Understanding of Earth and Space Science Concepts: Strategies for Concept‐Building in Elementary Teacher Preparation

This research is concerned with preservice teacher understanding of six earth and space science concepts that are often taught in elementary school: the reason for seasons, phases of the moon, why the wind blows, the rock cycle, soil formation, and earthquakes. Specifically, this study examines the effect of readings, hands‐on learning stations, and concept mapping in improving conceptual understanding. Undergraduates in two sections of a science methods course (N= 52) completed an open‐ended survey, giving explanations about the above concepts three times: as a pretest and twice as posttests after various instructional interventions. The answers, scored with a three point rubric, indicated that the preservice teachers initially had many misconceptions (alternative conceptions). A two way ANOVA with repeated measures analysis (pretest/posttest) demonstrated that readings and learning stations are both successful in building preservice teacher's understanding and that benefits from the hands‐on learning stations approached statistical significance. Concept mapping had an additive effect in building understanding, as evident on the second posttest. The findings suggest useful strategies for university science instructors to use in clarifying science concepts while modeling activities teachers can use in their own classrooms.     

The Synthesis,Characterisation, and Reactivity of Some Polydentate Phosphinoamine Ligands with Benzene‐1,3‐diyl and Pyridine‐2,6‐diyl Backbones

The polydentate phosphinoamines 1,3‐{(Ph₂P)₂N}₂C₆H₄ and 2,6‐{(Ph₂P)₂N}₂C₅H₃N have been prepared in a single step from the reaction of the amines 1,3‐(NH₂)₂C₆H₄ or 2,6‐(NH₂)₂C₅H₃N with Ph₂PCl in presence of Et₃N (1 : 4 : 4 molar ratio) in CH₂Cl₂. Reaction of 1,3‐{(Ph₂P)₂N}₂C₆H₄ or 2,6‐{(Ph₂P)₂N}₂C₅H₃N with elemental sulfur or selenium in CH₂Cl₂ affords the corresponding tetrasulfide or tetraselenide, respectively, in good yield. The complexes [1,3‐{Mo(CO)₄(Ph₂P)₂N}₂(C₆H₄)] and [2,6‐{Mo(CO)₄(Ph₂P)₂N}₂(C₅H₃N)] were prepared from the reaction of these phosphinoamines with [Mo(CO)₄(nbd)] (nbd=norbornadiene) in toluene, and the structure of the latter complex has been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

Non-Gaussian elasticity of swollen poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gels at high charge densities

Modulus of elasticity of highly charged N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) based hydrogels (PNIPA) are measured at various swelling degrees in water. The sodium salt of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) was used as the ionic comonomer of NIPA in the hydrogel preparation. The mole fraction of AMPS in the comonomer feed was varied between 0 and 1, while the crosslinker ratio was fixed at 1/85. The elasticity data show that the equilibrium swollen PNIPA hydrogels are in the non-Gaussian regime. Equations were derived based on the inverse Langevin function for the swelling ratio and the modulus of highly charged PNIPA hydrogels and checked by experiments. Results of calculations show good agreement to the swelling and elasticity data of highly swollen PNIPA gels.     

Synthesis of some novel bis(hetaryl)azo disperse dyes and investigation of their absorption spectra

3‐Amino‐2‐cyano‐4,6‐disubstituted‐thieno{2,3‐b}pyridines and 3‐aminopyridine were diazotized and coupled with 2‐phenylindole, 2‐methylindole, and 1‐methyl‐2‐phenylindole, respectively. These dyes were characterized by UV‐Visible, FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, and mass spectroscopic techniques. Solvent effects on the visible absorption spectra of the dyes were evaluated. The color of the dyes is discussed with respect to the nature of the heterocyclic ring and substituent present therein. In addition, effects of temperature, concentration, as well as acid and base on the visible absorption maxima of the dyes are reported. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:622–630, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20361     

Preparation and solvent extraction of nickel complex of O,O'-dinonyldithiophosphate and its application to spectrophotometric determination of nickel in sediment samples

Nickel complex of O, O'-dinonyldithiophosphoric acid was prepared and characterised. Solvent extraction of nickel dinonyldithiophosphate [Ni(DNDTP)2] from acidic aqueous solutions into different organic phases was investigated and concentration of nickel was determined spectrophotometrically. A simple and selective spectrophotometric method was developed and applied to sediment samples.     

Organometallic ruthenium, rhodium and iridium complexes containing a P-bound thiophene-2-(N-diphenylphosphino)methylamine ligand: Synthesis, molecular structure and catalytic activity

Reaction of Ph₂PNHCH₂-C₄H₃S with [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, [Ru(η⁶-benzene)(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, [Rh(μ-Cl)(cod)]₂ and [Ir(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ yields complexes [Ru(Ph₂PNHCH₂-C₄H₃S)(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂], 1, [Ru(Ph₂PNHCH₂-C₄H₃S)(η⁶-benzene)Cl₂], 2, [Rh(Ph₂PNHCH₂-C₄H₃S)(cod)Cl], 3 and [Ir(Ph₂PNHCH₂-C₄H₃S)(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Cl₂], 4, respectively. All complexes were isolated from the reaction solution and fully characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. The structure of [Ru(Ph₂PNHCH₂-C₄H₃S)(η⁶-benzene)Cl₂], 2 was also determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. 1-4 are suitable precursors forming highly active catalyst in the transfer hydrogenation of a variety of simple ketones. Notably, the catalysts obtained by using the ruthenium complexes [Ru(Ph₂PNHCH₂-C₄H₃S)(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂], 1 and [Ru(Ph₂PNHCH₂-C₄H₃S)(η⁶-benzene)Cl₂], 2 are much more active in the transfer hydrogenation converting the carbonyls to the corresponding alcohols in 98-99% yields (TOF ≤ 200 h⁻¹) in comparison to analogous rhodium and iridium complexes.