Analyzing a journal article for basic themes, roles of authors, and the scientific method

Submitted by Darren Achey / Kutztown University on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 15:03
Description

This literature discussion is meant to give students an understanding of both the key concept-driven and more “meta” information of a literature paper.  Students will use Jillian Dempsey’s paper, “Electrochemical hydrogenation of a homogeneous nickel complex to form a surface-adsorbed hydrogen-evolving species,” to investigate paper authorship, how the scientific method is used in research, and how to understand the important findings of a research article.

 

Reference: Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 5290-5293

DOI:10.1039/C4CC08662G

 

A discussion on "Electrochemical formation of a surface-adsorbed hydrogen-evolving species"

Submitted by Kevin Hoke / Berry College on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 14:22
Description
The paper entitled “Electrochemical hydrogenation of a homogeneous nickel complex to form a surface adsorbed hydrogen-evolving species” explores the discovery, characterization and catalytic activity of a film that deposited on the electrode while studying a nickel complex under electrocatalytic conditions.
 
This literature discussion includes several sets of questions that address different aspects of the paper, as described in the implementation notes.

The Nature of Science

Submitted by Lori Watson / Earlham College on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 12:00
Description

I do this activity as an introduction to the nature of science.  An object (not easily guessable) is put into a paper bag.  The job of the class is to figure out what is in the bag. At first, the students are simply shown the bag (sense of sight). Discussion (hypotheses) ensues on what could be in the bag.  I then walk around and shake the bag so students can hear what's in it (hearing). This results in more discussion, with some previous ideas being discarded. The bag is then passed around and students can feel (but not open!) the bag and also try to smell it.

Exploring the Scientific Method in an Electrocatalysis Publication

Submitted by Sarah K. St. Angelo / Dickinson College on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 00:40
Description

This is a learning object focused on discussing application of the scientific method in the chemical literature. This focuses on the paper “Nickel-Iron Oxyhydroxide Oxygen-Evolution Electrocatalysts: The Role of Intentional and Incidental Iron Incorporation” (J. Am. Chem.

Vibrational Modes and IR Spectra using Character Tables

Submitted by Karen McFarlane Holman / Willamette University on Tue, 06/30/2015 - 15:35
Description

In this activity, students in my upper-level Inorganic course are given two possible structures of sulfur dioxide, and based on an assessment of given vibrational modes, they determine which of the modes are IR active by two methods: (1) the “Intro Chem” method (determing whether the dipole moment changes for a particular vibrational mode) and (2) using character tables. They compare their assessment to experimental IR absorption peaks, and the students decide which structure is valid. For those of you who teach Raman spectroscopy, it could be included in this LO as well. 

Chemistry Infographics from Compound Interest

Submitted by Darren Achey / Kutztown University on Tue, 06/30/2015 - 14:48
Description

Compound Interest is a website that creates infographics for chemistry related events and items.  Specific examples of inorganic chemistry infographics include showing how the metal content in colored glass gives the glass its characteristic color, how the lighting of a match works with the conversion of red phosphorus to white phosphorus, and the various colors that transition metals can have in different oxidation states in water, among many other examples.

PVEducation.org: A resource for teaching solid-state chemistry and photovoltaics

Submitted by Kate Plass / Franklin & Marshall College on Tue, 06/30/2015 - 13:49
Description

This is a website that teaches students about various aspects of pn-junction photovoltaics, from basics about solar illumination, to solid state chemistry, to PV module design. There are numerous animations demonstrating facets of solid-state chemistry and light absorption. Here I will describe how I have used sections 3.1 Basics and 3.2 Generation in Inorganic Chemistry in the context of a specific laboratory application, but the site could have many more uses.

Teaching and Learning Package Library from University of Cambridge

Submitted by Vanessa / Albion College on Mon, 06/29/2015 - 15:56
Description

This is a resource that has short, animated tutorials on a variety of different topics. Most of the topics are materials science and/or engineering topics but there are several that would be of interest to chemistry students. (A full list of topics is given below.)

Gummies and Toothpicks Point Group Determination Activity

Submitted by Darren Achey / Kutztown University on Mon, 06/29/2015 - 15:50
Description

In this activity, students will use gummies and toothpicks to construct models of molecules that will then be analyzed for their symmetry elements, and ultimately placed into the correct point group and the models can then be consumed.

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