| Each resource (such
as a published article, a JCE Software
item, or an online item) cataloged in
the JCE Digital Library and/or
the JCE Index online is assigned
one or more keywords from each of the
major categories listed here. These definitions
are designed to help authors
assign keywords that will enable cataloged
resources to be found by computerized
searches.
Categories: Educational Level | Domain | Element | Pedagogy | Topic
|
| Educational Level |
indicates the educational
level of a student whose instructor makes
use of the cataloged resource or the
degree of familiarity with chemistry
that can be assumed on the part of a
user of the resource. |
| General
Public |
Appropriate for anyone
with an interest in chemistry or chemistry
education. |
| Elementary
/ Middle School Science |
Appropriate for grades
K-8. |
| High
School / Introductory Chemistry |
Appropriate for grades
9-12, including first-year / introductory
high school chemistry, but not second-year
or advanced-placement (AP) high school
chemistry (see First-Year Undergraduate
/ General). |
| First-Year
Undergraduate / General |
Appropriate for college
freshmen (topics typical of a collegiate,
general chemistry course), including
second-year or advanced-placement (AP)
high school chemistry. |
| Second-Year
Undergraduate |
Appropriate for post-general
chemistry students (introductory courses
in analytical, organic, or inorganic
chemistry). |
| Upper-Division
Undergraduate |
Appropriate for students
who have completed the courses typically
found in the first two years of the chemistry
major curriculum (appropriate for intermediate
or advanced courses in analytical, organic,
or inorganic chemistry, or courses in
physical chemistry or biochemistry). |
| Graduate
Education / Research |
Appropriate for students
who have completed an undergraduate degree
in chemistry (including materials presented
as part of a seminar and directed or
independent study / research). |
| Continuing
Education |
Continuing education
refers to educational
practice and materials aimed specifically
at adults. |
| Domain |
describes a general
area of study or interest within chemistry
within which the cataloged resource falls;
domain keywords represent the first level
of specificity beyond the term chemistry
itself; chemistry is understood to include
chemical education. |
| Analytical
Chemistry |
Analytical chemistry
deals with separating, identifying, and
measuring quantities of components of
unknown mixtures and substances; methods
include spectroscopy, chromatography,
titrimetry, potentiometry, and gravimetry. |
| Biochemistry |
Biochemistry is the
application of chemistry to the study
of biological substances, structures,
and processes at the cellular and molecular
levels. |
| Chemical
Education Research |
Chemical education research
refers to the study of how students learn
chemical concepts and the techniques
instructors use to effectively facilitate
this process. |
| Chemical
Engineering |
Chemical engineering
involves the design, construction, and
operation of industrial plants capable
of producing commercially important products
from raw materials in large quantities. |
| Chemoinformatics |
Chemoinformatics encompasses
the design, creation, organization, storage,
management, retrieval, analysis, dissemination,
visualization, and use of chemical information,
particularly on and through the Internet. |
| Curriculum |
A curriculum consists
of a description of the material covered
in a course of study and the manner in
which it is organized. |
| Demonstrations |
Demonstrations are activities
that an instructor conducts before an
audience to illustrate specific principles
or concepts of chemistry. Demonstrations
almost always involve props, and many
are intended to highlight a particular
type of physical or chemical change or
property. |
| Environmental
Chemistry |
Environmental chemistry
is the use of chemistry to understand
macroscale systems in air, soil, and
water, and their interactions with one
another and the living things that inhabit
them. |
| History
/ Philosophy |
History refers to materials
and activities that pertain to past events
in the development of chemistry, as well
as significant chemists and their contributions.
Philosophy refers to principles, theories,
beliefs, and practices in the realm of
education, particularly with regard to
instruction in the sciences. |
| Inorganic
Chemistry |
Inorganic chemistry
focuses on the properties of those non-carbon
compounds generally excluded from organic
chemistry. Of particular interest are
the structure and bonding found within
crystals, coordination complexes, and
organometallics, as well as inorganic
reactions and their mechanisms. |
| Interdisciplinary
/ Multidisciplinary |
Interdisciplinary /
multidisciplinary activities seek to
develop skills and knowledge in two or
more content areas (some of which may
be outside the field of chemistry). |
| Laboratory
Instruction |
Laboratory instruction
pertains to activities in which students
conduct experimental procedures in laboratory
settings. Such tasks involve the use
of laboratory instruments and equipment
and are usually designed to illustrate
an important concept or principle of
chemistry or to involved students in
inquiry and discovery. |
| Organic
Chemistry |
Organic chemistry focuses
on the properties of carbon compounds.
Of particular interest are the structure
of organic compounds, how molecular structure
determines physical and chemical properties,
and the mechanisms through which and
conditions under which one organic compound
may be transformed into another. |
| Physical
Chemistry |
Physical chemistry involves
the application of principles and methods
of mathematics and physics to explain
and predict the behavior of matter by
focusing on three key areas: quantum
mechanics, thermodynamics, and kinetics
/ dynamics. |
| Polymer
Chemistry |
Polymer chemistry focuses
on the structure and properties of very
long molecular chains consisting of many
simple, repeating units. Of particular
interest are the reactions and mechanisms
involved in the formation of polymers. |
| Public
Understanding / Outreach |
Public understanding
pertains to activities intended to improve
an appreciation for and understanding
of chemistry among the general populace.
Outreach consists of programs designed
to develop the knowledge, interest, and
skills of students and instructors at
the elementary, middle, and high school
levels. |
| Safety
/ Hazards |
Safety / hazards pertains
to measures designed to ensure the safety
of individuals in a laboratory or classroom
setting, including information on potentially
hazardous materials, equipment, or practices. |
| Element |
The name of any chemical
element may be a keyword. |
| Pedagogy |
describes an aid to
learning, an instructional approach,
or a medium that is associated with the
cataloged resource. |
| Analogies
/ Transfer |
Transfer refers to the
ability to apply what has been learned
in one context to a novel situation.
Analogies, similes, metaphors, and other
types of comparisons are common instructional
techniques used to help students understand
new concepts by linking them to familiar
ideas. |
| Calculator-Based
Learning |
Using calculators effectively
is an important part of solving problems
and analyzing data. Of particular importance
are graphing calculators and calculator-based
laboratory (CBL) equipment. |
| Collaborative
/ Cooperative Learning |
Collaborative / cooperative
learning is a teaching strategy in which
small, heterogeneous groups of students
use a variety of learning activities
to collectively improve their understanding
of a subject. Individuals are responsible
for their own learning as well as that
of others in the group. |
| Communication
/ Writing |
Activities designed
to develop communication skills help
students to improve their ability to
effectively convey information through
the written and spoken word, often using
tables, graphs, and other visual aids
in a variety of media for diverse audiences. |
| Computer-Based
Learning |
Computer-based learning
may include simulations for demonstrating
concepts to individuals or entire classrooms;
programs that allow students to explore
and investigate phenomena in virtual
environments; tutorials that instruct
students, allow them to practice sample
problems, and assess their competencies;
software for data capture and analysis;
and basic spreadsheet, drawing, and word
processing packages. (Note: Instructional
tools delivered over the Internet should
be classified as Internet / Web-Based
Learning.) |
| Distance
Learning / Self Instruction |
Distance learning refers
to the acquisition of knowledge outside
of the institutional classroom or laboratory
setting. Self instruction refers to learning
that occurs without the guidance of a
teacher. |
| Hands-On
Learning / Manipulatives |
Hands-on learning provides
instruction through doing—helping
students to acquire knowledge and skills
as active participants in direct experiences.
Traditional methods that allow students
to draw meaning and understanding through
hands-on opportunities include laboratory
and field activities in which students
conduct investigations, use instruments
to make observations, and employ a variety
of scientific equipment. Manipulatives
are objects that can be touched, moved,
and shaped by students to introduce or
reinforce abstract concepts, and may
include physical models, toys, or even
food. (Note: virtual manipulatives should
be classified as Computer-Based Learning.) |
| Humor
/ Puzzles / Games |
These techniques seek
to cultivate student interest through
light-hearted entertainment and innovative
challenges. |
| Inquiry-Based
/ Discovery Learning |
Inquiry-based / discovery
methods allow students to draw conclusions
and construct meaning for open-ended
questions by collecting and analyzing
data with minimal guidance or instruction.
In such activities, the process of investigating
is valued as much as, if not more than,
the results of those efforts. Skills
associated with scientific inquiry include
asking questions, planning and conducting
investigations, using appropriate tools
and techniques to gather data, thinking
critically and logically about relationships
between evidence and explanations, constructing
and analyzing alternative explanations,
and communicating scientific arguments. |
| Internet
/ Web-Based Learning |
Internet / Web-based
learning may include simulations for
demonstrating concepts to individuals
or entire classrooms; programs that allow
students to explore and investigate phenomena
in virtual environments; tutorials that
instruct students, allow them to practice
sample problems, and assess their competencies;
and web sites for research and enrichment
purposes. (Note: CD-ROM and network delivered
software should be classified as Computer-Base
Learning.) |
| Misconceptions
/ Discrepant Events |
Misconceptions refer
to common, erroneous beliefs that students
use to understand and explain the world
around them. Such assumptions often become
entrenched and resist modification by
traditional instruction. A discrepant
event is an experiment, demonstration,
or other occurrence that challenges a
misconception by producing a result counter
to that predicted by the mistaken belief.
When this happens, students are forced
to reevaluate and adjust their conceptual
framework in order to account for the
discrepant event. |
| Mnemonics
/ Rote Learning |
A mnemonic is a device,
such as a phrase, word, or acronym, used
as an aid in remembering. Rote learning
refers to memorization through repetition. |
| Multimedia-Based
Learning |
Multimedia-based learning
refers to instructional strategies or
materials that incorporate more than
one format (printed text, audio, video,
music, and computerized graphics or animation). |
| Problem
Solving / Decision Making |
Problem solving (or
problem-based learning) requires students
to identify problems, gather information,
collect and analyze data, and propose
solutions. Decision making requires students
to establish criteria, identify alternatives,
apply criteria to the alternatives, and
reach a conclusion. In activities requiring
the application of these skills, instructors
attempt to develop the ability of their
students to think independently, critically,
and creatively. |
| Testing
/ Assessment |
There are many techniques
for assessing the skills and understandings
of students; testing is perhaps the most
formal and common. Other methods include
observation, group discussion, individual
questions, interviews, portfolios, homework,
projects, laboratory reports, research
papers, oral presentations, and self-evaluation. |
| Textbooks
/ Reference Books |
Printed materials that
teachers may assign or refer to for instructional
purposes. |
| Topic |
indicates with greater
specificity than Domain an area within
chemistry (and chemical education) that
is closely related to the cataloged resource. |
| Acids
/ Bases |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of acids and bases. |
| Addition
Reactions |
Addition reactions are
organic reactions in which atoms or groups
of atoms add to a carbon-carbon multiple
bond. |
| Administrative
Issues |
The category of administrative
issues encompasses information pertaining
to professional organizations; the supervision
and evaluation of instructors. |
| Agricultural
Chemistry |
Agricultural chemistry
applies chemistry and biochemistry to
agricultural production; the processing
of raw crops into foods, beverages, and
other products; and environmental monitoring
and remediation applied to agriculture. |
| Alcohols |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of alcohols—organic
compounds containing the hydroxyl functional
group. |
| Aldehydes
/ Ketones |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of aldehydes and ketones—organic
compounds containing the aldehyde or
ketone functional group. |
| Alkanes
/ Cycloalkanes |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of alkanes and cycloalkanes—saturated
hydrocarbons. |
| Alkenes |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of alkenes—organic
compounds containing one or more carbon-carbon
double bonds. |
| Alkylation |
Alkylation is an organic
reaction in which an alkyl group replaces
a hydrogen atom in an organic compound. |
| Alkynes |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of alkynes—organic
compounds containing one or more carbon-carbon
triple bonds. |
| Amides |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of amides—organic
compounds containing the amide functional
group. |
| Amines
/ Ammonium Compounds |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of amines and related ammonium
compounds—organic substances
containing the amine functional group. |
| Amino
Acids |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of amino acids—the
constituents of polypeptides and proteins. |
| Applications
of Chemistry |
Applications of chemistry
refer to relevant and practical uses
of chemistry skills and information. |
| Aqueous
Solution Chemistry |
The cataloged resource
pertains to reactions that occur in aqueous
solution as well as the properties of
aqueous solutes. |
| Aromatic
Compounds |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of aromatic compounds,
including benzene derivatives and other
planar, cyclic, conjugated compounds
with (4n + 2) pi electrons. |
| Astrochemistry |
Astrochemistry studies
the composition of and chemical interactions
between interstellar gases and dust,
as well as the chemistry of stellar atmospheres
and other planets. |
| Asymmetric
Synthesis |
Asymmetric synthesis
is the synthesis of a chiral substance
from an achiral precursor such that one
enantiomer predominates over another. |
| Atmospheric
Chemistry |
Atmospheric chemistry
explores the chemical composition of
the natural atmosphere; the way that
gases, liquids, and solids in the atmosphere
interact with each other and with the
earth's surface and living organisms;
and how human activities may be changing
the chemical and physical characteristics
of the atmosphere. |
| Atomic
Properties / Structure |
Atomic properties include
atomic and mass numbers, atomic weight
and radius, electronegativity, ionization
energy, and electron affinity. Atomic
structure includes electron configurations
and quantum numbers. |
| Atomic
Spectroscopy |
Atomic spectroscopy
includes atomic absorption, atomic emission,
and atomic fluorescence. These techniques
are used analytically to determine the
concentration and composition of unknown
samples. |
| Bioanalytical
Chemistry |
Bioanalytical chemistry
uses analytical techniques to separate,
identify, and quantify substances in
biological samples. |
| Bioenergetics |
Bioenergetics studies
energy flow and transformations in living
cells and organisms through respiration
and metabolism. |
| Bioinorganic
Chemistry |
Bioinorganic chemistry
focuses on the properties, structure,
and reactions of inorganic compounds
found in living systems. |
| Biological
Cells |
Biological cells are
the smallest living systems. |
| Bioorganic
Chemistry |
Bioorganic chemistry
focuses on the properties, structure,
and reactions of organic compounds found
in living systems. |
| Biophysical
Chemistry |
Biophysical chemistry
involves the application of principles
and methods of mathematics and physics
to explain and predict the behavior of
matter in living systems. |
| Biosignaling |
Biosignaling refers
to the ability of biological cells to
receive and act on signals from outside
their plasma membrane. |
| Biosynthesis |
Biosynthesis is the
production of biologically important
compounds as a result of reactions that
occur within living cells. |
| Biotechnology |
Biotechnology is the
use of living organisms, biological cells,
cell components, and biological processes
to improve human health and the human
environment. |
| Brønsted-Lowry
Acids / Bases |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of Brønsted-Lowry acids
and bases—substances that act
as proton donors or acceptors. |
| Calibration |
Calibration is the systematic
evaluation, adjustment, or standardization
of a quantitative instrument. |
| Calorimetry
/ Thermochemistry |
Thermochemistry is the
study of energy changes that accompany
chemical reactions. Calorimetry is a
technique for measuring such energy changes
by measuring the temperature change of
a known mass of water. |
| Carbocations |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of carbocations—reactive
intermediates containing a positively
charged carbon atom. |
| Carbohydrates |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of carbohydrates—polyhydroxyaldehydes
or polyhydroxyketones (sugars). |
| Carboxylic
Acids |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of carboxylic acids—organic
compounds containing the carboxyl functional
group. |
| Catalysis |
Catalysis is the processes
whereby a chemical species accelerates
a reaction without itself being consumed
in the chemical reaction. |
| Chemical
Technicians |
A chemical technician
assists instructors and students in carrying
out laboratory procedures; obtains, stores,
and supplies chemical and biological
materials; prepares standardized chemical
solutions; sets up, calibrates, cleans
and sterilizes laboratory equipment and
instruments; and ensures compliance with
laboratory standards, specifications,
and regulations. |
| Chemometrics |
Chemometrics refers
specifically to any mathematical manipulation
of chemical data, and is most frequently
applied as an analytical tool to predict
properties from such information (particularly
spectra). As a JCE keyword, chemometrics
is intended to subsume the subjects of
accuracy and error analysis, precision
and significant figures, statistics and
data analysis, and numerical methods. |
| Chirality
/ Optical Activity |
Chirality refers to
the property that structures have of
being non-superimposable with their mirror
images (also known as stereoisomers or
enantiomers). Optical activity is the
attribute of nonracemic chiral substances
to rotate the plane of polarized light. |
| Chromatography |
Chromatography refers
to a collection of analytical techniques
used to separate and analyze complex
mixtures by employing a system with mobile
and stationary phases. |
| Colloids |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure and properties
of colloids—suspensions of particles
in dispersing media. |
| Combinatorial
Chemistry |
Combinatorial chemistry
is a method for carrying out a large
number of reactions simultaneously on
a small scale to generate a library of
related compounds for further study,
such as biological testing. |
| Computational
Chemistry |
Computational chemistry
uses computers to perform extremely complex
calculations or simulations of phenomena
that are otherwise difficult or impossible
to analyze. |
| Conductivity |
Conductivity refers
to the ability of an electric current
to flow through a particular material. |
| Conferences |
Conferences pertain
to meetings of professional chemical
and educational organizations. |
| Conformational
Analysis |
Conformational analysis
is the study of the conformations available
to a molecule, their relative stability,
and the role they play in defining the
properties of the molecule. |
| Constitutional
Isomers |
Constitutional isomers
are compounds that have the same chemical
formula but different connectivity of
atoms. |
| Constructivism |
Constructivism refers
to an instructional approach in which
students build their own understanding
of important concepts by collaboratively
collecting, analyzing, and discussing
relevant observations, empirical data,
and other information. |
| Consumer
Chemistry |
Consumer chemistry examines
the structure, properties, and reactions
associated with common consumer products
and the materials from which they are
made. |
| Coordination
Compounds |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of coordination compounds — substances
containing a metallic atom or ion surrounded
by ligands bound to the metal by coordinate
covalent bonds. |
| Covalent
Bonding |
The cataloged resource
pertains to covalent bonding—the
intermolecular force that exists between
shared electrons and the nuclei of the
bonded atoms. |
| Crystal
Field / Ligand Field Theory |
Crystal or ligand field
theory is one that attempts to explain
the magnetism and color of coordination
compounds through an analysis of the
energies associated with d orbital electrons. |
| Crystals
/ Crystallography |
Crystallography refers
to the study of the structure and properties
of crystals. Crystals are solid substances
in which atoms, molecules, or ions are
packed in a regular array that results
in characteristic macroscopic shapes. |
| Descriptive
Chemistry |
Descriptive chemistry
deals with the properties and reactions
characteristic of each of the chemical
elements and its compounds. |
| Diastereomers |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of diastereomers—stereoisomers
that are not enantiomers. |
| Drugs
/ Pharmaceuticals |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of drugs and pharmaceuticals. |
| Dyes
/ Pigments |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of dyes and pigments. |
| Electrochemistry |
Electrochemistry is
the study of chemical reactions that
occur as a result of the transfer of
electrons from one substance to another. |
| Electrolytic
/ Galvanic Cells / Potentials |
An electrolytic or galvanic
cell is a device that transforms energy
released by a chemical reaction into
electrical energy. The cell potential
measures the tendency of the reaction
to occur. |
| Electrophilic
Substitution |
Electrophilic substitution
is the main reaction type exhibited by
aromatic compounds in which an electrophile
attacks an aromatic ring and replaces
one of the hydrogens bonded there. |
| Electrophoresis |
Electrophoresis is an
analytical method used to separate charged
or polar molecules using an electric
field in a gel matrix. |
| Elimination
Reactions |
Elimination reactions
involve the elimination of molecular
fragments from each of two adjacent carbon
atoms, resulting in the formation of
a multiple bond between the two carbons. |
| Enantiomers |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of enantiomers—compounds
that are non-superimposable mirror images
of one another. |
| Enrichment
/ Review Materials |
Enrichment and review
materials are resources that most would
consider to fall outside a core curriculum
in chemistry. |
| Enzymes |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of enzymes—proteins
and other biomolecules that catalyze
biochemical reactions. |
| Epoxides |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of epoxides—organic
compounds containing a three-membered
ring consisting of one oxygen and two
carbon atoms. |
| EPR
/ ESR Spectroscopy |
Spectroscopy is an analytical
technique used to identify the composition
and determine the structure of chemical
species by studying the electromagnetic
radiation they emit, transmit, or absorb.
EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance)
and ESR (Electron Spin Resonance) are
synonymous acronyms used to refer to
measurements of the absorption of energy
by unpaired electron(s) in a magnetic
field. |
| Equilibrium |
Equilibrium describes
the state of a system in which any changes
that occur are offset by opposing changes
in such a way that there is no net change
to the system. |
| Esters |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of esters—organic
compounds containing the ester functional
group. |
| Ethers |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of ethers—organic
compounds containing the ether functional
group. |
| Ethics |
Ethics refers to the
role that moral principles or values
play in science and science education. |
| Fatty
Acids |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of fatty acids — biomolecules
containing a carboxyl functional group
attached to a hydrocarbon (fatty acids
belong to the class of lipids). |
| Fluorescence
Spectroscopy |
Spectroscopy is an analytical
technique used to identify the composition
and determine the structure of chemical
species by studying the electromagnetic
radiation they emit, transmit, or absorb.
Fluorescence spectroscopy refers to several
methods (including X-ray and atomic fluorescence
spectroscopy) that study the emission
of light from irradiated chemical samples. |
| Forensic
Chemistry |
Forensic chemistry applies
principles of chemistry to law enforcement,
particularly with regard to the identification
of individuals through fingerprint and
DNA analysis and the processing of crime
scenes through an analytical examination
of the materials found there. |
| Fourier
Transform Techniques |
Fourier transform is
a mathematical technique used to separate
a composite signal into its component,
characteristic frequencies. |
| Free
Radicals |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of free radicals, highly
reactive chemical species containing
an unpaired electron. |
| Gas
Chromatography |
Gas chromatography (often
abbreviated GC) is an analytical technique
used to separate and detect the components
of a mixture of gaseous substances (particularly
volatile organic compounds or VOCs). |
| Gases |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure and properties
of materials in the gaseous state. |
| Geochemistry |
Geochemistry is the
study of the properties, distribution,
circulation, and interactions among the
chemical elements and compounds found
in the minerals, ores, rocks, soils,
water and atmosphere of our planet. |
| Glycolysis |
Glycolysis is an anaerobic
metabolic pathway used by biological
cells to generate ATP through the conversion
of glucose and other carbohydrates into
pyruvate. |
| Gravimetric
Analysis |
Gravimetric analysis
includes any analytical technique in
which the final quantitative step consists
of a mass measurement. |
| Green
Chemistry |
Green chemistry is the
design of chemical products and processes
that reduce or eliminate the use and
generation of hazardous substances and
environmental pollutants. |
| Grignard
Reagents |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of Grignard reagents—organomagnesium
halides. |
| Group
Theory / Symmetry |
Group theory is a branch
of mathematics that allows chemists to
analyze the symmetry of crystals and
molecular structures. It is one of the
most powerful tools used in quantum chemistry
and spectroscopy, and allows the user
to predict, interpret, rationalize, and
often simplify complex theory and data. |
| Heat
Capacity |
Heat capacity is the
quantity of energy required to increase
the temperature of a specific mass of
a particular substance by one degree
Celsius. |
| Heterocycles |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of heterocycles—organic
compounds containing a ring that includes
an atom other than carbon. |
| Hormones |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of hormones—biomolecules
that act as chemical messengers in living
organisms. |
| HPLC |
High Performance Liquid
Chromatography (HPLC) is an analytical
technique used to separate and detect
the components of a mixture based upon
the interaction of their functional group(s)
with the stationary substrate. |
| Hydrogen
Bonding |
Hydrogen bonding refers
to a stronger-than-usual dipole attraction
between molecules in which hydrogen is
bonded to a highly electronegative atom
(generally oxygen or nitrogen). |
| Industrial
Chemistry |
Industrial chemistry
is the study of the chemical processes
and materials used to manufacture consumer
products. |
| Inner
Transition Elements |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the properties and reactions
of the inner transition elements—the
f-block elements, also known as the lanthanides
and actinides. |
| Instrumental
Methods |
Instrumental methods
refers to any resource that involves
the use of scientific instruments, particularly
those used for compositional analysis. |
| Ion
Exchange |
Ion exchange is a process
in which ions are selectively removed
from solution and replaced by other ions
through interaction with a stationary
substrate; water softening is a form
of ion exchange. |
| Ion
Selective Electrodes |
Ion selective electrodes
are analytical instruments used for determining
the concentrations of various ions in
aqueous solutions. |
| Ionic
Bonding |
Ionic bonding refers
to the electrostatic attraction between
oppositely charged ions. |
| IR
Spectroscopy |
Spectroscopy is an analytical
technique used to identify the composition
and determine the structure of chemical
species by studying the electromagnetic
radiation they emit, transmit, or absorb.
IR (infrared) spectroscopy studies light
in the infrared region absorbed by vibrating
(stretching and bending) chemical bonds
within molecular (generally organic)
structures. |
| Isotopes |
Isotopes are atoms
with the same number of protons and electrons,
but different numbers of neutrons. |
| Kinetic-Molecular
Theory |
The kinetic-molecular
theory states that all matter is made
up of very tiny particles in random motion;
the speeds of the particles increase
with temperature. |
| Kinetics |
Kinetics is the study
of the rates at which chemical reactions
occur and the factors that influence
such rates. |
| Laboratory
Computing / Interfacing |
Laboratory computing
and interfacing refers to the use of
computers in a laboratory setting to
collect, analyze, record, and summarize
empirical data. |
| Laboratory
Equipment / Apparatus |
Laboratory equipment
and apparatus includes any application
of specific devices in a laboratory setting. |
| Laboratory
Management |
Laboratory management
pertains to maintaining a safe and productive
laboratory, and includes the organization
and supervision of lab facilities; the
proper and efficient preparation of standard
solutions, compounds, and other common
materials used or investigated in chemistry
laboratories; and the correct storage
of chemicals. |
| Lasers |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the operation of lasers or
their application in understanding the
structure, properties, and reactions
of chemical species. |
| Learning
Theories |
Learning theories refers
to assumptions, principles, and procedures
regarding the manner in which students
acquire skills and knowledge. |
| Lewis
Acids / Bases |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of Lewis acids and bases—substances
that act as electron-pair acceptors or
donors. |
| Lewis
Structures |
A Lewis structure is
a diagram that illustrates the arrangement
of valence electrons (both shared and
unshared) within a molecule or polyatomic
ion. |
| Lipids |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of lipids—biomolecules
containing a hydrophilic group connected
to a long hydrophobic chain. |
| Liquids |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure and properties
of substances in the liquid state. |
| Magnetic
Properties |
The cataloged resource
pertains to magnetic fields, substances,
and their interactions. |
| Main-Group
Elements |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the properties and reactions
of the main-group elements—the
s and p-block elements, found in columns
one, two, and thirteen through eighteen
of the periodic table. |
| Mass
Spectrometry |
Mass spectrometry is
an analytical technique used to separate
compounds based on differences in their
molecular mass, as well as identify unknown
compounds, quantify known compounds,
and determine the structure and chemical
properties of molecules. Common types
of mass spectrometry (MS) include FAB
(fast atom bombardment), ESI (electrospray
ionization), MALDI (matrix assisted laser
desorption), TOF (time of flight), FT
(Fourier transform), and ICP (inductively
coupled plasma). Mass spectrometry is
also often combined with other analytical
techniques, such as gas chromatography
(GC) and liquid chromatography (LC). |
| Materials
Science |
Materials science studies
the structure, properties, and development
of novel materials with specialized applications.
Such materials include exotic metals
and alloys, ceramics and glasses, semiconductors
and superconductors, polymers, composites,
biomaterials, and new materials produced
using nanotechnological techniques. |
| Mathematics
/ Symbolic Mathematics |
Mathematics used as
a formal mechanism to interpret chemical
phenomena and create models for chemical
phenomena. Symbolic Mathematics signifies
the use of one of the popular symbolic
mathematics software tools, e.g. Maple,
Mathematica, Mathcad, or MatLab, to create
working templates of mathematical models
that explain chemical phenomena. |
| Mechanisms
of Reactions |
A mechanism is a description
of the events that take place and the
intermediates that are formed as reactants
are transformed into products through
the course of a chemical reaction. |
| Medicinal
Chemistry |
Medicinal chemistry
concerns the application of chemical
principles to create substances to cure
disease, treat injuries, and maintain
human health. |
| Membranes |
A membrane is a thin
sheet of natural or synthetic material
permeable to substances in solution.
Of particular importance are biological
membranes that surround and protect the
cell and control the movement of materials
in and out of the cell through their
selective permeability. |
| Metabolism |
Metabolism is the study
of the biological reactions that take
place in living organisms, including
their coordination, regulation, and energy
relationships. |
| Metallic
Bonding |
Metallic bonding refers
to the force that exists between many
delocalized, valence electrons and the
cationic nuclei they surround within
any metal. |
| Metalloids
/ Semimetals |
Metalloids or semimetals
are those elements found between the
metals and nonmetals in the periodic
table and include boron, silicon, germanium,
arsenic, antimony, tellurium, polonium,
and astatine. |
| Metallurgy |
Metallurgy concerns
procedures for extracting metals from
their ores, purifying metals, and manufacturing
useful products from metals. |
| Metals |
Metals are those elements
in the left two-thirds of the periodic
table (including the lanthanides and
actinides but excluding hydrogen) that
are typically shiny solids at room temperature
and share the characteristic properties
of high electrical and thermal conductivity,
malleability, and ductility with high
tensile strength. |
| Micelles |
A micelle is an aggregate
of amphiphilic molecules (often fatty
acids) whose polar, hydrophilic ends
are in contact with water and form the
outer surface of a sphere, inside of
which are clustered the nonpolar, hydrophobic
molecular ends. |
| Microscale
Lab |
A microscale lab is
one in which very small quantities of
materials are used to minimize cost and
waste while enhancing safety. |
| Minorities
in Chemistry |
Minorities in chemistry
pertains to issues regarding groups whose
members may be disadvantaged or underrepresented
in chemistry education; examples include
handicapped, learning disabled (LD),
and English-as-second-language (ESL)
students. |
| MO
Theory |
MO (molecular orbital)
theory is one in which shared, delocalized,
valence electrons are viewed as occupying
regions of space extending over several
atoms. |
| Molecular
Biology |
Molecular biology is
the study of the structure and function
of living systems at the molecular level,
focusing particularly on genes and the
DNA from which they are made. |
| Molecular
Mechanics / Dynamics |
Molecular mechanics
defines a molecule mathematically in
terms of the characteristics, spatial
position, and lengths and angles of the
bonds between each atom in the structure.
Molecular dynamics determines the net
force acting on each atom in a molecule
due to electrical interactions with other
atoms in that structure. |
| Molecular
Modeling |
Molecular modeling encompasses
a range of computerized techniques based
on methods of theoretical chemistry and
empirical data that can be used to analyze
molecules and molecular systems and predict
their structures and properties. |
| Molecular
Properties / Structure |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure and properties
of molecules. |
| Molecular
Recognition |
Molecular recognition
occurs when two molecules are both geometrically
and electronically complementary; that
is, when they can both "fit together",
as well as bind to each other using non-covalent
forces, including hydrogen bonds, electrostatic
interactions, hydrophobic interactions
and weak metal coordination. Examples
of this process include the binding of
an enzyme to a substrate, a drug to a
biological target, and two complementary
strands of DNA. The study of molecular
recognition is extremely important for
drug design in the pharmaceutical industry. |
| Nanotechnology |
Nanotechnology is the
creation of materials, devices, and systems
through the manipulation of individual
atoms and molecules. |
| Natural
Products |
Natural products are
naturally occuring organic compounds
that maintain life by regulating biological
reactions. Natural products possess a
variety of biological activities; thus
the investigation of their molecular
mechanisms is very important to understand
reactions occuring in living systems. |
| NMR
Spectroscopy |
Spectroscopy is an analytical
technique used to identify the composition
and determine the structure of chemical
species by studying the electromagnetic
radiation they emit, transmit, or absorb.
NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy
relies on the absorption and emission
of radio-frequency radiation by the nuclei
of certain atoms when they are placed
in a magnetic field, and can be used
to determine both the structure and relative
amounts of analyzed samples. |
| Nomenclature
/ Units / Symbols |
Nomenclature, units,
and symbols includes notations and conventions
used to name, quantify, and represent
chemical species and their composition,
structure, properties, changes, and interactions. |
| Noncovalent
Interactions |
Noncovalent interactions
refers to electrostatic forces that do
not involve shared pairs of electrons
and includes ionic interactions, hydrophobic
interactions, van der Waals interactions,
and hydrogen bonding. These types of
interactions play a particularly important
role in biochemistry and the study of
protein folding. |
| Nonmajor
Courses |
Nonmajor courses describes
resources that pertain to non-science
majors, particularly suggestions for
teaching chemistry effectively to students
with weak backgrounds in science. |
| Nonmetals |
Nonmetals are those
elements found on the right-hand side
of the periodic table (including hydrogen)
that are generally gases or brittle solids
at room temperature and poor conductors
of heat and electricity. |
| Nuclear
/ Radiochemistry |
Nuclear or radiochemistry
is that branch of chemistry that focuses
on the atomic nucleus and includes the
subjects of radiation, radioactivity,
nuclear reactions, and nuclear energy. |
| Nucleic
Acids / DNA / RNA |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of nucleic acids and DNA
/ RNA. |
| Nucleophilic
Substitution |
Nucleophilic substitution
is a reaction initiated by a species
with an unshared pair of electrons (a
nucleophile) that replaces a substituent
(a leaving group) that departs with an
unshared electron pair. |
| Nutrition |
Nutrition concerns the
assimilation of food by living organisms
for energy and development. |
| Organometallics |
Organometallics are
compounds containing a carbon-metal bond. |
| Organosulfur
Compounds |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of organosulfur compounds—organic
substances containing sulfur. |
| Oxidation
/ Reduction |
Oxidation / reduction
refers to reactions in which one species
gains one or more electrons (reduction)
while another loses those electrons (oxidation). |
| Oxidation
State |
Oxidation state (or
oxidation number) provides a way for
keeping track of electrons in oxidation
/ reduction reactions. |
| Periodicity
/ Periodic Table |
The periodic table is
an organization of all the known elements
in such a way that those with similar
properties are placed in the same vertical
column. Periodicity refers to the regular
interval in which elements with similar
properties appear in the periodic table. |
| pH |
pH is the logarithmic
scale used to conveniently express the
concentration of hydrogen ions in any
aqueous solution. |
| Phases
/ Phase Transitions / Diagrams |
Phases, phase transitions,
and phase diagrams include any information
referring to states of matter, changes
from one physical state to another, or
graphical representations of the physical
state of substances under varying conditions
of temperature and pressure. |
| Phenols |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of phenols—organic
compounds containing a hydroxyl group
attached to a benzene ring. |
| Photochemistry |
Photochemistry studies
the interaction of radiation with matter
to produce reactive, excited states and
the reactions that result from this process. |
| Photosynthesis |
Photosynthesis is a
biochemical process in which plants store
energy from the sun by producing carbohydrates
from carbon dioxide and water. |
| Physical
Properties |
Physical properties
include characteristics such as color,
luster, hardness, crystalline structure,
conductivity, solubility, malleability,
ductility, density, viscosity, boiling
and melting points. |
| Plant
Chemistry |
Plant chemistry studies
the chemical composition of plants, the
biochemical reactions that occur within
plants, and the chemical relationships
that exist among plants, their environment,
and other living organisms. |
| Polymerization |
Polymerization is a
chemical process whereby simple units
(monomers) are attached to one another
to produce a long, chain-like structure
(a polymer). |
| Potentiometry |
Potentiometry is a branch
of analytical chemistry in which measurements
of electrical potential are used to determine
the analytical quantity of interest (generally
the concentration of some component of
the analyte solution). |
| Precipitation
/ Solubility |
Solubility is the degree
to which one material (a solute) will
dissolve in another (a solvent). Two
soluble reactants in solution can combine
chemically in a precipitation reaction
to produce an insoluble product. |
| Professional
Development |
Professional development
is designed to improve an understanding
of chemistry and teaching among chemistry
instructors. |
| Proteins
/ Peptides |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of polypeptides and proteins—biochemical
compounds consisting of long chains of
amino acids. |
| Qualitative
Analysis |
Qualitative analysis
is any method used to determine the identity
or presence of a particular substance. |
| Quantitative
Analysis |
Quantitative analysis
is any method used to determine how much
of a particular substance is present. |
| Quantum
Chemistry |
Quantum chemistry is
the application of quantum mechanics
to predict and explain the spectra, structure,
and other properties of atoms and molecules. |
| Raman
Spectroscopy |
Spectroscopy is an analytical
technique used to identify the composition
and determine the structure of chemical
species by studying the electromagnetic
radiation they emit, transmit, or absorb.
Raman spectroscopy relies on the scattering
of light from a gas, liquid or solid
with a shift in wavelength from that
of the usually monochromatic incident
radiation. |
| Rate
Law |
Rate law is an expression
that describes how the rate of a reaction
depends on the concentrations of reactants
and other substances. |
| Reactions |
Reactions includes any
information regarding chemical changes
or interactions. |
| Reactive
Intermediates |
Reactive intermediates
are energetic and unstable structures
that exist briefly as reactants are transformed
into products during a chemical reaction. |
| Receptors |
Receptors are structures
on the outer surface of a cell (generally
proteins) that provide binding sites
for signal molecules (such as hormones). |
| Resonance
Theory |
Resonance in regards
to bonding is the delocalization over
adjacent bonds of lone pair electrons
or electrons in multiple
covalent bonds. |
| Semiconductors |
Semiconductors are materials
that exhibit an electrical conductivity
intermediate between that of metals and
nonmetals. |
| Separation
Science |
Separation science studies
methods for isolating and purifying substances
from complex mixtures. |
| Solid
State Chemistry |
Solid state chemistry
is concerned with the synthesis, structure,
properties, and applications of solid
materials. |
| Solids |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure and properties
of materials in the solid state. |
| Solutions
/ Solvents |
Solutions are mixtures
of two or more substances; solvents are
that component of a mixture present in
the greatest amount or that exists in
the same phase as the solution. |
| Spectroscopy |
Spectroscopy is an analytical
technique used to identify the composition
and determine the structure of chemical
species by studying the electromagnetic
radiation they emit, transmit, or absorb. |
| Standards
National / State |
Standards are statements
of understanding and descriptions of
skills that have been deemed to be most
important for students to know and be
able to exhibit; they have been written
at both state and national levels. |
| Statistical
Mechanics |
Statistical mechanics
applies statistical methods to the quantitative
theoretical study of systems consisting
of a large number of interacting particles,
such as the atoms or molecules of a solid,
liquid, or gas. |
| Stereochemistry |
Stereochemistry is the
study of chemical species that differ
only in the spatial arrangement of their
atoms and how those differences influence
the chemical properties of those structures. |
| Steroids |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of steroids; steroids are
lipids derived from a structure containing
three 6-membered rings and one 5-membered
ring fused in a specific way. |
| Stoichiometry |
Stoichiometry refers
to the relationships that exist between
the quantities of reactants and products
of any chemical reaction and between
quantities of elements in chemical compounds. |
| Student
/ Career Counseling |
Student or career counseling
pertains to guiding students in terms
of courses, programs, schools, or employment
opportunities. |
| Student-Centered
Learning |
Student-Centered Learning
refers to an instructional approach in
which the teacher seeks out student interests,
is willing to explore student viewpoints
and perspectives, involves students in
planning, and actively listens to students
as people and learners. |
| Superconductivity |
Superconductivity is
the condition in which electrons flow
through a conductor with no resistance. |
| Surface
Science |
Surface science is the
study of the physical and chemical processes
that occur on or at surfaces, as well
as structure and properties of surfaces. |
| Synthesis |
Synthesis refers to
any technique designed to produce a specific
chemical species. |
| TA
Training / Orientation |
TA (teaching assistant)
training and orientation refers to efforts
to develop skills and understandings
among instructional aides. |
| Theoretical
Chemistry |
Theoretical chemistry
is concerned with understanding, describing
and predicting the behaviors of chemical
systems on the basis of theoretical principles,
derived from fundamental physical laws,
expressed by mathematical equations,
and usually analyzed by computers. |
| Thermal
Analysis |
Thermal analysis determines
the properties of unknown samples by
measuring how samples respond to changes
in their temperature and includes thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA), differential scanning
calorimetry (DSC), and simultaneous thermal
analysis (STA). |
| Thermodynamics |
Thermodynamics is the
study of energy and its transformations. |
| Thin
Layer Chromatography |
Thin layer chromatography
(or TLC) is an analytical technique used
to separate and analyze complex mixtures
by allowing appropriate solvents to carry
their components through a thin layer
of solid on a surface. |
| Titration
/ Volumetric Analysis |
Titration and volumetric
analysis are analytical techniques in
which the amount or concentration of
a particular substance present in a sample
is determined using measured volumes
of appropriate reagents. |
| Toxicology |
Toxicology is the study
of the properties, effects, detection,
and treatment of poisons. |
| Transition
Elements |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the properties and reactions
of the transition elements—the
d and f-block elements, found in columns
three through twelve of the periodic
table (including the inner transition
elements). |
| Transport
Properties |
Transport properties
involve the movement of particles or
energy from one point to another, and
include phenomena such as diffusion,
permeability, and capillary flow. |
| Undergraduate
Research |
Undergraduate research
refers to independent original investigations
conducted by undergraduates. |
| UV-Vis
Spectroscopy |
Spectroscopy is an analytical
technique used to identify the composition
and determine the structure of chemical
species by studying the light they emit,
transmit, or absorb. UV-Vis spectroscopy
studies the production of and interactions
with light in the ultraviolet and visible
regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. |
| Valence
Bond Theory |
Valence bond theory
concerns the manner in which atoms form
electron-pair covalent bonds through
the overlap of atomic orbitals on adjacent
atoms. |
| Vitamins |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of vitamins—organic
compounds required in small quantities
to maintain health of an organism. |
| VSEPR
Theory |
VSEPR (valence shell
electron pair repulsion) theory is used
to predict the shape of simple molecules
or parts of larger molecules through
the repulsive effects among pairs of
electrons on the same atom. |
| Water
/ Water Chemistry |
The cataloged resource
pertains to the structure, properties,
and reactions of water. |
| Women
in Chemistry |
Women in chemistry pertains
to the role that women have played in
the development of our understanding
of chemistry, as well as efforts to promote
the participation of females in chemistry
courses and careers. |
| X-ray
Crystallography |
X-ray crystallography
is a technique in which the structure
of a crystalline lattice may be determined
by analyzing the diffraction pattern
produced when X-rays interact with the
atoms in that structure. |
