What a fascinating man! Einstein’s annus mirabilis (miraculous year) is revisited by Fine, and provides a very interesting history of just how influential a single scientist can be. Did you know that in 1905, when Einstein was only 26 years of age, he wrote six of the most influential manuscripts in science? Einstein’s ability to think outside the box and depart from the then known is remarkable. What really makes this article a pleasure to read are the asides noted by Fine that include some insights into the young Einstein. On p 1604 Fine informs us, “Einstein’s greatest insights were realized without benefit of experiment.” Talk about inductive reasoning and gedanken (German for “thought”) experiments! On the same page, Fine notes that Einstein’s dissertation for his doctoral degree was only 15 pages in length. Later Fine relays that Arnold Sommerfeld, editor of Annalen der Physik, published one of Einstein’s papers without the usual peer review and without the necessity of referencing or quoting authorities. Only 100 years ago this year, one of the most remarkable scientists of all time shifted our thought about energy and matter and gave us revolutionary ideas that have shaped our current world.Is It Physics or Chemistry?Highlighting physics is one of the themes of this month’s Journal. Clark reminds us that we should be very careful when talking about E = mc2, so that we don’t continue a common misconception that mass is converted to energy. For an excellent clarification on the relationship between matter and energy see Treptow’s article. Clark also reminds us of a demonstration that you can do to illustrate that water reaches its greatest density at 4 °C. Simply take a beaker of ice–water slush and let it melt. As can be documented by two thermometers or temperature probes (one towards the top of the beaker and the other near the bottom), the top one inside the icy portion will read about 0 °C and the one near the bottom will read about 4 °C. Try it! Hmmm—is this physics or chemistry? Hawkes continues to remind us about our standard curriculum and its relevance (or lack thereof) to our students. Hawkes points out that our curriculum tends to be “stabilized by feedback from examining bodies, from teachers who demand that textbooks conform to it, from textbook writers who must write for the market, and from bodies that construct standardized curricula and objectives”. Does this sound familiar? What a misguided cycle! Patterns Used for LearningRecognizing patterns is what helps us learn. Sereda, Schultz, and Ibrahim give us interesting ways to view and use charts. Sereda shows how to use a chart that can help students in writing formulas and predicting products of reactions. Schultz describes methods for using the periodic table to predict the formulas of most metallic and nonmetallic oxides, and Ibrahim presents a novel application of Dobereiner’s Triads. Both of these articles will give students more insight into the periodic table as a predictive tool. Schultz suggests (playing off a Feynman quote) that if civilization were to disappear cataclysmically, the one “picture” we should preserve above all others is the periodic table. CLIPs on CD-ROMJCE keeps adding to its Online Store! The JCE staff has complied Jay Young’s Chemical Laboratory Information Profiles (CLIPs) from April 2001 through July 2005 on one convenient CD-ROM. Each CLIP gives the name and formula of the compound described and also identifies its hazardous characteristics. See this month’s examples, ammonium dichromate, ammonium chloride, and ammonium thiocyanate, and then go to the Store for purchasing information on the previous 106! Upcoming Event: 19th BCCE at Purdue UniversityMark your calendars for the ACS’s Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE), July 30–August 3, 2006 (accessed Sep 2005). Five of the symposia are related to national science standards. (This could prove to be a good lever to ask your administrators for funding!) Program information is available in News & Announcements. ACS Announces 2006 Conant HonoreeCongratulations are in order for Gwendolyn S. Marbury from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD on winning the James Bryant Conant Award in High School Chemistry Teaching. Each year this national award honors an outstanding secondary school teacher. Gwendolyn, we hope you have a miraculous year!
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