Amides are one of the most important classes of compounds that widely exist in bioactive molecules such as peptides and alkaloids. They also have important applications in various fields such as chemical engineering, dyes and pharmaceutical development. Therefore, studying the synthesis and structural identification of amide compounds is of great significance. Due to the delocalization of lone pair electrons from the nitrogen atom of amide compounds to the carbonyl group (C＝O), the C—N bond in the amide RCO—N exhibits partial double bond properties, preventing free rotation and resulting in complex nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectrum (¹H NMR). This article summarizes the characteristics of ¹H NMR spectra of amides and discusses some factors influencing amide isomerization. This article will cultivate students' ability to analyze the ¹H NMR of amides and deepen their understanding and knowledge of amide compounds.

The structures and energies of various common carbocations, allylic carbocations, and particularly stable α-amino and α-hydroxyl carbocations were calculated using DFT (density functional theory). The results showed that common carbocations are stabilized by the formation of supercovalent structures, rearrangement, and superconjugation effects, whereas allylic carbocations are stabilized by conjugate effects. The stabilities of α-hydroxyl and α-amino carbocations are particularly high and are equivalent to or higher than that of cyclopropylene carbocation. Finally, different methods of carbocation stabilization using amino and hydroxyl groups are suggested.

The combustion heat measurement is a classic physical chemistry experiment. In this case, the combustion heat measurement is correlated with the electric power generation from the combustion of the agricultural and forestry waste. The contents of the classic experiment are modified appropriately. During performance of the newly designed experiment, students' understanding of the significance of combustion heat measurements for the safety of the power plant operation, as well as the agricultural and forestry waste combustion power generation for serving "agriculture, rural area, and farmers", rural revitalization and "dual carbon" strategy can be improved. The students' ability to apply what they learn from physical chemistry and laboratory courses can be enhanced. It can stimulate students' interest in learning, guides students to care more about national energy security, environmental protection, sustainable development and people's life and health. The modified experiment can greatly improve the students' ability and quality.

Molecular editing, including peripheral and skeletal editing, is an area of interest in the field of organic synthesis. Typically, the peripheral editing of C―H bonds is conventionally used for molecular editing. By contrast, skeletal editing is a novel method, which has broader applications in total synthesis and drug development, with advantages of easy operation, high specificity, and simple synthetical routes. This review introduces two skeletal editing examples using common reactions. By comparisons with conventional methods, the applications of molecular editing in drug synthesis are revealed. Moreover, this review predicts the future applications of molecular editing by presenting some state-of-the-art developments in this field.

Amino acids with different optical activities and stereo-configurations have different physiological activities and effects. Therefore, it is important to achieve the chiral separation of amino acids effectively. Chromatography is a commonly used method for the chiral separation and detection of amino acids, and is characterized by high separation efficiency, high speed, sensitivity, low cost, and environmental friendliness. In this paper, we review the recent progress of chromatographic methods in the chiral separation and analysis of amino acids and provide an outlook on their development trends.

Initially colorless and transparent, the sucrose solution exhibited a stunning array of colors when viewed through a polarizer. This study utilized polarization characteristics to explore the variations in beam split capacity among different sucrose solution concentrations, while also tracking the hydrolysis process of sucrose under acidic conditions. The paper further elucidates the scientific principles underlying these experimental phenomena.

This paper introduces the teaching method of waterborne polyurethane polymerization and the virtual simulation experiment of supercritical continuous foaming. Using 3D virtual simulation technology to present the complex process of polymer synthesis, so that students can conduct experiments in intuitive and vivid scenes, and realize the real experimental teaching effect. Multiple screening design experiments can be carried out in the limited time, which greatly improves the experimental efficiency. This teaching method also solves the problems of toxic risk of polymerization experimental materials, difficult recovery of experimental solvents and high experimental cost. This teaching method has achieved good results after practice to students.

A physical chemistry experiment involving organic chemistry, computational chemistry, and instrumental analysis is described for junior students majoring in chemistry. Keto-enol tautomerism is a fundamental concept in undergraduate organic chemistry. The keto-enol tautomeric equilibrium of acetylacetone in a series of binary solvent mixtures of deuterated chloroform and deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide with various polarities was explored using NMR spectroscopy and theoretical computations. The effect of solvent polarity on the equilibrium is discussed in combination with NMR and theoretical computation results. This experiment facilitates students' understanding of abstract concepts enables them to integrate theory with experiments and systematically analyze multiple techniques to explore chemical processes and principles.

Mastery of professional English reading and writing is a pivotal skill for graduates embarking on independent research. In our approach, we implemented an online flipped classroom teaching, where doctoral freshmen specializing in polymer science take turns presenting a representative paper recently published within their research group. The presentation follows the fundamental structure of academic papers. Concurrently, fellow students are tasked with crafting academic summaries and offering constructive feedback on these papers. Over three years, this innovative flipped classroom teaching has achieved favorable educational outcomes.

Pinacol rearrangement is an important topic in undergraduate organic chemistry courses, but students often struggle to fully understand and grasp the rearrangement mechanism, regioselectivity and group migration aptitude. In order to enhance students’ comprehension of pinacol rearrangement reactions, we design an experiment that utilizes computational chemistry methods to address organic chemistry problems. Through intuitive visuals and specific data, the experiment clearly demonstrates that substrates capable of forming stable carbocation intermediates primarily undergo stepwise rearrangement mechanisms, while those unable to form stable intermediates undergo concerted rearrangement mechanisms. The computational results validate that the regioselectivity of the reaction depends on the protonation site of the neighboring diol hydroxyl group and the group migration ability, and it unequivocally establishes the order of group migration ability as hydrogen > aromatic > alkyl. Furthermore, a rational explanation for this order is provided from a microscopic perspective.

This work describes a research-oriented computational chemistry experiment for senior undergraduates. The Baeyer-Villiger (B-V) reaction is one of the most useful reactions in organic chemistry, and is also an important teaching topic, yet the migratory aptitude of the various substituents is still debatable and these controversies are often neglected during the teaching and learning process. In this experiment, the reaction mechanism and migratory aptitude of the B-V rearrangement are studied by performing quantum chemistry calculations with the Gaussian program. The purposes of this experiment are to train students to conduct scientific research using chemical computational methods, cultivate students' critical thinking ability, and improve students' scientific research literacy.

The Beckmann rearrangement, a pivotal reaction wherein carbonyl-rich aldehydes and ketones engage with hydroxylamines to forge organoximes, undergoes a rearrangement in the catalyst's presence and holds significant importance in organic synthesis. Addressing the perceptual gaps in understanding the experimental principles and the insufficient verification of reaction mechanisms during the instruction of Beckmann rearrangement of organoximes, this study utilizes the reaction between benzophenone and hydroxylamine hydrochloride. This reaction results in benzophenone oxime, which undergoes molecular rearrangement catalyzed by polyphosphoric acid to produce benzoyl aniline. This exercise adeptly interweaves elements from inorganic, analytical, and instrumental analysis chemistry, augmenting holistic design and innovative capabilities of students. Employing tools like melting point assessment, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance, this study elucidates the nuanced structures of both intermediate and final products. By juxtaposing macroscopic physicochemical attributes with their microscopic counterparts, it robustly deciphers and authenticates the underlying reaction mechanism, enhancing the pedagogical efficacy of the Beckmann rearrangement and kindling innovative sense. This paper can serve as a reference for comprehensive and design-focused experiments on oxime-type Beckmann rearrangements, and also provide valuable insights for the enhancement of teaching materials and experimental procedures.

Being the professional visual software for the refinement of small molecular crystal structure, ShelXle has a large number of users among college groups. Due to the lack of literature reports on the using and research of ShelXle at home and abroad nowadays, many teachers and students were puzzled on how to deal with the problems encountered in the process of refinement using ShelXle. In this paper, the development backgrounds, the basic and special functions and the using method of ShelXle are presented in detail. Combined with several cases and compared with other visual software, its technical superiorities in the refinement of small molecular crystal structures were analyzed, and some suggestions about enhancing its refinement effect were also illustrated.

Name reactions are the cornerstone of organic chemistry and constitute a vital component of organic chemistry experiments in universities. This article provides a concise overview of organic name reactions, including those named after Chinese chemists. The focus is primarily on the current status of name reactions in university organic chemistry experiments, exploring their teaching characteristics, advantages, and future trends. This article serves as a reference for domestic colleagues engaged in experimental teaching research, as well as for expanding new methods and technologies in experiments. Furthermore, it aims to enhance students’ interest in learning and foster a sense of national pride.

"Determining the heat of combustion" represents a familiar lab experiment that primarily provides a thermochemical understanding of combustion enthalpies. The experimental modification presented here is based on the practical production of commercial phthalic anhydride. Here, the reaction enthalpy is estimated by determining the heat of combustion of naphthalene, o-xylene, phthalic acid, and phthalic acid anhydride. This design may not only improve experimental contents but also strengthen practical applications of the heat of combustion. All required experimental reagents are cheap and readily available, and their heat of combustion can be measured accurately, making calculations of the overall reaction heat reliable. Moreover, a combined schedule of online and offline flipped learning will be implemented during the experiment; thus, enthalpy calculations for different reactions are expected to require cooperation among students. This modification may therefore be helpful for cultivating self-directed learning and teamwork among students.

Expanding upon the "Basic Physical Chemistry Laboratory" module focused on the measurement of primary battery electromotive force (EMF), this paper introduces a novel experimental design. The design incorporates the often-neglected liquid junction potential, investigating its relationship with reversible battery EMF and the total EMF of the primary battery. The revised apparatus is cost-effective, straightforward, and offers stable and reproducible measurements for liquid junction potential. This improved experiment provides a more comprehensive and accurate representation of the components contributing to the total EMF of the primary battery, transcending the limitations of merely measuring reversible battery EMF. As a result, the experiment aids students in forming a well-rounded and accurate understanding of primary batteries and the underlying principles of electrochemistry. Furthermore, the measured liquid junction potential is applicable in calculating ion transference numbers, allowing for the integration of this advanced concept into the curriculum and thereby bolstering students' comprehensive skill set.

Cyclooctatetraene is a cyclic polyene composed of eight sp² carbon atoms. Understanding its structure and properties involves the application of various fundamental chemical theories and concepts. This article guides undergraduate students to use computational chemistry methods to investigate the electronic structure, geometric configuration, aromaticity, and isomerization reactions of cyclooctatetraene, with the aim of helping students achieve the following learning objectives: 1) understand the scientific concept that structure determines properties and properties respond to structure; 2) understand the limitation of the Hückel molecular orbital method (HMO) in dealing with 4n-type π-electron systems; 3) distinguish fundamental concepts such as aromaticity, antiaromaticity, and non-aromaticity and comprehend the Hückel's rule for determining the aromaticity of the ground state (singlet state) of a conjugated π-electron system, as well as the Baird's rule for determining the aromaticity of excited states (triplet state); and 4) clearly recognize that computational chemistry methods are essential tools for understanding the structure and properties of materials.

This paper focuses on the improvement and expansion of the experiment “Determination of the Rate Constant of Ethyl Acetate Saponification Reaction” in existing Physical Chemistry Experiment textbooks. Firstly, the saponification reaction vessel is replaced with a jacket beaker to ensure the uniform concentration and constant temperature of the solution during the experiment through constant temperature water circulation and magnetic stirring. Secondly, a certain volume of 0.01 mol·L⁻¹ sodium hydroxide solution is taken and the conductivity value is measured after reaching a constant temperature, denoted as κ₀. Then, an equal molar amount of ethyl acetate is added to the reactor using a micro sampler while simultaneously recording the conductivity values at different times, denoted as κ_t. Thirdly, the influence of electrode constant is eliminated through data normalization, providing clear physical quantities and intuitive experimental phenomena. The improved experimental procedure reduces steps and improves the accuracy of data measurement, allowing for the measurement of the rate constant of rapid saponification reactions under high temperature conditions. Within limited class time, students can obtain the apparent activation energy and pre-exponential factor through division of labor, collaboration, and data sharing.

With the advancement of the field of chemistry, the synthesis of an increasingly diverse range of compounds has become feasible. The study of substances now encompasses various scales: from macroscopic to microscopic, often extending into the mesoscopic domain, typically at the nanoscale. At the nanometer scale, many materials manifest size-dependent effects, with quantum dots standing out as the most prominent representative. Quantum dots denote a class of semiconductors that exhibit size-dependent quantum effects when their dimensions closely approach the exciton Bohr radius. Through meticulous size control while preserving a consistent chemical composition, it is plausible to modulate the bandgap along with the accompanying absorption and emission spectra. This characteristic brings new opportunities for the research and application of semiconductor nanomaterials. The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to quantum dots and claimed that they light up nanoscience. Combining the three Nobel laureates' work, this article embarks upon the historical trajectory of the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots, offering a concise overview of the pertinent scientific achievements.

Various aromatic diamines and dianhydride monomers were selected to synthesize binary or multi-structured polyamide acid solutions by solution polymerization, and the corresponding structured polyimide films were prepared by solution casting and thermal amination. The effects of different monomers, compositions, and other factors on the properties of polyimide were explored by testing and characterizing the structures and properties of polyamide acid (PAA) and polyimide (PI). This experiment is based on industrial practice, which is consistent with the process of industrial research and development. Encouraging students to deeply understand the relationship between the structure and performance of polymer materials can stimulate their innovative thinking and cultivate their ability to analyze and solve practical engineering problems.

The expansion and extension of the liquid saturated vapor pressure measurement experiment involves determining the saturated vapor pressure of a liquid within a certain temperature range and using the Clausius-Clapeyron equation to obtain the molar evaporation enthalpy. Since the molar evaporation enthalpy is a function of temperature, its values differ in different temperature ranges, resulting in relatively large relative errors. The method of selecting temperature ranges based on the calculation of molar evaporation enthalpy to reduce experimental errors has not been applied in experimental teaching. In this experiment, pure water is chosen as the research object instead of organic reagents, and the average molar evaporation enthalpy of water in different temperature ranges is calculated using the method of Kirchhoff's law, which serves as a reference to determine the optimal temperature measurement range. Furthermore, the determination of the saturated vapor pressure of pure liquid is expanded to electrolyte and non-electrolyte solutions using Raoult's law, which can be linked to more theoretical teaching content. The experimental results show that the error in measuring the saturated vapor pressure of pure water within the range of 40–60 ℃ is small, and the molar evaporation enthalpy obtained using the experimental results is in good agreement with the calculated value, with an error of only 0.465%. Expanding this method to the determination of the saturated vapor pressure of sucrose and NaCl solutions can further verify the necessity of introducing activity coefficients in Raoult's law and the importance of studying non-ideal dilute solutions. In addition, using virtual simulation technology to demonstrate the flow of gas molecules and the change in system pressure in the static method can enhance visualization and make the experimental principle clear and easy to understand.

Spherical aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is an important microstructural analytical technique extensively used in cutting-edge scientific research in the fields of chemistry, materials, and biology. This paper presents the principles of spherical aberration-corrected TEM, its application in chemical crystal structure analysis, and its influence on the structural chemistry curriculum.

The design concept and basic structure of a teaching mass spectrometer are introduced. The mass spectrometer is modular and comprises a sample input system, an ion source, a mass analyzer, a detector, a vacuum system, a control system, and a computer system. Therefore, students can independently assemble and adjust the mass spectrometer. Considering the "Construction, debugging, and application of a teaching mass spectrometer" experiment as an example, the application of the teaching mass spectrometer in experimental teaching is introduced. By independently assembling the instrument, students should become intimately familiar with mass spectrometers. In addition, students should gain a thorough understanding of mass spectrometry and instrument structure, thereby improving their practical skills and knowledge.

The COVID-19, AIDS, influenza, and other infectious viral diseases have a significant impact on human health, and new antiviral drugs are continuously emerging to combat these diseases. Herein, aiming at anti-SARS-CoV-2, anti-HIV, and anti-influenza virus, the latest research progress of small-molecule drugs is reported in this paper. The discovery process, mechanism of action, synthesis process, and structure–activity relationship research of each drug are systematically expounded to promote antiviral drug research and development.

The Diels Alder (D-A) reaction represents a crucial component of fundamental organic chemistry education and serves as a quintessential example of structural chemistry analyzed via basic principles of chemical sciences. This study explores the Diels-Alder reaction involving 1-methoxy-1,3-butadiene and acrolein, utilizing tools such as the Hückel molecular orbital (HMO) method, frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory, and quantum chemical calculations. This approach provides detailed quantitative data and intuitive visual illustrations to elucidate the stereospecificity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity inherent to this reaction. The findings from this study serve as valuable resources for students, not only enhancing their understanding of D-A reaction properties and principles, but also developing their interest in computational chemistry and augmenting their problem-solving acumen.

The amount of charge transfer between metal and boron atoms determines the bonding mode, bonding strength and characteristics of chemical bonds in metal borides (MBs). The preparation, crystal structures and applications of MBs have been a hot topic in the field of chemistry and materials. In view of the extensive application prospect and the limited introduction of MBs in inorganic chemistry textbooks at domestic and abroad, in this work, combined with the references and the latest research results, we focus on the structure, properties, preparation and applications of alkali/alkaline earth metal borides, transition metal borides and rare earth metal borides. This work expands the in-depth introduction of MBs in teaching, helps improve students' knowledge horizons, and reflects the role of scientific research in promoting the reform of undergraduate teaching content.

As one of the important concepts in the electrochemical part in physical chemistry, the determination of ion migration number is involved in the physical chemistry experiment course in various universities. Literature research and our past teaching practices have shown that the ion migration number measured using the Hittorf method differs significantly from the literature values. In order to reduce the measurement errors and investigate the influencing factors of the test results, this experiment made improvements in three aspects: controlling the amount of solution, the sequence of solution/electricity disconnection, and the calculation of the quantity of electricity. After minimizing the errors caused by experimental operations and concentration measurement, the factors that truly influence the measurement results of ion migration number were analyzed. The experimental results indicated that when using current multiplied by time as the data source for the quantity of electricity and calculating the ion migration number using the cathodic solution, the obtained results were closer to the reference value.

The Virtual Teaching and Research Platform of Chemistry Experiments Course Group has undertaken a series of initiatives aimed at innovating teaching and research methodologies, enhancing the quality of teaching and research, collaboratively constructing educational resources, and conducting faculty training. This paper presents the preliminary results achieved, with a specific focus on elucidating the formats of demonstration teaching activities in the form of live classes, as well as outlining the principles for selecting teaching content.

The Diels-Alder reaction between anthracene and maleic anhydride is a classic experiment commonly performed in introductory organic chemistry courses. This article recommends a computational chemistry experiment for the Diels-Alder reaction between anthracene and maleic anhydride, utilizing density functional methods in the Gaussian 16 program to investigate the reaction mechanism. The aim of this experiment is to stimulate students’ interest in organic chemistry and computational chemistry, deepen their understanding of the chemical discipline, and enhance their ability to apply knowledge in scientific research.

Introducing the Materials Studio software into the course teaching of computational theory, such as computational chemistry, computational materials science, and applying the mode of "computational theory explanation + practical operation of research case by computational software" can significantly improve the teaching efficiency, realizing scientific research feeding the high-quality teaching. Application of the Materials Studio software in the course teaching can make students to apply and consolidate the theoretical knowledge concepts in the practice operations of software, and improve students' theoretical method level and software operation skill level. Meanwhile, it makes the teaching content more vivid and specific, stimulates students' interest in the course teaching of computational chemistry and computational materials science, and cultivate students' scientific research thinking and exploration ability, realizing teaching supporting the high-level scientific research.

Chirality research holds paramount theoretical significance and practical prospects in the field of organic chemistry. With the advancement of science and technology and the deepening of our understanding, a plethora of new concepts and techniques continue to emerge. Inherent chirality arises from the introduction of a curvature in an ideal planar structure that is devoid of perpendicular symmetry planes in its bidimensional representation, distinguished from conventional central, axial, planar, and helical chirality. It possesses unique stereochemistry and offers extensive application prospects. This review focuses on the structural characteristics, synthesis, and separation of naturally occurring inherent chiral compounds, synthetically derived chiral calixarenes, pillararenes, cyclotriveratrylenes, tribenzotriquinacenes, saddle-shaped octatomic rings, sumanenes, and cage compounds. Furthermore, it sheds light on future developmental directions and new opportunities in this domain.

This paper introduces the design ideas of the practical problem and two preparatory practical problems of the 54th International Chemical Olympiad. The detailed analysis of the practical problem is provided. The formal practical problem and two preparatory practical problems can be used separately as the inorganic chemistry experiment for undergraduate and in the training for chemistry Olympiad as well. The element virtual experiment can broaden students' view, strengthen the chemistry basis, improve students' observation and summarization abilities, and develop their chemical logical thinking and problem solving skills.

In recent decades, an escalating incidence of tumors has been observed, necessitating more precise and less side-effect-prone therapies. Micro/nanorobots have been successfully engineered to address this challenge. These minute intelligent machines are capable of navigating to, and even infiltrating, tumor cells or tissues under external control. This enables targeted drug delivery and precise tumor therapy. To elucidate this sophisticated technology to a general audience, this paper adopts a personification style. Utilizing an engaging "battle narrative between micro/nanorobots and tumor cells", we briefly outline the design, fabrication, propulsion mechanisms, and therapeutic principles for a wider readership.

As the basic course of chemical, biology and related majors in our university, organic chemistry experiment has the characteristics of combining theory and practice, knowledge and innovation. Based on PBL, the teaching design of Benzoin condensation reaction can embody the educational concept of "problem-driven, student-oriented, teacher-guided and education as the goal". The teaching design is fully integrated with the curriculum of ideology and politics, which could not only enhance the enthusiasm of students to participate in teaching, but also effectively improve their professional ability and comprehensive quality. The course achieves the win-win situation between teaching and educating.

In electrochemistry, φ can be calculated via φ^⊖ and Nernst equation. Current physical chemistry textbooks only provide substances’ φ^⊖ under acidic conditions and corresponding practices. Hence, the calculation of φ works well under acidic conditions. However, it becomes complicated under alkaline conditions for some substances cannot exist in acidic conditions. These might lead to incorrect results and confused conclusions. To address this issue, the present study calculates φ^⊖ (φ_B^⊖) from ∆_rG_m^⊖ based on ∆_fG_m^⊖ of involved substances in redox half reaction. Then, φ at different pH is calculated via Nernst equation, resulting in a φ−pH diagram. Moreover, thermodynamic isotope effects on φ^⊖ and φ are included. This may serve as a reference for teaching and research purposes.

Amides, as nitrogen-containing compounds with unique physicochemical properties and biological activities, have demonstrated broad application prospects in fields such as medicine and materials. Particularly, compared with the vast majority of traditional amides in which the intramolecular p–π conjugation effects lead to a planar structure, the twisted amides, however, present distortions of the amide bond from planarity, thus resulting conformational and electronic modifications such as amide bond twist and nitrogen pyramidalization. The bond distortion of twisted amide is typically defined by the Winkler−Dunitz distortion parameters twist angle (τ) and pyramidalization parameters (χ_N). The former describes the magnitude of rotation around the N—C(O) bond while the later describes pyramidalization at nitrogen and pyramidalization at carbon. The values of τ = 40° and χ_N = 40° are considered as threshold values that allow for unique reactivity of the twist amide bond. This article introduces the unique structure and reactivity of these compounds, focusing on cyclic twisted amides and acyclic twisted amides, based on the range of τ > 40° and χ_N > 40°.

Fostering virtue through education is one of the fundamental task of education, and curriculum ideology and politics is an important measure for universities to implement this fundamental task. Therefore, it is one of the important projects for teachers to organically integrate ideological and political education into the teaching of college courses. The organic chemistry teaching content contains various ideological and political elements, which is closely related to the development of human society and daily life, and provides a large number of ideological and political education elements for ideological and political education. Taking the teaching of alcohols and phenols as an example, this paper deeply explores the elements of ideological and political education from four aspects: the relationship between the structure and properties of alcohols, the origin of nitroglycerin and Nobel as well as Nobel Prizes, the reaction of alcohol and thionyl chloride, the application of picric acid and related historical events, and organically integrates them into the teaching of organic chemistry. In the process of knowledge imparting, patriotism, the concept of materialist dialectics, the sense of social responsibility, scientific literacy and the concept of green chemistry, and implement the fundamental task of cultivating virtue and cultivating people.

The article analyzed question 8 of organic chemistry part in the 35th Chinese Chemistry Olympiad Competition (Preliminary) in detail. The question involved the fundamental theory of organic chemistry and the properties of organic substances. The relevant theories, scientific backgrounds, or problem-solving strategies were discussed in depth. This will promote the readers' understanding of organic chemistry and reinforce the chemical concept of structure determining properties.

This study aims to foster students’ computational thinking by integrating research project-based teaching methods. It outlines a comprehensive series of computational experiments centered on the first-principles calculations of the LiFePO₄ cathode material, a prominent subject of study in lithium-ion battery research. The designed computational experiments encompass modeling of crystal structures, structure optimizations, electronic structure calculations, lithium-ion diffusion estimations, and post-experiment analyses. This approach ensures students gain a profound understanding of the foundational principles, processes, and analytical methods of first-principles calculations. Simultaneously, it bolsters both their grasp of theoretical methods and proficiency in software operations.

Using salicylic acid and acetic anhydride as raw materials, silica gel as a catalyst, and microwave technology as an optimization method, the university organic chemistry teaching experiment of 'Preparation and Characterization of Acetylsalicylic Acid' was improved. Through the experiment, the impact of factors such as microwave power, reaction time, and raw material ratio on the final yield was explored. The optimal experimental conditions were determined as follows: silica gel with a particle size of 100-200 mesh, 0.25 g in quantity, 60 s reaction time, 70℃ reaction temperature, 500 W microwave power, and a molar ratio of acetic anhydride to salicylic acid of 2 : 1. The average yield was approximately 68.0%. Compared to the conventional heating method for the preparation of acetylsalicylic acid, microwave-assisted synthesis offers advantages such as simplicity, shorter reaction time, higher product yield, fewer impurities, and environmental friendliness. Introducing this microwave experiment into undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory teaching can broaden students' horizons, enrich experimental teaching content, and further improve the teaching level.

In the context of innovative education, the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate for ammonia synthesis is taken as a case example to integrate research outcomes into experimental teaching. On the basis of students' pre-existing experimental skills and foundational electrochemical knowledge, electrochemical measurement, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectrophotometry and other techniques are used to evaluate the performance of catalysts for nitrate electroreduction to ammonia. Students can further understand the basic principle of electrocatalysis, master the electrochemical measurement method via this experiment and stimulate their interests in electrosynthesis. The content of this teaching experiment is informative and involves multidisciplinary knowledge. It can satisfy the needs of interdisciplinary integration and cultivate the divergent thinking of students, which meets the requirements of subject education in the new area.

In this experiment, the preparation of ammonium ferrous sulfate and potassium ferric oxalate, and the determination of iron ion, oxalate ion and crystal water content were integrated to develop a comprehensive chemical experiment. In the preparation part, virtual operation and independent design were introduced. In the analysis and detection part, not only the traditional chemical analysis method was used, but also the infrared spectrometer and X-ray diffractometer were introduced to characterize the product. The experiment can make the students consolidate the basic laboratory skills such as vacuum filtration, recrystallization and titration, master the instrumental for characterizing the composition and structure of products, which can train students' ability to comprehensively apply chemical theoretical knowledge to solve practical problems and develop good scientific research literacy. Furthermore, by combining with ideological education, this experiment can also help cultivate students' environmental protection awareness and scientific exploration spirit, and improve students' sense of responsibility in the laboratory and interest in chemistry.

"Phase equilibrium" is one of the most crucial parts in the physical chemistry curriculum. Considering the subject "single component phase diagram analysis" as an example, this paper presents the teaching content, teaching objectives, teaching ideas, teaching design, and complete teaching activities in detail with respect to the "question inquiry" teaching mode. Results show that students learned to find, analyze, and solve problems and achieved better results.

As an essential component of fundamental organic chemistry theory, stereoelectronic effects, including the common gauche and anomeric effects, have been intensively investigated and discussed in undergraduate courses. Nevertheless, with the precise prediction and successful synthesis of perfluorocubane, a new cage-type stereoelectronic effect has attracted considerable attention from chemists. Herein, we briefly review the development of stereoelectronic effects, including their wide-ranging applications in organic chemistry. In particular, we highlight recent investigations on perfluorocubane synthesis and discuss the interesting cage-type stereoelectronic effects. The positive interplay between the scientific frontiers and the organic chemistry course will significantly influence the global perspective of students by expanding their knowledge of organic chemistry, and the fundamental concepts and advanced applications of stereoelectronic effects.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) emerges as a novel approach to treat tumors utilizing “photosensitizers” and “light”. This method involves exposing the tumor site to specific wavelengths of light, activating photosensitizers concentrated in the tumor to generate highly oxidizing reactive oxygen species, ultimately dismantling the tumor. In comparison to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, PDT boasts simplicity in operation, precise targeting, minimal invasiveness, lack of drug resistance, and the ability to trigger systemic immunity. While PDT has gained widespread adoption in developed nations, its promotion in China is still underway, hampered by a lack of public understanding. In response, we present a popular science experiment elucidating tumor-targeted photodynamic therapy using a laboratory-synthesized selenium-Rhodamine photosensitizer. The experiment encompasses enzyme activation of targeted photosensitizers, visual detection of singlet oxygen, and the photodynamic eradication of cancer cells. This experiment vividly illustrates the scientific principles behind targeted photodynamic therapy, enhancing public awareness of photodynamic cancer treatment. Such efforts are crucial for advancing the adoption of photodynamic therapy in our country, underscoring the pivotal role of chemistry in cancer treatment. The entire popular science experiment is straightforward, visually intuitive, and has demonstrated effective results in science outreach.

Due to the inconsistence of the formula and units for the specific rotation in organic chemistry textbooks, the well-established formula and units for the specific rotation are given.

Inorganic semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots have been widely used in the fields of biomedical detection, display devices, photocatalysis due to their unique optical properties. This paper has designed a research-type intermediate inorganic experiment on the synthesis and optical property regulation of CdSe quantum dots. Following the student-centric and teacher-led teaching mode, the students are encouraged to make reasonable improvements to reduce the requirement on strict experimental conditions used in the scientific research. The topic of the experiment can broaden students' horizon, train their innovation and critical thinking abilities, cultivating high-level future scientists.

The copper(Ⅱ)-ammonia coordination ion represents a quintessential model for understanding the coordination equilibrium and distribution characteristics of coordination compounds in the teaching of analytical chemistry. Current textbooks, however, often limit their scope to providing stability constants for select copper-ammonia coordination ions, without delving into the correlation between their coordination numbers and stability. This study leverages density functional theory to firstly establish a connection between the stability of copper-ammonia coordination ions and their coordination numbers, achieved through structural optimization. Subsequently, it offers a qualitative interpretation by examining the molecule spatial configuration, shedding light on the fundamental nature of these structures. This research not only enhances the effectiveness of pedagogical approaches, but also cultivates students' interest in the application of the theoretical calculations within the realm of analytical chemistry.

The reaction between acetone and iodine is a typical dynamic experiment. However, students are often troubled by the failure to record sufficient experimental data. Here, a fading reaction system was introduced based on the oxidation of Evans blue by potassium bromate in the presence of sodium nitrite. The reaction was a first-order reaction for both Evans blue and bromate, while nitrite exhibited a significant catalytic effect. Based on the apparent rate constants in the absence and presence of nitrite under different temperatures, the apparent activation energy was calculated. For students, the proposed experiment helps them acquire a deeper understanding of relevant chemical kinetics knowledge and develop comprehensive experimental ability. In addition, it is also an ideal substitute for the basic experiment, i.e., the reaction between acetone and iodine.

Resolution is one of the most important methods for the preparation of optically active compounds. Classic physical resolution via crystallization assisted by chiral resolution reagents can usually provide one compound with highly optical purity. As an important asymmetric synthetic technology, kinetic resolution has become a powerful tool for the construction of multifunctional enantioenriched molecules and has been widely used in the synthesis of drugs and natural products. Therefore, we designed a kinetic resolution experiment based on alkene E→Z isomerization catalyzed by a photoexcited chiral copper complex. This experiment involves substrate synthesis, separation and purification, photocatalytic reaction, kinetic resolution curve drawing and condition verification. Many experimental skills are concerned in this experiment, including column chromatography separation, (preparative) thin layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography (GC) and chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which can not only exercise students’ comprehensive experimental skills, but also let students feel the advantages of kinetic resolution, photocatalysis and excited transition metal catalysis technologies. The experiment is designed reasonably with strong operability and high safety. It lasts 24 hours in total, including three one-day individual experiments. It is very suitable for the courses of organic chemistry experiment or comprehensive chemistry experiment.

A small proportion of nephropathy patients administered gadolinium contrast agents for nuclear magnetic resonance have been reported to develop nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). This paper introduces the mechanism of the transformation and deposition of NSF, aiming to reveal the chemical nature of the gadolinium phosphate bioparticles in nephrogenic system fibrosis. This research will provide an important theoretical basis for future studies on the occurrence, development, and formation of nephrogenic system fibrosis and the removal of sediment residues. Moreover, a new idea for introducing a biocompatible second chelating agent into the gadolinium contrast agent system has been proposed, which aims to improve the safe use of gadolinium contrast agent.

This paper puts forward the general idea of building the virtual teaching and research platform of analytical chemistry course. Relying on the virtual teaching and research office of "analytical chemistry course", the teaching and research activities related to curriculum ideological and political construction are widely carried out, "online analytical chemistry course group" is established, cross-school cooperation is made to build the national high-quality "analytical chemistry" teaching resource bank, explore the teachers' teaching and research mode that breaks through time and space constraints and combines "online + offline", and enrich teaching and research activities. To form the co-construction and sharing of high-quality teaching resources, organize and carry out the regular "analytical chemistry course" virtual teaching and research platform teacher training. The aim is to build a platform for co-construction and sharing of analytical chemistry courses for college teachers in central, eastern, western and northeastern regions, and to build a college teaching and academic community of "analytical chemistry course".

The oxidation of benzyl alcoyhol to benzaldehyde plays an important role in teaching organic chemistry. However, it is often difficult to enter basic university organic chemistry experimental teaching classes because of the unfriendly environment. In this paper, a comprehensive experiment in organic chemistry is introduced. Benzyl alcohol was efficiently oxidized to benzaldehyde in less than 30 min at room temperature using cuprous chloride, 2, 2'-bipyridine (bpy), N-methylimidazole (NMI), and 2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine oxide (TEMPO) as catalysts, air as oxidant, and acetone as solvent. The optimized combined catalytic system can indicate the endpoint of the reaction through color mutation; it can miniaturize the experiment, shorten the reaction time, and reduce experimental cost. Extensive experiments were conducted on benzyl alcohol compounds with different electrical properties, and the reaction exhibited wide adaptability. To some extent, this experiment compensates for the lack of experimental teaching resources for aromatic aldehyde synthesis in college chemistry teaching experiments.

In recent years, the cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction has received widespread attention in the field of organic synthetic chemistry. This strategy avoids the pre-functionalization of substrates in the reactions that form carbon–carbon bonds. It demonstrates high atomic economy and aligns with the development requirements of green chemistry. Furthermore, asymmetric CDC reactions can realize stereoselective construction of carbon–carbon bonds, which currently constitutes a key area of research in organic synthesis. This paper reviews the research progress in asymmetric CDC reactions and provides a perspective on the future development direction in this field.

A comprehensive 8-hour chemical experiment was devised around the single crystal-to-single crystal (SCSC) transformation, an emerging method in solid-phase inorganic synthesis. By employing a direct additive process technology, the green complexes (H₃O)[K(15C5)₂][CuCl₄] (1) were synthesized in both powder and macro-single crystal forms. Upon temperature induction, complex 1 transitions to the red complex [K(15C5)₂][CuCl₃] (2), a shift attributed to the restricted dimerization of [CuCl₃]⁻ resulting from steric repulsion effects in the solid phase. Notably, complex 2 can revert back to complex 1 when exposed to hydrochloric steam through an SCSC transformation. This SCSC transformation between complexes 1 and 2 is vividly demonstrated on filter paper, showcasing dynamic color changes, either as texts or drawings. This rapid and visually engaging process is poised to spark students' curiosity. Furthermore, learners can bridge theory with practice, recognizing that the distinct colors of the two complexes arise from varying coordination numbers of copper (Ⅱ), grounded in the crystal field theory of inorganic chemistry. Characterization of the complexes was achieved using single crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, confirming the differentiation of the complexes and the successful SCSC transformation. This aspect of the experiment allows students to hone their skills with the Cambridge crystal structure database and enhance their data analysis capabilities, fostering proficiency in operating large-scale instruments safely and accurately. With its streamlined design, modular teaching approach, and cost-effective reagents, this experiment is primed for integration into undergraduate curriculum for chemistry and related disciplines.

University physical chemistry experiments mainly focuse on classical foundational theory verification experiments, with a lack of independent design and comprehensive experiments. Based on the existing instruments and experimental conditions of the Center for Experimental Chemistry Education of Shandong University, a comprehensive physical chemistry experiment was designed to prepare cobalt-based metal-organic framework/copper(I) oxide micro-nano composites and study the photo-enhanced electrochemical oxygen evolution catalytic performance. This experiment involves aspects such as material synthesis, structural characterization, performance evaluation, and result analysis. It not only inspires students to discover the inherent laws between material structure and properties, but also consolidates their previous theoretical and experimental knowledge, mobilizes students’ enthusiasm and initiative in learning, and enhances their ability to solve problems and flexibly apply knowledge.

The two classic experiments of benzoic acid synthesis and ethyl benzoate preparation are modified into a comprehensive experiment. Using improving the synthesis process to achieve green and efficient conversion as a case study, students are guided to comprehensively analyze the synthesis process through literature review, point out the problems and shortcomings of the original synthesis method, propose improvement suggestions. Students are also guided to integrate laws and regulations, experimental norms, subject ethics, green concepts, environmental protection, and sustainable development concepts into the entire process of experimental design and implementation, so that students can receive basic lab skill training and achieve comprehensive improvement.

To promote the integration of science and education, cutting-edge research of "MXene synthesis, ink formulation and flexible micro-supercapacitor fabrication via screen printing" has been transformed into a comprehensive chemistry experiment for upper-level undergraduates. The experiment involves novel materials, devices, and techniques, bridging the disciplines of chemistry, materials science, electronics, and energy. Moreover, it inherently includes ideological and political elements, aiming to cultivate students' practical ability, exploratory spirit, and innovative consciousness. It strengthens students' sense of commitment to contributing to the nation through science and technology, ultimately aiding in the development of well-rounded talents in the fields of chemistry and materials science.

Taking the theory and laboratory instruction of complexometric titration as an example, the integration of instruction strategy of theory and practice is discussed to cultivate students' core learning ability based on problem-based learning (PBL).

In view of the insufficient educational function in the previous teaching design for "redox reaction and electrochemical application" in inorganic chemistry, we reconstructed the teaching content, which kept the previous framework and highlighted the core content and cutting-edge development of redox reaction and electrochemical applications. Assisted by online and traditional teaching modes, a new teaching strategy was established, which can well infiltrate innovative thinking and scientific research methods to the students. In such a new system, the new teaching strategy can hopefully realize "Two properties and One Degree" of the first class curriculum standards and achieve the essential value of education in casting people and souls.

Acid-base theory is one of the most basic and important theories in chemistry, the acid and basic strength can be referred by pK_a value. In our organic chemistry course, we usually used pK_a value as a useful tool to teach students many obscure theories, for example, pK_a is helpful to understand the acidity strength of an acid, basicity of its conjugated base, determine the direction of acid-base equilibrium reaction, understand the strength of nucleophilicity, and the departure ability of a leaving group. Therefore, we can analyze both qualitatively and quantitatively through the pK_a value of the substance. The method has been applied in practical teaching several years, and achieved very good results.

Instrument analysis experiment is an important practical course. It's the basis for cultivating students' innovative awareness and improving students' comprehensive quality. "Self-designed experiment" adheres to the principal position of students, guides students to consult literature and formulate experimental plans by themselves. It effectively integrates the key points of knowledge into the experimental process under the assistance and guidance of teachers, so as to deepen the theoretical learning and the practical application. In this experiment, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to determine the content of metal elements in different kinds of tea. The influence of soaking time and the number of soaking on the dissolution of metal elements was investigated to identify whether it met the requirements of national standards, and the existing literature data were compared to supplement and improve. It provides the theoretical basis and guidance for people to choose the way of brewing tea. "Self-designed experiment" closely links chemistry with daily life, stimulates students' learning enthusiasm and exploration spirit, aims to strengthen students' experimental operation ability and autonomous learning ability, and enhance students' innovative awareness and practical spirit.

The study on corrosion protection of Jiaozhou Bay Bridge material is introduced into physical chemistry experiment as a practical application case. By combining with the engineering practice to improve the experiment, the content of related materials and corrosion behavior in different corrosive media is added, and the protective effect of related materials and several kinds of protective measures is compared. Linear sweep voltammetry (Tafel polarization curve measurement) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are used in the experiment. The corrosion properties and protection effects of Q235 and Q275 steel, zinc alloy and magnesium alloy sacrificial anode materials, uncoated and epoxy-coated steel sample in simulated seawater and real seawater electrolyte solutions are studied. The improved experiment can enhance students' awareness of applying what they have learned in real applications, enhance their understanding of the comprehensiveness and complexity of engineering problems, cultivate team spirit and cooperation ability, and strengthen students' disciplinary literacy and social responsibility by cultivating their awareness of corrosion protection and green environmental protection.

The development of low-cost and high-performance solar cells has become an important direction for the "dual carbon strategy". In this manuscript, we mainly describe the fabrication and characterization of novel inverted perovskite solar cells as well as a comprehensive chemistry experiment for undergraduates conceived to promote their scientific innovation and comprehensive practical abilities. This experiment encompasses the fabrication process of inverted perovskite solar cells, including transport layer fabrication, perovskite film, and electrode. The morphology and crystal quality of perovskite films were characterized by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer, and the current density and voltage (J–V) curves and photostability of the devices were tested using a solar simulator. The proposed experiment also integrates film preparation, material characterization, and device performance testing to meet different teaching needs. Simultaneously, the basic chemical principles in the experiment are taught to encourage students to further expand the experiment and provide a solid foundation for their future research and exploration.

This paper embarks on a comprehensive exploration and reflection focused on constructing a virtual teaching and research platform for fundamental theoretical courses of chemistry. The proposed approach involves establishing course groups to redefine objectives and requirements, offering insightful suggestions for course content, and actively engaging in curriculum ideological and political construction, as well as textbook development. Through strategic activities and resource sharing, this initiative enhances communication and exchange among course groups, promoting seamless integration between theory and practice, and bridging foundational knowledge with practical applications in teaching content. Additionally, it facilitates teaching and research exchange endeavors, fostering a collaborative system that prioritizes resource sharing, inter-school cooperation, and mutual benefits.

This experiment designs a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic electrocatalysis upgrading and regeneration strategy driven by renewable energy, converting discarded PET plastic into high-value-added chemicals such as terephthalic acid and potassium formate, while simultaneously co-producing hydrogen (H₂). The specific experimental process includes firstly degrading PET plastic into terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol monomer through hydrothermal method, then selectively electrocatalyzing the oxidation of ethylene glycol to formate using a self-made hydrotalcite catalyst (layered double hydroxide, LDH) while co-producing H₂ at the cathode, and finally obtaining potassium formate and terephthalic acid products through separation and purification steps such as acidification, vacuum filtration, rotary evaporation, and vacuum drying. This experiment is a typical case of introducing research results into teaching, providing new ideas for the green upgrading and regeneration of discarded PET plastic resources, and promoting students' scientific thinking ability and interest in scientific research.

Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is an important experiment in instrumental analysis laboratory teaching for undergraduates. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) is used to quantitatively determine a specific element in real samples, which has the advantages of high accuracy, precision, and selectivity. Zinc gluconate oral solution is a common over-the-counter zinc supplement in daily life. Through independent experiments of undergraduates, a simple and easy-to-operate FAAS method is established to determine the zinc content in zinc gluconate oral solution. This experiment aims to cultivate students' ability to apply theoretical knowledge learned in class to solve practical problems, and achieve the educational goal of "learning for application, and application to promote learning".

This paper provides a brief overview of the blended learning approach in structural chemistry at Peking University, as well as details on the small-group discussion sessions focused on the topic of "lattice structures and properties of crystals".

Using the synthesis of isoamyl acetate as an example, we will introduce an innovation of the basic experimental organic chemistry teaching adopted in our university. The experimental design will encourage students to consider the "problem" as a clue and analyze the processes and steps of experiments based on questions, improving the students' thinking and research abilities.

This paper introduces the concept of knowledge graph, and explores its construction and application within the virtual teaching and research platform of the Ministry of Education. The findings presented in this paper have valuable insights for the implementation of knowledge graphs in virtual teaching and research platform.

Voltammetry is an important chapter and teaching difficulty in the course of Instrumental Analysis. However, the existing experiment teaching program has shortcomings in theoretical integration and application expansion. This paper introduces a cutting-edge research progress in material sciences, i.e., laser-scribed graphene technology, into voltammetry experiment teaching. The program enriches the experiment contents by introducing basic knowledge such as simulation of diffusion current theory and electrocatalytic phenomena, and extending applications such as vanillin detection in powdered milk. These new contents will help students to deeply understand the basic principles, research trends, and application value of the method. The comprehensive cost of the experiment is low, and the electrodes can be prepared in batches, thus making it suitable for experiment teaching.

In this paper, the existing problems of ideology and politics in laboratory safety education courses in colleges and universities were analyzed, and its educational significance in laboratory safety education was stated. Based on the basic characteristics of laboratory safety education courses, the design and exploration of curriculum ideological and political teaching were summarized in five aspects of teaching objectives, teaching content, teaching methods, teaching evaluation and teaching staff. The constructed curriculum ideological and political teaching system not only cultivates students' chemical experiment safety knowledge and skills, but also enhances students' safety awareness, national feelings, moral cultivation and scientific spirit, helping to cultivate high-quality chemical talents with both morality and talent in the new era.

Low-dimensional perovskite solar cells (LD PSCs) are a new type of stable and hydrophobic perovskite photovoltaic device, which have attracted broad interest in the field of renewable energy. In this experiment, focusing on the advanced development of LD PSCs, butylammonium and cysteamine (2-Amino-3-mercaptopropionic acid, Cys) are employed as organic spacer cations to synthesize LD perovskite crystals, and (BA)₂(MA)_n−1Pb_nI_3n+1 or (Cys)₂(MA)_n−1Pb_nI_3n+1 is used as the active layer to fabricate PSCs. Detections of X-ray diffraction and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy are employed to characterize the morphology and optical properties of the perovskite film. Finally, the power conversion efficiency of the LD PSCs is measured. The difficulty of this experiment is moderate, involving in the fabrication and characterization of photovoltaic devices. This designed experiment aims for stimulating undergraduates' interest on the cutting-edge optoelectronic research and cultivate their scientific research ability.

"Coumarin-3-carboxylic acid preparation" is a classic task-based teaching method used in basic organic chemistry experiments. During the experiment, we found that the synthesis of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid was complicated, time-consuming, consisted of several steps, and the reagents involved were not environmentally friendly. A modification was proposed to increase the effective use of teaching time, realize the greenness of the experimental process, and enhance the extensibility and exploration of the experiment. In an improved experiment, the tandem synthesis of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid was accomplished using Meldrum's acid and salicylaldehyde under reflux conditions in water as the solvent and glycine as the catalyst. Once the compound was prepared, its structure was characterized by melting point analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance. The entire experiment lasted for approximately 4 h, which is suitable for teaching undergraduates. This improved experiment was based on green synthesis supplemented by physical characterization, which effectively increased the extensibility. We also explored online and offline mixed teaching models to effectively cultivate students' scientific exploration abilities.

Based on the target orientation of cultivating innovative and applied talents in chemistry specialties, we build a three-chain connected integration of professional education and innovation-entrepreneurship education ecological chain, including multi-level progressive innovation and entrepreneurship curriculum chain, multi-level linkage innovation and entrepreneurship practice chain, multi-dimensional collaborative innovation and entrepreneurship platform chain. The innovation and entrepreneurship education would marching toward the same goal with logic of professional education via chain design, cascade progression and integration of the whole process, focusing on the educational objectives of professional high-quality innovative and applied talents, to lay a solid foundation for improving the quality of professional talents training.

The Zhuque family, who lived in the Hexi Corridor on the ancient Silk Road, established LANDSPACE and has been exploring environmental, economic, and safety propellants. Little Zhuque visited LANDSPACE and learned about various liquid propellants, including liquid oxygen and kerosene with high thrust but easy carbon accumulation, environmentally friendly liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen with high energy consumption, stable but toxic unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide. Finally, they discovered that the Zhuque Two carrier rocket, launched by LANDSPACE, was the world's first rocket to use liquid oxygen and methane as propellants. Liquid oxygen and methane are expected to have broader applications in the future due to their abundant reserves, easy storage conditions, safe transportation, complete combustion, and pollution-free combustion products.

Which of the processes affords a higher yield in the chlorination of chlorobenzene under iodine catalysis, o-chlorination or p-chlorination? Based on a college entrance exam question involving this topic, the reaction mechanism of the chlorination of chlorobenzene catalyzed by iodine is discussed in this paper using computational chemistry. Further, the reaction processes of o-chlorination and p-chlorination are simulated, and the relative energy of each species in the reaction paths is obtained. Thus, a comprehensive analysis of the examination question is carried out, and the calculated results are compared with the corresponding reference experimental results. Additionally, the rationale of the examination question is discussed, and some suggestions are put forth for future related examination questions. This study serves as a support for studies on other iodine-catalyzed chlorination reactions, serves a reference for preparing related examination questions, and provides teaching resources for students to better understand the mechanism of the chlorination of benzene.

The valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory, an important part of the modern valence bond theory, can be used for qualitatively determining the spatial configuration of simple molecules (or ions) and the hybridization mode of central atoms. There are some blind spots in teaching the VSEPR theory, such as the unclear nature of the electron pair repulsion, the difficulty in understanding of the hypothesis that oxygen atoms do not provide valence electrons as coordination atoms, and the unclear difference between VSEPR theory and hybrid orbital theory. In the light of this, this paper shows some teaching optimization methods that improve students' understanding of the nature of VSEPR theory and the ability to accurately judge molecular spatial configurations by clarifying the regulatory nature of valence electrons provided by coordination (terminal) atoms, the impact of oxygen atom positions and bonding types on the molecular (or ion) structures, and the effect of multiple bonds on the molecular (or ion) spatial configurations, as well as by teaching the VSEPR theory prior to the hybrid orbital theory.

In recent years, the popularity of anhydrous and oxygen-free glove boxes in chemical laboratories has been increasing. Glove boxes are widely used in organic synthesis, lithium battery manufacturing and research, OLED (organic light-emitting diode) encapsulation, and storage and packaging of reagents sensitive to water and oxygen. During the use and maintenance of glove boxes, many hazards are involved, such as strong reducing metal reagents, gas cylinders, and flammable waste. There are potential safety hazards that easily lead to accidents. This paper introduces safe operation methods of anhydrous and oxygen-free glove boxes and new management methods of glove boxes explored by the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Nanjing University. This college has pioneered the production of a video on the safe use of glove boxes and its application to safety training. It has also developed and implemented a method for the record of glove-box use and refreshed purification column materials. This method has achieved good operational results and can provide a reference for safety management of glove boxes in similar chemical laboratories both at home and abroad.

The cultivation of comprehensive talents in the field of modern engineering requires interdisciplinary integration. Using interdisciplinary integration as the starting point, reform and practice of experimental teaching was conducted in the inorganic and analytical chemistry experiment course. Using the tap water and domestic sewage in the campus as the object of this study, the chemical oxygen demand was measured using the potassium permanganate method. The experimental aims were to improve the interdisciplinary thinking, data calculation, and practical problem-solving abilities of the students and to enhance their awareness of environmental protection, which is desirable for students majoring in chemistry, environmental engineering, and resource cycle science and engineering. The questionnaire revealed that students and teachers gave a high evaluation to the experimental content, and the experiment achieved good teaching practice results.

Innovative drug development is the central driving force of the pharmaceutical industry. Cultivating a large cohort of pharmacy undergraduates with a solid background in drug development research is of significant importance. Currently, the majority of educational institutions feature a disjointed approach between foundational courses and specialized pharmacy courses. This disconnection prevents students from integrating basic chemistry knowledge with innovative drug development research during their early academic years. As a result, students lose the opportunity to build a comprehensive understanding of drug development, thereby diminishing the appeal and formative potential of the education. This paper uses the teaching of coordination chemistry in inorganic chemistry as an example, attempting to incorporate structural visualization and case studies of innovative drugs into the curriculum. The goal is to elevate the subject matter's professionalism, innovation, and advanced nature to meet the demands of high-quality pharmaceutical talent development and to inspire undergraduates to engage in new drug research by bridging the gap between foundational and specialized courses. This teaching approach can be extended and applied to other courses like organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

This experiment employs the coordination reaction between epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from persimmon extract and ferrous sulfate. The study investigates the responsive changes of the complex solution at different pH, aiming to achieve a portable differentiation application for common acidic and alkaline substances in daily life. The experiment utilizes readily available raw materials, ensures a safe process, and demonstrates observable phenomena, allowing the audience to appreciate the beauty of chemical transformations and fostering a strong interest in the field of chemistry.

The design of case studies for ideological and political education in courses is one of the important tasks of constructing a virtual teaching and research platform. This paper aims at the Kjeldahl method and carries out a diversified and integrated innovative case design of ideological and political education. Centering on the formation of students' core chemical literacy, the teaching content and links are designed from four modules: subject concept, scientific thinking, exploratory innovation, and attitudes and values, and integrated into the BOPPPS classroom-teaching model. This design effectively enhances the high-level, innovative, and challenging nature of the course, implicitly integrate ideological and political elements into the teaching process. This teaching design achieves the teaching goal of integrating knowledge transmission, ability cultivation, and value leadership.

This paper builds upon the university chemistry experiment "Electrochemical Preparation of Conductive Polymers". By incorporating molecularly imprinted polymers and elements of food safety, a simple task-oriented preparation experiment has been successfully transformed into a comprehensive experiment that combines the preparation of molecularly imprinted conductive polymers, performance characterization, and the highly selective detection of stimulants in beverages. The enriched and improved experiment content is engaging, relevant to real-world scenarios, and introduces cutting-edge analytical techniques, aiming to enhance students' integrated skills and fostering scientific thinking.

Polyaniline, as one of the most widely studied conductive polymer materials, has been widely used in many fields. The chemical synthesis experiment of polyaniline is a representative experiment in the teaching of materials chemistry and related subjects. However, this experiment has several shortcomings, such as the high sensitivity of product properties to solvent selection, dopant types, reaction time, temperature, limited characterization methods, unstable yield, and poor reproducibility. This experiment is an improvement of the "Chemical Synthesis of Polyaniline" experiment, where the original chemical synthesis method is replaced with an electrochemical synthesis method. It combines instrumental analysis experiments such as "Cyclic Voltammetry Analysis" and open-ended experiments such as "Preparation of Anticorrosive Coatings" to transform it from a confirmatory preparation experiment to an innovative design experiment that integrates autonomous selection of preparation conditions and testing of anticorrosive properties. This allows students to learn the synthesis, doping, and related electrochemical knowledge of polyaniline in a coherent manner, leading to a clearer understanding of the wide-ranging applications of conductive polymers. This improved experiment is rich in content and better aligns with the development of modern chemistry and materials science, helping students integrate theoretical knowledge from multiple courses and enhance their comprehensive skills.

The conformations of alkanes and their stability are important topics in basic organic chemistry. Among them, the staggered and eclipsed conformations of ethane are the most fundamental. Current undergraduate organic chemistry textbooks both domestically and internationally provide different explanations for the stability of the staggered conformation of ethane compared to the eclipsed conformation, leading to confusion and making it difficult for undergraduate teaching. In this study, we conducted a survey of literatures, organized different arguments and evidence for the stability of the staggered conformation of ethane, and pointed out the shortcomings of analysis and calculation methods in previous literatures. Through literature research, we believe that both hyperconjugation and steric hindrance should be included in the textbooks.

Drawing upon the high-quality resources of the virtual teaching and research platform for organic chemistry, this study delves into the construction of an organic chemistry knowledge graph. Knowledge units and points shape the hierarchical "nodes", while the "relations" between these "nodes" weave a network that intimately integrates the course content. Collaboratively developed teaching resources are embedded into the knowledge graph, offering comprehensive support for talent development and pedagogical activities in organic chemistry.

In the 1990s, a revolutionary approach to alloy design emerged, diverging from traditional methods, known as multi-principal alloys. A decade later, the concept of high entropy alloys (HEAs) took center stage, showcasing properties such as exceptional high temperature resistance, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and radiation resistance that far surpassed those of conventional alloys. Today, HEA research has become a focal point in the field of alloys. This paper presents the research status of various materials through a captivating coming-of-age ceremony, personifying different application materials. Moreover, it delves into the physical and chemical knowledge underpinning the research process, including solution thermodynamics theory and phase equilibrium theory. Through the lens of a coming-of-age ceremony, the paper highlights the distinctive characteristics and research progress of four intriguing types of high entropy alloys.

Packing-filling model is an efficient way to understand the crystal structure. The representation of the distribution of the atoms and interstices in the packing-filling model is called the symbolic representation of the packing-filling model. The symbolic representation of the packing-filling model in the crystal structure is systematically elaborated, and various application methods of the symbolic representation are introduced in detail to deepen the understanding of the crystal structure.

The purpose of this project is to guide students in independently designing experiments based on problem-oriented approach, taking a commonplace phenomenon (white flocs formed during laundry) as the starting point. The measurement of surface tension is integrated into the process of exploring the underlying chemical principles of daily life phenomena, and an exploratory experimental model that follows a "problem identification-practical exploration-textbook consolidation" framework is established by combining a diverse array of techniques, thereby reinforcing the students' understanding of colloid and interface chemistry. The revised experiment offers richer content, greater challenges, enhanced comprehensiveness, and increased engagement, effectively fostering students' abilities to analyze and solve problems and nurturing their inquisitive thinking. Furthermore, this experiment ensures a high degree of safety, ease of operation, and requires no specialized equipment, making it highly suitable for undergraduate instructional labs.

Stereoselectively pure oximes play a pivotal role in organic synthesis, pharmaceuticals, and as food additives. Traditional synthesis methods rely heavily on the steric hindrance of substrate substituents to achieve oxime stereoselectivity, presenting a significant challenge in organic synthesis. This article offers a concise overview of the latest advancements in techniques and methods for stereoselective oxime synthesis. The insights presented herein are rooted in fundamental organic chemistry. Introducing these concepts into academic curriculum can broaden student perspectives and ignite their enthusiasm for problem discovery and resolution.

Based on the binary system of ionic surfactant C₁₄TAB and water, the optical properties and phase behavior of them including isotropy/anisotropy, birefringence, and optical texture are studied by polarized light microscopy and visual observation. The structure and parameters of the lyotropic liquid crystal phase are characterized by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and the binary phase diagram is constructed. This experiment expands the research system, reduces the experimental cost, and improves the experimental accuracy based on the original comprehensive chemistry experiment. It is helpful to understand the microstructure and properties of lyotropic liquid crystals; master the principles and methods of characterization techniques; stimulate the interests of students in physical chemistry. Further, it contributes to help students expand their scientific logic and improve their experimental skills.