applications of chemistry

JCE 94.09 September 2017 Issue Highlights

Mary Saecker | Thu, 09/14/2017 - 11:46

Journal of Chemical Education September 2016 Cover

Enhancing Student Success in Chemistry

The September 2017 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: student thinking and student success; computational thinking; using games to teach: developing and making tools for teaching; understanding catalysis; green chemistry; food chemistry in the laboratory; exploring edible fats and oils; NMR spectroscopy; laboratory cross-course collaboration; physical chemistry; distilling the archives: scents and smellability; announcing the search for the next Editor-in-Chief.

JCE 94.07 July 2017 Issue Highlights

Mary Saecker | Wed, 07/12/2017 - 15:34

Journal of Chemical Education July 2017 Cover

Encouraging and Supporting Community of Effort

The July 2017 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: artificial photosynthesis; developing laboratory skills through technology; using videos to enhance learning; smartphones in the laboratory; 3D printing as a teaching resource; exploring and understanding structure; making chemistry connections; research on inquiry; from the archives: elephant's toothpaste.

DIY Vapor Catalyzed Chemiluminescence

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 07/11/2017 - 11:33

I recently watched a video in which a chemist (who goes by the nickname “NurdRage”) activated a chemiluminescent reaction by vapor deposition. I wanted to try it out for myself! Unfortunately, oxalyl chloride is toxic, corrosive, and a lachrymator. Thus, the experiment conducted by NurdRage needs to be conducted in a hood, and it is not particularly amenable to simple presentations. I began to wonder how I could create this vapor activated chemiluminescence using simple materials.

Solution to Chemical Mystery #10: Out of the Blue!

Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 07/05/2017 - 09:30

In Chemical Mystery #10, plastic straws are observed to “magically” change color when waved in the air. Check out the explanation and the video.

Reduction of Permanganate Ion by Acids in Rhubarb, Apples, and Candy

Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 06/05/2017 - 17:00

If rhubarb stem is placed in a solution of permanganate, the purple permanganate ion is reduced to the colorless Mn²⁺ ion. It is thought that the oxalic acid present in rhubarb causes this reduction. The investigations presented in this post provide evidence that this may not be the whole story...

JCE 94.05 May 2017 Issue Highlights

Mary Saecker | Wed, 05/10/2017 - 14:32

Journal of Chemical Education May 2017 Cover

Lasting Value and High Impact

The May 2017 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: project- and inquiry-based laboratories; measuring value and impact; research on core ideas and clickers; new twists on classic activities; understanding diffraction; acid-base chemistry; teaching informed by technology: flipped learning, biochemistry labs, and scientific computing for chemists; from the archives: chemistry helps feed the world.

Investigations of Chemicals in Natural Food Coloring. Part 3: Sunflower

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 03/28/2017 - 08:39

The chemistry of the Sunflower dye found in McCormick’s Color from Nature food dyes is explored in this post. This is the last in a three-part series in which several experiments and demonstrations that can be done with Color from Nature food dyes are described.

JCE 94.03 March 2017 Issue Highlights

Mary Saecker | Tue, 03/14/2017 - 14:06

Journal of Chemical Education March 2017 Cover

Promoting Problem-Solving and Discovery Learning

The March 2017 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: protein chemistry; making connections in in chemical education research; chemical bonding; importance of non-technical skills; courses built on reactivity; periodic table; heterocyclic compounds; teaching resources; from the archives: Using Wikipedia and Wikis to teach.

Investigations of Chemicals in Natural Food Coloring. Part 2: Berry

Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 02/27/2017 - 13:42

The chemistry of the Berry dye found in McCormick's Color From Nature food colors is explored. This is part two of a three-part series in which the chemistry of McCormick's Color From Nature food colors is presented.

JCE 94.02 February 2017 Issue Highlights

Mary Saecker | Tue, 02/14/2017 - 14:30

Journal of Chemical Education February 2017 Cover

Fostering Creativity in Chemistry

The February 2017 online issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available to subscribers. Topics featured include: surface chemistry; chemical identity thinking; conceptual understanding; communicating science to the general public; activities and labs linking chemistry and art; history and chemistry; early access to research; technology as instructional support; synthesis laboratories; from the archives: bottle chemistry.