Division of Chemical Education OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY Expenditures
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
McAlpin Hotel, New York, September 12.1944 Present: L. L. Quill, Chairman; H. N. Alyea, Vice-Chairman; C. E. White, Treasurer; N. W. Rakestraw, Editor of JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL
EDUCATION;
Paul
H. 'Fall,
Secretary. Dr. C. E. White, treasurer, read his report which was approved and had been audited by Dr. M. P. Puterbaugh and found correct. It accompanies this report. Motion made, seconded, and passed that miscellaneous bills. which were presented by the chairman, secretary, and treasurer be approved and be paid by the treasurer. By unanimous vote the Executive Committee approved the recommendation made by Dr. O. M. Smith, Chairman of the Committee on Examinations and Tests; that the following members be appointed on this Committee for the three-year term ending September, 1947: T. A. Ashford, University of Chicago; Dale Dreisbach, University of Akron; Gordon H. Pritham, University of Scranton. Since the term of W. L. Evans as a member of the Board of Publication of the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION expired at this time, motion was made, seconded, and passed, that Dr. John A. Timm, of Simmons College, be elected to the Board for the threeyear term ending September, 1947. By unanimous vote the Executive Committee approved the recommendation of the Board of Publication of the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION that the Executive Committee of the Division enter into a supplemental agreement to the contract with the Mack Printing Company for publishing the JOURNAL, to the effect that beginning January 1, 1945, the surplus profits received from publishing the JOURNAL be equally divided between the management and the Division of Chemical Education. Heretofore the ratio had been 10 per cent to the management and 90 ·per cent to the Division with the proviso that at least 80 per cent of the Division's share shOUld be put back into the JOURNAL for improvement or enlargement. However, up to the present there have been no surplus profits but rather a debt of long standing, but by January, 1945, this will all be paid. The Executive Committee indicated its intention that at least 80 per cent of the profits reverting to the Division should be used for improvement or enlargement of the JOURNAL. Motion passed that the Division affiliate with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). This will indicate inter est and good will and involves an expenditure of only $2.00 per year as dues. Motion passed that L. L. Quill be designated as the representative of the Division of Chemical Education on the Cooperative Committee on Science Teaching. Plans for symposia for future meetings were discussed but no formal action taken. PAUL H. FALL, Secretary 4
TREASURER'S REPORT Receipts Balance, Sept. I, 1943. Dues, 175 members. Dues for 1945 paid in advance .. Dues for 1943 paid in arrears .. Interest on savings account. Interest on War Bond . Liquidation dividend on account of previous treasurer from closed bank .. Total receipts
.
A. C. S. Ne\ ·s Service Abstracts, Pittsburgh meeting . $ 8.00 A. J. Currier, phone call, Pittsburgh meeting 1.26 Registration, five speakers, Pittsburgh meeting . 15.00 Secretary's office for 1943, P. H. Fall. . 25.00 Secretary's office for 1944, P. H. Fall. . 50.00 Envelopes, U. of M. Press . 2.50 Stamps, Postmaster, College Park . 5.10 A. C. S. News Service Abstracts, Cleveland meeting . 11.30 Mimeographing notices, H. G. Headlee . 1.00 Total expenditures Balance on hand
$119.16 350.16
. .
Assets arc distributed as follows: Checking Account "Division Chemical Education" Prince Georges Bank and Trust Co., Hyattsville, $259.48 Maryland... . . 90.68 Savings Account-Same as above. . . 3 U. S. Saving Bonds, $100 each, Nos. C825778g, C825779g, C825780g "Division of Chemical Education" deposited in the safe deposit box of C. E. White at Prince Georges Bank and Trust Co., 300.00 Hyattsville, Maryland. . . . . Total.
.
.
5650.16 C. E. WIIITE, Treasurer
Audited and found correct 9/12/44 M. P. PUTERBAUGH MINUTES OF BUSINESS MEETING
McAlpin Hotel, Neu; York, September 13, 1944 The secretary gave a summary of the minutes of the Pittsburgh meeting in SePtember, 1943, of the Executive Committee meeting in Cleveland in April, 1944, and of the meeting of the Board of Publication of the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION on Monday, September 11, 1944. He also gave a complete report of the Executive Committee meeting held on Tuesday, September 12, 1944. Motion made, seconded, and passed that the Division approve the action of the Executive Committee. J. A. Babor reported for the Nominating Committee consisting of: J. A. Babor, Chairman, College of the City of New York; F. D. Martin, Purdue University; L. E. Steiner, Oberlin College. This Committee presented the following slate; Chairman: L. L. Quill, University of Kentucky Vice*Chairman: J. E. Cavelti, Allegheny College Member at Large: John A. Timm, Simmons College
$273.44 175.10 6.00 1.00 2.25 7.50
Motion made, seconded, and passed that the report be accepted. The Chairman then called for any nominations from the floor but none was made. The secretary then took over the chair and entertained a motion which was duly seconded and passed that a unanimous ballot for election of the officers submitted by the Nominating Committee be cast by the secretary. This was done and the individuals named above were declared elected. after which the chair was returned to L. L. Quill, Chair-
4.03 $469.32
543
(Continued on page 551)
NOVEMBER,
1944
551
befor.e dissolving in water. Thus, mercurous nitrate and potassium chloride are both white and soluble, but the primary product is white and insoluble. So also, mercurous nitrate and potassium iodide are white and soluble, but the primary product is green and insoluble. After sufficient practice with equations of the type set forth above, we may introduce reactions in which it is necessary to provide a coefficient for one of the reacting substances. Silver nitrate and sodium chromate, for example, react to form silver chromate. It is apparent that two formula weights of the silver salt are required for one of the chromate. So also with lead nitrate and potassium iodide, two formula weights of the latter being required to one of the former.
+ +
2AgN03 NazCrO~ - 2NaN03 + Ag2CrO~ 2KI Pb(NO,), - 2KNO, PbI, I
+
Red Yellow
Again the pupil may be required to explain how he knows which of the two products is the visible one. rt adds much to the interest if the different products are of varying colors. Since the student has no way of knowing what color he is going to get in each succeeding experiment, the process of learning becomes a sort of game which arouses the expectant attention of the class. Following sufficient practice on the above types of equations, we may tunt to those in which coefficients must be supplied to both of the reacting substances. Cobalt chloride and sodium phosphate may be cited as 311 example. Purple
The preparation of the various phosphates may be followed by experiments involving the ferro- and ferricyanides. It has been no unusual thing for students in the writer's laboratory to remark, "This is the most interesting experiment we have had yet!" Reactions in the dry way may be introduced as occasion arises. The carbonates of the metals midway in the displacement series are decomposed into the oxide, with carbon dioxide escaping. The carbonates of copper, lead, and cadmium give, respectively, black, tan, and brown oxides. The nitrates of metals with valence two yield the oxide, with evolution of nitrogen oxides.
Oxalates and tartrates yield the pyrophoric iron and lead. Crystallized salts carrying water of crystallization yield the anhydrous compound if not heated too strongly. At very moderate temperatures green crystallized copper chloride forms the light-colored anhydrous product. Rose-colored cobalt chloride yields the blue anhydrous salt, and so on with other similar substances. An equation should be written, of course, in every case. Heated strongly, these same salts yield the oxide. Some explanation may be needed to show how water of hydration reacts with the salt at the higher temperature. CoCI,·6H,O -
CoO
+ 2HCt + 5H,O
The student may discover that certain compounds react with water. Unexpected results are observed. Bismuth trichloride and antimony trichloride produce the oxychlorides. BiCI,
+
H,O -
2HCl
+
BiOCt
I
Certain decomposition reactions come as a surprise to the student. To see a crucible of powdered ammonium dichromate suddenly blossom into a miniature volcano can hardly be without interest. Valence gain (and electron loss) = 2 X 3 I
----,
(N-3H~hCr24 601_
N 2°
+ 4H 0 +
Cr2+303
2
Green
I
L
Valence loss (and electron gain) = 2 X 3
The introduction of a little manganese dioxide powder into melted potassium chlorate which has ceased to give off oxygen results in a spectacular evolution of oxygen, and the splint blazes up with a fierce intensity. Valence gain (and electron loss) = 6 X 2
r
2KClHO~ t
L-
2KCI
I
---, I
+ 30tO
Valence loss (and electron gain) = 2 X 6
Any teacher may devise many cases similar to those above. There seems to be no limit to the various ways in which the writing of equations with the accompanying process of learning may be made both pleasapt and instructive.
DIVISION OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (COlltinuedfrom page 543) mall of the Division for the year 1943-44 and just reelected for
the year 1944-45. N. \Y. Rakestraw then brought up the desirability of making some study of economic status of teachers of chemistry in both high schools and colleges. Such a study had been made of chemists in industry, with definite recommendation concerning minimum salaries to be paid, and there seemed to be need of a similar study in behalf of teachers. It was suggested that this study be made by existing committees, e. g., the Committee 011 High-School Chemistry and the committee to study problems of teachers of chemistry ill colleges and universities.
L. L. Quill, Chairman of the Division.,stated that it had beeu suggested that some kind of an award should be worked out and given annually or once every two years for outstanding teaching or some outstanding contribution to the teaching of chemistry. There was some discussion of this but no action was taken. Dr. Quill explained to the Division the function of the National Science Teachers Association and also the work of the Cooperative Committee on Science Teachers. The meeting adjourned at 12:00 110011. PAUL H. FALL,
Secretary
