The Freshman Seminar James P. Deavor and Henry Donato, Jr. College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424 Theg.pipeline"of students entering chemistry is of major concern. The normal fall seminar series of our department features euest s ~ e a k e r swho come as recruiters from area graduateschool'. All too often these talks are over the heads of the seniors in the audience and would certainly discourage designed freshmen. There needed to he a seminar to meet the needs of our heainnina.students. A freshman seminar series was designed to attempr to keep introductory students interested in chemistry hy exploring how chemical principles discussed in introductory chemistry courses are manifested in real world problems and issues. Topics discussed have included "The Ozone Hole", "The Chemical Top Fifty", "The Savannah River Site", and "Acid Rain". The seminar coordinator divides the seminar into three or more sections and different members of the departmenttake asection topresent. This distributes the workload and gives students a t the seminar a chance t o meet faculty members other than their course professor. The last portion of each seminar deals with why chemists are neededto tackle the oroblems encountered and what sort of occupational opportunities exist for chemists. The seminars last no longer than 50 min. Following each seminar lunch is served: pizza, 6-ft submarine sandwiches, or barbecue. This allows an informal time of conversation between faculty and students. Faculty members not involved with actual presentations help with publicity, preparing invitations, securing and servingfood, A d cleanup. The "Ozone Hole" seminar began with a history of refrigeration and the develo~mentof cblorofluorocarbons, the chemistry involved in the upper atmosphere with ozone depletion ( I ) , analytical methods for determination of the ozone hole (Z),and biological problems caused by ozone denletion. One demonstration was performed showing the nokammability of freon as an aerosol propellant versus the flammability of current propellants. "The Chemical Top Fifty" seminar told of the importance of the chemical industry in regards to the economy of the United States (3). Four chemicals were then discussed in depth in regards to their production and use: HN03, HzSOa, NH3, and organic monomers. Demonstrations included the Ira Remsen story ( 4 ) , the sugar snake (5), the ammonia fountain (61,and the production of Nylon-6.6 (7). "The Savannah River Site" began with a discussion of radioactivity. Alpha, beta, and gamma particles were dis~
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cussed as were half-lives. A demonstration was performed with the help of a counter and a few isotopes, some paper, and some lead. The second section dealt with the production and use of tritium and how nuclear and thermonuclear devices operate. The last section concerned the actual workines of the Savannah River Site and a recountina- of its history and future. "Acid Rain" beean with the calculation of the pH of pure rain involving theequilibrium with CO:! and the ieactions of SO? and NO,-to produce acid rain ((0. The effects of acid . deposition on human-made structures and biological systems were then discussed (9). Two demonstrations used were the dissolution of a piece of chalk by concentrated H2SOaand buffer capacity by observing the pH change of a buffer and of pure water when one drop of concentrated H2S04was added to a liter of each. The last portion dealt with the chemical and economic challenges involved with prevention of acid-causing emissions. This seminar met with meat enthusiasm from the students as it was presented in " the spring immediately after second semester general chemistrv students had finished discussinr- acids, bases, and esui1ib;a. Besides generating interest among students an added benefit of this program is the interest generated among the faculty. Here is a chance to work as a team and to develop new lecture material. I t helps to keep everyone fresh.
The authors wish to acknowledge the support and participation of the other members of the department. The College of Charleston Foundation Chemistry Fund is to be thanked for purchase of refreshments, Literature Clted
Y&k,
1988.
4. Ramette,R. W. J , Chsm.Educ. 1980,57,68. 5. Shakhashiri, B. 2. Chernieoi Damonstmtions; University of Wisconsin: Madison, 1983; Vol 1,p. 77. 6. summer1in. L. R.;!my, Jr, J. L. Chamiroi Domomtrotions: A Soure~booklorTeachers; American Chemical Socbty: Wa~hinglon,O.C., 1985; p. 10. 7. k f . 6 , p 124. 8. Chsro1a.A. E. J. Chern.Edue. 1987,64,436. 9. Schrarfz, S. E. Science 1989,243,753.
Volume 67 Number 11 November 1990
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