How to Read a Journal Article: Analyzing Author Roles and Article Components

Submitted by Catherine McCusker / East Tennessee State University on Wed, 01/08/2020 - 21:09
Description

This literature discussion uses a recently published article on solvatochromic Mo complexes to introduce students to the different components of a research article. The activity is divied into to two parts. Before class students read the paper and focus on defining terms, investigating the "meta" data of the paper, and the different sections iof the paper. In class the students work in groups to investigate the scientific content of the paper

Visualization of Solid State Structures using CrystalMaker and Physical Models

Submitted by Hilary Eppley / DePauw University on Wed, 01/08/2020 - 14:17
Description

This first-year laboratory is designed to give students an introduction to basic solid-state structures using both CrystalMaker files and physical models. I think this would work in a foundations level inorganic course as well. It could be used alternatively as an in-class activity or take-home problem set depending on the instructor. It was adapted by me and later, David Harvey, from an original activity that was posted as an educational resource on the CrystalMaker website in the mid 2000s.  

Mechanisms of Mn-catalyzed water oxidation reactions

Submitted by Margaret Scheuermann / Western Washington University on Fri, 10/18/2019 - 19:53
Description

This LO is an in-class assignment to prepare students for literature readings involving catalytic cycles in which multiple protons and electrons are transferred. Two catalytic mechanisms, a proposed OEC mechanism and the proposed mechanism of a biomimetic OEC complexes are included. The intermediates are drawn including all charges and oxidation states, details which are sometimes omitted in the primary literature but can be helpful to students who are not accustomed to looking at multistep catalytic cycles.

2019 Nobel Prize - Li-ion battery LOs

Submitted by Barbara Reisner / James Madison University on Wed, 10/09/2019 - 20:28

Congratulations to the 2019 recipients of the Nobel Prize - John B. Goodenough, M. Stan Whittingham and Akira Yoshino. It's a well deserved honor!

There are several LOs on VIPEr that talk about lithium ion batteries and related systems. The 2019 Nobel is a great opportunity to include something about these batteries in your class.

I hope to see more LOs in the coming weeks so we can bring this chemistry into our classrooms!

Science Information Literacy Badge--Reading the Literature

Submitted by Michelle Personick / Wesleyan University on Thu, 07/18/2019 - 12:07
Description

This is an activity designed to introduce general chemistry students to reading the chemistry literature by familiarizing them with the structure of a published article. The activity first presents an article from the Whitesides group at Harvard about writing a scientific manuscript, along with a video about the peer-review process. There are two parts to the questions in the activity, which are based on a specific article from Nature Communications (doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-08824-8).

Comprehensive literature reading assignment on platinum-based anticancer agents

Submitted by Todsapon T. / University of Evansville on Sun, 06/09/2019 - 16:40
Description

Students read two review articles and one research article on platinum-based cancer therapeutic agents.  These articles compresentively discuss various aspects of these drug agents such as discovery, synthesis, mode of function.  Students read the articles and use the knowledge on coordination chemistry (structure, reactivity, bonding, etc.) to explain the information included in the articles. 

 

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