JCE 97.05 May 2020 Issue Highlights

Chemistry Education in Times of Disruption 

The May 2020 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: understanding structures; digital information and web-based learning; exploring everyday chemistry; curriculum innovations; games for teaching; NMR spectroscopy; examining properties of organic liquids; biochemistry laboratories; analytical and physical chemistry laboratories; computational chemistry; innovative low-cost instruments; research on knowledge and skills for teachers and chemists; from the archives: hands-on chemistry at home.

Editorials: Chemistry Education in Times of Disruption and the Times That Lie Beyond

Editors of ACS Journals provide an Update to Our Reader, Reviewer, and Author Communities—April 2020. In addition, JCE Editor-in-Chief Tom Holme discusses Chemistry Education in Times of Disruption and the Times That Lie Beyond and encourages submissions to a special issue of JCE on Insights Gained While Teaching Chemistry in the Time of COVID-19.

Cover: Understanding Structures

Aperiodicity in crystals is not an intuitive concept, so its experimental visualization can be helpful for students to build understanding of the symmetry properties of an aperiodic crystal structure. In Quasiperiodic Crystals: Teaching Aperiodicity of a Crystal Lattice with 3D-Printed Penrose Tiles, Sergio Rossi, Claudia Rossi, and Nicoletta Accorigi describe an activity in which students assemble a continuous-fill (quasi)crystalline pattern with the support of 3D-printed Penrose tiles. Working together, students first use the kite and dart tiles to generate a periodic 2D-crystal pattern, followed by the construction of an aperiodic 2D-crystal pattern. This visual, tangible, and hands-on process allows students to grasp abstract concepts related to symmetry operations and elements of symmetry.

Other articles in the issue that explore understanding structures include:

From Polymer Gels to 3D Actuators: Transformation of Programmed 2D Structures to 3D Objects ~ Jahyeon Koo, Seok-In Lim, Junhwa Jang, Mintaek Oh, and Kwang-Un Jeong

Visualizing 3D Molecular Structures Using an Augmented Reality App ~ Kristina Eriksen, Bjarne E. Nielsen, and Michael Pittelkow (open access)

Combination of X-ray Diffraction and Specific Rotation to Unequivocally Characterize Carvone Semicarbazone Derivatives ~ John J. Dolhun and Peter Müller

Digital Information and Web-Based Learning

Transition to eBook Provision: A Commentary on the Preferences and Adoption of eBooks by Chemistry Undergraduates ~ Kristy L. Turner and Holly Chung (open access)

Exploring Everyday Chemistry: The Effectiveness of an Organic Chemistry Massive Open Online Course as an Education and Outreach Tool ~ Andrew F. Parsons (available to non-subscribers as part of ACS AuthorChoice program)

Learning Beyond the Laboratory: A Web Application Framework for Development of Interactive Postlaboratory Exercises ~ Kimia Moozeh, Jennifer Farmer, Deborah Tihanyi, and Greg J. Evans (open access)

Property Information in Substance Records in Major Web-Based Chemical Information and Data Retrieval Tools: Understanding Content, Search Opportunities, and Application to Teaching ~ Charlotte Jarabak, Troy Mutton, and Damon D. Ridley

Exploring Everyday Chemistry

Fats’ Love–Hate Relationships: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Hands-On Experiment Outreach Activity to Introduce the Amphiphilic Nature and Biological Functions of Lipids to Young Students and the General Public ~ Anna Sofia Tascini, Shiqi Wang, John M. Seddon, Fernando Bresme, and Rongjun Chen

Collaborative Middle School Science Outreach Project Using the Japanese Lesson Study Model ~ Chris L. Craney, Thomas Lau, William T. Nelson, Adrianna Ghomeshi, James M. Rust, Robert M. de Groot, Donovan P. Dennis, Ellen Robertson, and Jessica Kissel

Pigment Synthesis and Analysis of Color in Art: An Example of Applied Science for High School and College Chemistry Students ~ Christopher R. Vyhnal, Elizabeth H. R. Mahoney, Yuan Lin, Roxanne Radpour, and Henry Wadsworth

Design of Culinary Transformations: A Chemistry Course for Nonscience Majors ~ Jennifer A. Dabrowski and Mary E. Manson McManamy

Introducing Nonscience Majors to Science Literacy via a Laboratory and Lecture Beer Brewing Course ~ Bruce C. Hamper and Joseph W. Meisel

Curriculum Innovations

Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of POGIL in a Large-Enrollment General Chemistry Course ~ Paulette Vincent-Ruz, Tara Meyer, Sean G. Roe, and Christian D. Schunn

General Chemistry in Just One Semester for All Majors ~ William W. Kennerly, Kimberley A. Frederick, and Kelly Sheppard

Implementation of a 1–2–1 Curriculum and Its Effect on Organic Chemistry I ~ Brian A. Provencher, Jimmy Franco, Anthony L. Fernandez, Stephen Theberge, and Brenda Zwickau

Easing the Transition from Organic Chemistry I to II: A January-Term Bridge Course ~ Michael S. Leonard

Spicing Up an Interdisciplinary Chemical Biology Course with the Authentic Big Picture of Epigenetic Research ~ Benedikt Heinrich, Nicole Graulich, and Olalla Vázquez

The Flint, Michigan Water Crisis as a Case Study to Introduce Concepts of Equity and Power into an Analytical Chemistry Curriculum ~ Paul Buckley and Eli Fahrenkrug

A Toolkit of Green Chemistry and Life-Cycle Analysis for Comparative Assessment in Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Experiments: Synthesis of (E)-Stilbene ~ Madison Mooney, Andrew J. Vreugdenhil, and Shegufa Shetranjiwalla

Games for Teaching

Using Augmented Reality to Stimulate Students and Diffuse Escape Game Activities to Larger Audiences ~ Anabela Estudante and Nicolas Dietrich

Playing a Board Game to Learn Bioenergy and Biofuels Topics in an Interactive, Engaging Context ~ M. A. Martín-Lara and M. Calero

Using Memes in the Classroom as a Final Exam Review Activity ~ Sonia M. Underwood and Alex T. Kararo

NMR Spectroscopy 

¹H NMR Spectroscopy Guided-Inquiry Activity Using the NMR Spectrometer: Incorporating Student-Generated Videos to Assess Learning ~ Amy M. Balija

Using NMR Spectroscopy and Chemical Synthesis to Establish Diastereoselectivity of NaBH4 and Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) Reduction of (±)-Benzoin Isopropyl Ether: A Collaborative Discovery-Based Laboratory Experiment ~ Shahrokh Saba, James A. Ciaccio, Lauren McMann, and Tamilla Tariverdieva

Variable Temperature NMR Experiment Studying Restricted Bond Rotation ~ Michael T. Huggins, Tanay Kesharwani, Jonathan Buttrick, and Christopher Nicholson

Examining Properties of Organic Liquids

Visually Tracking Acid–Base Extractions Using Colorful Compounds ~ Amir Assadieskandar, Renata Rezende Miranda, and Rebecca M. Broyer

Relating ΔH_vap of Organic Liquids to Intermolecular Forces: Simple Modifications of a Classic General Chemistry Experiment ~ Jeffrey P. Fitzgerald, Robert F. Ferrante, Michael Brown, and Jonathan Cabarrus

Biochemistry Laboratories

Combined Guided and Open Inquiry Project for an Upper Division Biochemistry Lab: Sugar Content, Enzymatic Properties of Lactase, and the Spoiling Process in Milk ~ Alexis M. Vroom Redden, Callie M. Barton, and Kyle R. Willian

Hands-On Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Undergraduate Biochemistry Students: Peptide Identification by Ladder Sequencing ~ Viveka Perera, Baku Acharya, Amanda L. Patrick, and Deb Mlsna

Tailoring Protein PEGylation Reaction: An Undergraduate Laboratory Experiment ~ João H. P. M. Santos, Larissa P. Brumano, Adalberto Pessoa, Jr., and Carlota O. Rangel-Yagui

DNA Nanotechnology in the Undergraduate Laboratory: Analysis of Molecular Topology Using DNA Nanoswitches ~ Jibin Abraham Punnoose, Ken Halvorsen, and Arun Richard Chandrasekaran

Analytical and Physical Chemistry Laboratories

Single Laboratory Experiment Integrating the Synthesis, Optical Characterization, and Nanocatalytic Assessment of Gold Nanoparticles ~ Nathaniel E. Larm, Jeremy B. Essner, Jason A. Thon, Nakara Bhawawet, Laxmi Adhikari, Sarah K. St. Angelo, and Gary A. Baker

Simple Experiment Assisting Students with Identification of Spectral Interference and Selection Emission Lines for ICP-OES Analysis Using Soil Samples ~ Letitia Pillay

An Alternative to Recycling: Measurement of Combustion Enthalpies of Plastics via Bomb Calorimetry ~ Benjamin J. Knurr and James F. Hauri

Determining the Ternary Phase Diagram of Benzene–Acetic Acid–Water Using Isothermal Titration Microcalorimetry to Train Upper-Level Undergraduates in Advanced Calorimetry Methods ~ Qian Zhang, Jie Liu, Hongcui Bao, Xiao Nai, Dezhi Sun, and Bing Ma

Computational Chemistry

Developing the Chemist’s Inner Coder: A MATLAB Tutorial on the Stochastic Simulation of a Pseudo-First-Order Reaction ~ Aidan A. E. Fisher

Monte Carlo Uncertainty Propagation with the NIST Uncertainty Machine ~ Daniel R. Albert (open access)

Innovative Low-Cost Instruments

An Inexpensive Recirculating Water Vacuum Pump for the Chemistry Laboratory ~ Mark S. Cubberley, William A. Hess, and Mark B. Johnson (open access)

Extensible Interface for a Compact Spectrophotometer for Teaching Molecular Absorption in the Undergraduate Laboratory ~ Edward C. Navarre (open access)

TCDuino: Development of an Inexpensive Microcontroller-Based Thermal Conductivity Detector for Quantification of Gas Mixtures ~ Bradley A. Owen, Nicholas C. Starvaggi, Taylor I. Mensah, and Isaac N. Mills (open access)

Research on Knowledge and Skills for Teachers and Chemists

Influence of Context on Stoichiometry Conceptual and Algorithmic Subject Matter Knowledge among South African Physical Sciences Teachers ~ Angela Stott

Qualitative Investigation to Identify the Knowledge and Skills That U.S.-Trained Doctoral Chemists Require in Typical Chemistry Positions ~ Qi Cui and Jordan Harshman

From the Archives: Hands-on Chemistry at Home 

This issue includes the activity  Fats’ Love–Hate Relationships: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Hands-On Experiment Outreach Activity to Introduce the Amphiphilic Nature and Biological Functions of Lipids to Young Students and the General Public by Anna Sofia Tascini, Shiqi Wang, John M. Seddon, Fernando Bresme, and Rongjun Chen. Their paper features the classic activity investigating the interaction of detergent with food coloring and milk. There have been many activities in JCE that use household materials. In particular, the JCE Classroom Activities feature, published from 1997 to 2012 under the leadership of Erica Jacobsen, provides hands-on, minds-on activities that primarily use grocery and hardware store materials to investigate a wide range of chemical concepts. A complete list with descriptions of all 112 activities is attached--

--and was included as part of the supporting information in Erica Jacobsen’s commentary:

JCE Classroom Activities Virtual Issue: Celebrating 15 Years with the 15 Greatest Hits, 1997–2012 (open access)

ChemEdX hosts a list of 103 of the activities; here are activities from #104 to #112:

JCE Classroom Activity #104: A Novel, Simplified Scheme for Plastics Identification ~ Mary E. Harris and Barbara Walker. J. Chem. Educ. 2010, 87 (2), 147-149 (Feb 2010)

JCE Classroom Activity #105. A Sticky Situation: Chewing Gum and Solubility ~ Ingrid Montes-González, Jose A. Cintron-Maldonado, Ilia E. Pérez-Medina, Verónica Montes-Berríos, and Saurie N. Román-López. J. Chem. Educ. 2010, 87 (4), 396-397 (Apr 2010)

JCE Classroom Activity #106. Sequestration of Divalent Metal Ion by Superabsorbent Polymer in Diapers ~ Yueh-Huey Chen, Jia-Ying Lin, Li-Pin Lin, Han Liang, and Jing-Fun Yaung. J. Chem. Educ. 2010, 87 (9), 920-921 (Sep 2010)

JCE Classroom Activity #107. And the Oscar Goes to...A Chemist! ~ Collin R. Howder, Kyle D. Groen, and Thomas S. Kuntzleman. J. Chem. Educ. 2010, 87 (10), 1060-1061 (Oct 2010)

JCE Classroom Activity #108. Using Archimedes’ Principle To Explain Floating and Sinking Cans ~ Michael J. Sanger. J. Chem. Educ. 2011, 88 (3), 272-273 (Mar 2011)

JCE Classroom Activity #109: My Acid Can Beat Up Your Acid! ~ Alice Putti. J. Chem. Educ. 2011, 88 (9), 1278-1280 (Sep 2011)

JCE Classroom Activity #110: Artistic Anthocyanins and Acid–Base Chemistry ~ Jenna Lech and Vladimir Dounin. J. Chem. Educ. 2011, 88 (12), 1684-1686 (Dec 2011)

JCE Classroom Activity #111: Redox Reactions in Three Representations ~ Edgardo L. Ortiz Nieves, Reizelie Barreto, and Zuleika Medina. J. Chem. Educ. 2012, 89 (5), 643-645 (May 2012)

JCE Classroom Activity #112: Guessing the Number of Candies in the Jar—Who Needs Guessing? Stephanie Ryan and Donald J. Wink. J. Chem. Educ. 2012, 89 (9) (Sep 2012)

JCE: A Steady Source of Ideas 

Even in these times of disruption, there are always ideas for teaching and learning  chemistry in the 97 volumes of the Journal of Chemical Education —including the May 2020 issue described 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! In particular, consider submitting to the special issue of JCE on Insights Gained While Teaching Chemistry in the Time of COVID-19 (deadline is June 17, 2020).

Erica Jacobsen’s Commentary continues to provide excellent advice about becoming an author. In addition, numerous author resources are available on JCE’s ACS website, including the revised Author Guidelines and Document Templates. The ACS Publishing Center also has resources for preparing and reviewing manuscripts for ACS journals.