The Cover

This month's cover was inspired by the molecular structure of ferritin (shown at right). This protein has multiple subunits and stores iron in a central pocket. The iron is in the form of a hydrous ferric oxide-phosphate similar to the mineral ferrihydrate. The entry of iron ions into the pocket and their release from it are controlled by the surrounding protein subunits. Donlin et al., page 437,
describe a general chemistry experiment in which students explore both the iron-release process and the structure of this iron-storage compound.

Biochemistry

Continuing the theme established by the cover paper, García-Ruiz et al., page 442, describe experiments for general or biochemistry labs that involve crystallization of proteins, a process that is crucial for structure determination by X-ray crystallography. As part of an advanced laboratory, Jameson et al., page 447, have students synthesize and characterize cobaloxime derivatives related to the structure of vitamin B-12. Cornely, page 475, has introduced case studies of the type often used in medical schools into an undergraduate biochemistry course and reports on the benefits and pitfalls of this method.

Chemical Education

This month's Viewpoints paper, "Chemical Education: Past, Present, and Future", by J. J. Lagowski, begins on page 425 *. It provides an overview of our subdiscipline's history and suggests directions it will take in the future. Technology features strongly in Lagowski's paper, which is appropriate since this month's JCE Software issue is an update of the General Chemistry Collection - a large number of programs for both Windows and Mac OS that will be useful to students in introductory high school and college courses. Two other papers deal with inquiry laboratories, one new approach to chemical education. Higginbotham, Pike, and Rice, page 461, describe an open-ended laboratory for upper-level undergraduates that involves spectroscopy in sol-gel matrices. Parmentier, Lisensky, and Spencer, page 470, have developed a guided-inquiry approach to NMR spectroscopy that introduces this subject through a general-chemistry unit on aspirin.

For some time an important aspect of chemical education has been undergraduate research, and the Council on Undergraduate Research has been at the forefront of support for it. Halstead, page 407, gives a preview of CUR's Seventh National Conference, to be held at Occidental College, June 25-27, 1998. Another very important aspect of chemical education takes place in two-year colleges. In this month's 2YC₃ report Eun-Woo Chang provides an excellent overview of why teaching in a two-year college can be extremely rewarding (page 408). Those who want to obtain support for their efforts in chemical education will find the website of the NSF Directorate for Education and Human Resources invaluable. In this issue Wink (page 405 *) begins a column that will help you use the site to find out about the new developments at NSF.

Transition Metal Chemistry

Several papers, in addition to those on ferritin and cobaloximes, involve the chemistry of transition metals. Pandey et al. explain how a kinetic method can be used to analyze dichromate and permanganate simultaneously (page 450). On page 453, Sheeran reports an experiment in which students analyze what they think is copper(II) carbonate and discover through statistical analysis that their assumption is incorrect. Tan et al. have developed a nearly self-contained qualitative analysis for transition metal ions (page 456), and Burgmayer describes how students can use a titanium metallocene to evaluate how effectively they have mastered inert atmosphere techniques (page 460).

April Entertainment

The coming of spring means hijinks and April Fools. If you live far enough north, it also means melting snow and what is called "Spring Shock" - a rapid drop in pH of streams and lakes. Simulating Spring Shock with vinegar ice cubes is the subject of this month's JCE Classroom Activity sheet, which follows page 400A*.

Other items for your entertainment include another episode in the chemical adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Waddell and Rybolt, beginning on page 484 *. Spencer and Kusdra, page 487 *, present a chemical puzzle based on knowledge of the behavior of ions in aqueous solutions. Cotton provides a wordsearch puzzle on page 489*, and Alexander provides what may be the world's most extensive Rube Goldberg demonstration on page 490 *. Juxtaposition of Sir Humphry Davy and
Frankenstein may seem far-fetched,but Thoman brings it off admirably, beginning on page 495 *.

Note: * designates articles of special interest to high school teachers.