and Observing Copper Crystal Growth Patterns To Engage Student Interest and Inquiry ~ Xinhua Xu, Meifen Wu, Xiaogang Wang, Yangyiwei Yang, Xiang Shi, and Guoping Wang
Synthesis of Copper Pigments, Malachite and Verdigris: Making Tempera Paint ~ Sally D. Solomon, Susan A. Rutkowsky, Megan L. Mahon, and Erica M. Halpern
Production of Colorful Aluminum Keepsakes and Gas Sensing Smart Materials: Anodizing, Dyeing, and Etching Small Aluminum Parts on a Budget ~ George N. Harakas
Teaching Electrochemistry in the General Chemistry Laboratory through Corrosion Exercises ~ Richard W. Sanders, Gregory L. Crettol, Joseph D. Brown, Patrick T. Plummer, Tara M. Schendorf, Alex Oliphant, Susan B. Swithenbank, Robert F. Ferrante, and Joshua P. Gray
Transitioning from Expository Laboratory Experiments to Course-Based Undergraduate Research in General Chemistry ~ Ted M. Clark, Rebecca Ricciardo, and Tyler Weaver
Every Month Has Marvelous Content in JCE
Explore marvelous ideas for teaching and learning of chemistry in the 96 volumes of the Journal of Chemical Education—including the articles mentioned above. Articles that are edited and published online ahead of print (ASAP—As Soon As Publishable) are also available. (For more information on how to access the articles cited above, see Deanna Cullen’s post on Accessing Cited Articles.)
Do you have something to share? Write it up for the Journal! For example, consider submitting a contribution to the Special Issue on Chemical Safety Education: Methods, Culture, and Green Chemistry (submission deadline: February 3, 2020). Erica Jacobsen’s Commentary provides excellent advice about becoming an author. In addition, numerous author resources are available on JCE’s ACS Web site, including Author Guidelines and Document Templates. In addition, the ACS Publishing Center, has resources for preparing and reviewing manuscripts for ACS journals.