Online Cooperative Learning in Physical Chemistry

The use of cooperative learning in an online setting is examined using the online segment of a recently offered physical chemistry course as an example. The nature and function of classical, face-to-face cooperative learning are outlined. The online course segment is outlined and is analyzed with regard to the criteria for classical cooperative learning. Though this specific course segment functioned poorly when taught as online cooperative learning, it is possible to structure online courses to take advantage of the strengths of cooperative learning. The possible structure and function of an online cooperative learning community are explored, concluding with a specific model for online cooperative learning.     

In situ UV-visible spectroelectrochemical studies on the copolymerization of diphenylamine with ortho-methoxy aniline

UV-visible spectroelectrochemical studies on copolymerization of diphenylamine (DPA) with ortho-methoxy aniline (OMA) were carried out for different feed ratios of DPA and OMA using indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass as working electrode. The UV-visible spectra show clear dependencies on the molar feed composition of DPA or OMA used in electropolymerization. Derivative cyclic voltabsorptogram (DCVA) was deduced at the wavelengths corresponding to the absorption by the intermediate species and used to confirm the intermediates generated during the electropolymerization. The composition of DPA and OMA in the copolymer for the copolymers synthesized with different molar feed ratios of DPA and OMA was determined by UV-visible spectroscopy. Reactivity ratios of DPA and OMA were deduced by using Fineman-Ross and Kelen-Tudos methods and correlated with spectroelectrochemical results.     

Victor Moritz Goldschmidt (1888–1947): A Tribute to the Founder of Modern Geochemistry on the Fiftieth Anniversary of His Death

Goldschmidt combined a number of widely separated sciences to synthesize a new structural crystal chemistry. Although his work on the relative abundances of the elements, atomic and ionic radii, interionic distances, the effect of radius ratio on coordination number in crystals, replacement of ions in minerals, and the lanthanide contraction is found in almost every textbook of general and inorganic chemistry and has provided the basis for modern crystal chemistry and the use of size relationships for interpreting properties of inorganic substances, Goldschmidts name, life, and career remain relatively unknown to most chemical educators and practicing chemists.Goldschmidt used the basic properties of matter to provide simple and elegant explanations for the composition of our environment. Throughout his relatively brief career, filled with sorrow and tragedy, he continued to maintain his intense interest in the elements and their genesis, affinities, and associations despite his changes from one method to another in his attempts to obtain new and more complete data. Thus, although he used petrology, crystallography, and chemistry and enriched all these fields greatly, to him they were only tools for exploring the earth and its history.     

Evard Immanuel Hjelt (1855–1921): Finnish Chemist and Historian of Chemistry

Although today unjustly neglected abroad and often even in his native land, Edvard Immanuel Hjelt (1855–1921), was an exceptionally gifted, dedicated, and multifaceted individual who made important contributions to chemistry, the history of chemistry, politics, and the management of national and international affairs. Little information about him is available in English. The present article supplements the only two English sources available [1, pp 66–83; 2] and makes this chemist-statesman better known to those chemists and historians who do not read Swedish or Finnish.In this section we present articles by leading scientific historians that chronicle the important events, persons, and publications that make up the rich history of chemical science. The history, and the articles in this ection often make that very clear. Chemists and their research are always influenced by current events. These articles are intended to describe the setting in which important discoveries occurred and to humazine their discoveres.     

NANOSECOND KINETIC ABSORPTION AND CALORIMETRIC STUDIES OF CYCLOPENTENONE: THE TRIPLET, SELF-QUENCHING, AND THE PREDIMERIZATION BIRADICALS

The photolysis of 2-cyclopentenone has been studied by a combination of kinetic absorption spectrophotometry and time-resolved photoacoustic calorimetry. The lifetime of the cyclopentenone triplet is strongly concentration dependent and corresponds to a value of 380 +/- 75 ns at infinite dilution in acetonitrile. The biradical intermediate (or pair of isomeric biradicals) immediately preceding formation of photodimer forms with very high efficiency upon quenching of triplet cyclopentenone by a second ground state cyclopentenone molecule and has an energy of 47 kcal/mol relative to two molecules of reactant. Quenching of the cyclopentenone triplet by conjugated dienes is much slower than expected, which is the reason that early estimates of the triplet lifetime were much too short.     

Near-infrared spectrophotometric determination of compositions of fullerene samples

A novel method has been developed for the sensitive and accurate determination of compositions of fullerene samples. The method is based on the synergistic use of spectrophotometric measurements and partial least square method. The method is not only simple, inexpensive and fast but also is non-destructive. Compositions of various fullerene samples including fullerite which is the precursor to C(60) and C(70), can be directly and non-destructively determined by this method without any time-consuming separation step as in the HPLC method or destruction as in the MS method.     

Benzoxazine-bismaleimide blends: Curing and thermal properties

A blend of bisphenol A based benzoxazine (Bz-A) and a bismaleimide (2,2-bis[4(4-maleimidophenoxy) phenyl] propane (BMI), was thermally polymerised in varying proportions and their cure and thermal characteristics were investigated. The differential scanning calorimetric analysis, supplemented by rheology confirmed a lowering of the cure temperature of BMI in the blend implying catalysis of the maleimide polymerisation by benzoxazine. FTIR studies provided evidences for the H-bonding between carbonyl group of BMI and -OH group of polybenzoxazine in the cured matrix. The cured matrix manifested a dual phase behaviour in SEM and DMTA with the minor phase constituted by polybenzoxazine dispersed in an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of polybenzoxazine and cured BMI. The IPN possessed improved thermal stability over the constituent polybenzoxazine. A benzoxazine monomer possessing allyl functional groups, 2,2′-bis(8-allyl-3-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,3-benzoxazinyl) propane (Bz-allyl) was reactively blended with the same bismaleimide in varying stoichiometric ratios (Bz-allyl/BMI), where the curing involved mainly Alder-ene reaction between allyl- and maleimides groups and ring-opening polymerisation of benzoxazine. The rheological analysis showed the absence of catalytic polymerisation of BMI in this case. The overall processing temperature was lowered in the blend owing to the co-reaction of the two systems to form a single-phase matrix. The cured resins of both Bz-A/BMI and Bz-allyl/BMI blends exhibited better thermal stability than the respective polybenzoxazines. The T_g of the IPN was significantly improved over that of polybenzoxazine (Bz-A). However, the co-reaction resulted in a marginal decrease in the T_g of the system in comparison to the polybenzoxazine (Bz-allyl).     

Ca(2.5)Sr(0.5)GaMn2O8: diamagnetic Ga in control of the structural and electronic properties of a bilayered manganate

The temperature dependence of the crystal structure and electronic properties of brownmillerite-like Ca(2.5)Sr(0.5)GaMn(2)O(8) has been studied by neutron powder diffraction and muSR spectroscopy. The results show that short-range 2D magnetic order begins to develop within the perovskite-like bilayers of MnO(6) octahedra approximately 50 K above the 3D Néel temperature of approximately 150 K. The bilayers show a structural response to the onset of magnetism throughout this temperature range whereas the GaO(4) layers that separate the bilayers only respond below the 3D ordering temperature. XANES spectroscopy shows that the sample contains Mn(3+) and Mn(4+) cations in a 1:1 ratio, and the behavior in the region of the Néel transition is interpreted as a local charge ordering. Electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy have been used to show that the local microstructure is more complex than the average structure revealed by neutron diffraction, and that microdomains exist in which the GaO(4) tetrahedra show different orientations. It is argued that the bonding requirements of diamagnetic gallium control the electronic behavior within the perovskite-like bilayers.     

Dual behavior of masked o-benzoquinones in intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions. Expedient synthesis of highly functionalized cis-decalins from 2-methoxyphenols

[Reaction: see text]. The potential dual behavior as dienes and dienophiles of the diene moieties of masked o-benzoquinones (MOBs) 10a-e-12a-e, generated upon oxidation of 2-methoxyphenols 1-3 with BTIB in the presence of appropriate dienols, in their intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions has been examined. The IMDA reactions of MOBs 10a-d, 11a,b,d, and 12a,b,d resulted in highly functionalized oxatricyclic compounds 18a-d, 19a,b,d, and 20a,b,d, respectively, with concomitant formation of cis-decalin derivatives 21a-d, 22a,b,d, and 23a,b,d in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner. However, the MOBs 10e-12e provided exclusively oxatricyclic compounds 18e-20e. The formation of cis-decalins in these IMDA reactions illustrates the dienophilic character of MOBs, in addition to their behavior as dienes. The ratio of the two cycloadducts obtained in each reaction as a result of the dual character of MOBs depends on the nature and/or position of the substituents on both the cyclohexadienone moiety and the added 2,4-dienol. The majority of the cycloadducts resulted from the diene property of MOBs in intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions smoothly underwent Cope rearrangement to furnish cis-decalins as sole products in excellent to quantitative yields that provides a short and efficient entry to polyfunctionized cis-decalins from 2-methoxyphenols. Furthermore, the variation of dienophilic and diene characters of MOBs in the IMDA reactions with the electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituent of both cyclohexadienone moiety and the added conjugated acyclic diene or 2,4-dienol has been studied in detail.