Project CHEMLAB Annotated List of Chemistry Laboratory Experiments with Computer Access Carolyn B. Allen State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794
Stanley C. Bunce and James W. Zubrick Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12181 A nreliminarv announcement in THIS JOURNAL' described CHEMLAB, to review all the experiments published a in THIS JOURNAL and the availabilitv at cost of a ~reliminarv list of the entries of the database. w i t h the help ofan a d v i s o j committee of volunteers preparing abstracts and editing, and with partial support from a National Science Foundation Science Education Research and Development Grant, CHEMLAB can now provide a substantially complete annotated list of all of the laboratory experiments published in THIS JOURNAL, Volumes 34-56 (1957-1979). The database has been collected by sorting the articles into major fields (Analytical, Inorganic, Physical, Radiochemistry, Biochemistry, and Polymer Science), abstracting the articles, coding and editing abstracts, preparing a computer file which can be accessed a t Rensselaer, and preparing copy for photocopying.
Scope The primary purpose of Project CHEMLAB is to provide a comprehensive resource for: 1 I Planning or updating an edurati~mallalruratory pmgram. 21 I.oratan): experiments or projects 1 ~ supplement 1 an existing laboratory program. 3) Providing an annotated hihliography of suitahle experiments for students searching for a laboratory project. 4) Providing a source of infomation on particular laboratory techniques. 5) Providing bibliographic information far the authors of textbooks. T h e scope of the material included and the nature of the annotations are such that the CHEMLAB list can be used a t any educational level, from high school through graduate or professional school. T h e information which Project CHEMLAB has codified is nowhere else available. T h e JOURNAL OF CHEMICALEDUCATION does not itself publish an annotated list, although it provides comprehensive author and subject indexes. Chemical Abstracts does abstract laboratory experiments, but the ten-volume (1972-76) cumulative index has nearly 1600 entries under "laboratory experiments" in the General Subject Index. Neither the index entries nor the abstracts can be searched readily for the kind of information presented in CHEMLAB.
The Data Base The preliminary list from CHEMLAB has been revised and expanded to 1738 entries and now includes all the articles judged suitable for student laboratory experiments or projects. Printouts of typical entries are given in Figure 1. The file is ordinarily divided into subsections by principal field (indi-
cated by ') and printed alphabetically by first author as shown. Each entry bas an accurate literature reference. A line of abbreviated keywords appears first. A * KEYWORD denotes the principal field. When the contents of an article are immediately applicable to more than one major field, the others are also given. There is no other hierarchy of keywords. 'BIOCHEM ORG ENZY 3 HAZARD Papain as an Enzyme Catalyst in Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Abernethy, J. L.; Kientz, M. J. Chem. Educ., 36,682 (1959) Synthesis with aromatic amines or hydrazides and amino acids (hippuric, carhohenzoxy-D,L-alanine).Enzyme activated with H2S. Stored under refrigeration for long life. May include resolution of D,L-alanine, synthesis of substrates. Crude incubator. HAZARD: H2S-nerve toxin. *PHYS ORG ACBA DISTRIB KEQ PHASE 3 HAZARD An Experiment in Coupled Equilibria Adamson, R.; Parks, P. C. J. Chem. Edue., 48,120 (1971) Dinitrophenol (DNP)-carhontetrachloride-watersystem is characterized hv 2 equilibria (1) ionizationofDNP in water..and (21 . . distribution of DNP between CC14 and water. Analwis for DNP -=~.~-. - soeetrophotometric at 400 nm. Distb. coefficientand pKa; all ealcns given. HAZARD: CC14 is a careinagen-possibly substitute dichloromethane.
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'ORG FREERAD GC 3 Free Radical Chlorination Adduci, J. M.; Dayton, J. H.; Eaton, D. C. J. Chem. Educ., 48,313 (1971) Reaction of 2.4-dimethylpentme with sulfuryl chloride or N-chlorosuccinimide to demonstrate free radical reactions and relative reactivity of primary, secondary, tertiary H. *POLYMER APP IR PHOTOCHEM 4 Polymer Photooxidation: An Experiment to Demonstrate the Effect of Additives Allen, N. S.; McKeller, J. F. J. Chem. Educ.. 56,273 (1979) 2-Hydroxy-4-octyloxybenzophenonein commercial polypropylene formulationsretards ~hotodeeradation.Benzovhenane used in this
hunyl absorption.
'ANAL QUAL 1 Water Analysis Experiment Amderlick, B. .I. Chem. Educ., 49,749 (1972) Qualitative tests for ions: calcium, iron(III), iron(II), mercury(II), chloride, nitrate, phosphate.
Presented at the 182nd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (Division of Chemical Education). New York. NY, August 1981. Allen, C. B.. Bunce. S. C., and Zubrick. J. W., J. CHEM. EOUC., 57,
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632
Printout of Typical Annotated List Entries.
Journal of Chemical Education
A nine-member advisory committee from college and twoyear college faculty in the United States and Canada have assisted in preparing entries and editing. Additional help is needed in updating the present database to include the recent and in extending to pre-1957 volvolumes of THIS JOURNAL umes. The list has been requested by many secondary school teachers, and it would be helpful to have at least one person from this area as a member of the Advisory Committee. An update to include volumes 57 and 58 (1980 and 1981) of has been initiated. THE JOURNAL There have heen several suggestions about extending the coveraee to other neriodicals which are eenerallv available as source material, and perhaps to lata)rntory texts. This would entnil rienificanrlv mure efiort: if there is sufficient interwt. and if some additional members join the Advisory committee; snrne expansion of the wnpe of the project may he possible. The Annotated List is being made uvnilahle nt cost. In the current format, the complete printout consists of approximately 300 8% X 11 pages. A 50% photoreduction of the computer printout, approximately, 160 8% X 11 pages, is available for $10.00 including domestic postage. The unreduced version may be obtained, as a computer printout, on request. The project will try to make available periodic supplements. Please address requests (either prepaid or to he hilled) to Stanley Bunce at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).
The grouping of experiments by principal field is done for convenience in visual searching. Following the field(s) the rest of the keywords are given. Most users have found the ahhrevlated keywords (such as ORG, QUAL, etc.) intuitively obvious. They form a controlled language that can he understood both by the computer and the user. A glossary of the language accomuanies the list. Currently it has 172 entries. he integer a t the end of the line of keywords is the level number. This is our best estimate of the level a t which the average student can perform the experiment without undue help from an instructor. (1 = high school; 2 = general chemistry; 3 = advanced first year and middle level undergraduate; 4 = advanced undergraduate or graduate; 5 = advanced graduate and specialized; we also use 0 = requiring suhstantially no hackground.) A short t e x t follows the keywords. This text is not an ahstract. I t is intended to amplify or to clarify the title, give a critical evaluation. state unusual reauirements for auuaratus .. or reagents and delineate specific hazards or cautions where they are not mentioned in the article. Thus, in Professors Allen's and McKeller's experiment (Fig. I), the title states only that the experiment is on the effect of additives to polymers. The CHEMLAB text states what the additives are, which polymer is used, that heat and pressure is needed, etc. A special keyword is HAZARD. Unusual hazards are coded by this keyword for high visibility, and the hazard is then explained as part of the CHEMLAB text. Most recently published student experiments discuss specific hazards and how to avoid them, hut many of the earlier ones did not, chiefly because a procedure or chemical was not then known to be hazardous. For example, many substances have been used that are now known to he carcinogens or cancer suspect agents. " We have heen able to include, with many annotations, critical evaluations or suhseauentlv- nublished modifications . or cautions, with references. We invite correspondence from those with experience in conducting particular experiments so that more inclusions of this sort may make the list more useful. Every entry has been checked by (1) a second volunteer abstractor and (2) a t least one volunteer editor. Suuulement a w lists of additions and corrections will be distribitkd when a sienificant numher has been accumulated. There are 403 *ANALytical entries, 219 *INORGanic, 520 * ~ ~ Y s i c a351 l , *ORGanic, 113 *BIOCHEMistry, 41 *POLYmer, and 88 *RADIOCHEMistry. Level 3 experiments predominate (882), with level 2, those appropriate for a first college course, now at 485, Level 0 are only 6; level 1.98; level 4,451, and level 5,64. I t is possible to print the complete database organized as subsets, ex., classified by principal field, by level, or by any K E Y W O R D O ~combination of KEYWORDS. Variations of format are possible, such as printing theauthor(s) first, or making the entire entry suitable for transfer to an index card.
Computer Searching Scanning a printed file of 1500 entries, or even a subset of 300 to 400 entries, for relevant experiments is tedious and time-consuming. A computer search by keyword and level number is available, and will be the preferred method for some users. A comnuter terminal and telenhone counler can he used to access thk RPI computer. For anillustratik of the operation, one can enter the proper identification and password to permit access for a time automatically limited by the computer, hut sufficient to initiate a search and mint the first five entries at the user's terminal. The only cost to the user is the telephone charge. Instructions for this trial operation will be furnished on request. Information on hilling for more extensive operation, such as longer searches, printouts mailed, etc. (also at cost for computer time or printing) will be included. Microcomputerization of the database is also planned. Project SERAPHIM plans to provide technical assistance in programming and also in publicizing and distributing the microcom~uter-basedsystem. Alternate methods such as transferring the database on tape to the user's own computer, with or without our search proarams, can he explored if there . . is interest. The authors welcome comments, including suggestions for possible changes in format, style, search and coding procedures, scope, availability, and accessibility.
Participation CHEMLAB originated a t Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1978. I t has heen supported in part by a grant (SED7923685) in the DISE program of the National Science Foundation.
Note Added in Proof CHEMLAB is now the responsibility of a Task Force of The Division of Chemical Education. The 1980-82 supplement is now availahle.
Volume 61
Number 7 July 1984
833
