Incorporating Descriptive Chemistry into an Inorganic Course Recently there has been an increasing amount of discussion regarding the lack uf descriptive chemistry in the BS ur

RA chemistry curriculum and the proper bcatiun(s) to insert this topic into the present course of ~ t u d y . ' . ~ I n addition, em- ployers have been emphasizing the need to have chemistry graduates better prepared in the area of technical writing.

At Rochester Institute of 'Peehnology, an attempt has been made tu incorporate these goals into the existing two-quarter, senior-level inorganic course. Students have been given the assignment of researching an element of their choice (first quarter-main group element; second quarter-transition, lanthanide, or actinide element) and preparing a 5-10 page technical paper with a fueus on the following points:

(a) Brief history of discovery, isolation, and characterization of the element; (b) Physical and chemical properties of the element; (c) Commercial processes for isolatiun and purification of theelement (i.e., how would you make a profit by making this

element ready for sale?) (d) Commercial processes for utilizing the element (i.e., haw could you make a profit through making and marketing

products made with this element?); and (e) An in-depth look a t m e chemical or physical characteristic of the element which the student believes is important

andlor u"usual. The student is required to follow the format of ACS journals in preparing the paper and must include a t least five ref-

erences with nrooer footnotine throuehaut. At the end of the ouarter. each student oresents a 15-minute informal oral ~ ~~ . , :ummnrlm thl- 1Iuw n t 1, 1 1 1 ~ 1 w thnl the rnurc ils- Iwwfit< from ~ h o rest;wch.

Sttalent rrdluatim, II . IW Im.n im.,tlrcancl lhc, xirli,nl: r mremnren t has only l w n n d : t i e d il.ghtl! t o n i c c m m d u ~ t the tlmr tur tht ur:ll p n ~ r w ~ . a l ~ m * . It appearr that thi; i * d wl .~ rn r l \ m a ! nay t t , prvrtdc iwnr iI<...ril,livr<hem~.tr\. with the additional benefits of giving experience in technical writing and oral presentations.

' Mellon. E. K.. J. C ~ M . E w . . 57, 761 (1980). Basolo. F.. J. CmM. Eouc.. 57, 45 (1980).

B. Edward Cain Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester. NY 14623

Volume 58 Number 8 August 1981 65 1