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.

Radical philicity and polar effects are key concepts underpinning radical reactivity and selectivity. In general, the radical species can be divided into two classes, namely, electrophilic and nucleophilic, on the basis of its reactivity, atom electronegativity, and stability of the resulting species through electron gain or loss. In this article we aim to establish guidelines for understanding radical philicity from different carbon-centered and heteroatom-centered radicals and we accompany our discussion with representative synthetic examples.

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.

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.

Pickering emulsion, an emulsion stabilized by colloidal solid particles at the water-oil interface, is a highly intriguing subject in scientific research, daily life, and industrial production. This paper aims to demystify the concept of “Pickering emulsion”. It delves into the fundamental principles, formation mechanisms, preparation techniques, laboratory findings, and applications in the field of photocatalysis. By doing so, it provides college students, teenagers, elementary school students, and even the general public with an opportunity to discover the beauty and wonders of chemistry through the lens of Pickering emulsion.

As a member of soft matter, hydrogel is a new type of functional polymer material with a three-dimensional network structure. Due to the properties of high water content, fast swelling, good biocompatibility, and sensitive responsiveness to external stimuli, hydrogels have been widely used in various different fields. Starting from the common jellies and water-elf toys in life, this project gradually goes deep into 3D-printing technology hydrogels, deformable hydrogel, and memorizing-forgetting hydrogel based on thermal stimulation. For different audiences, we have popularized the knowledge of hydrogels at different levels, experienced the preparation and properties of different types of the hydrogels, and explained the related chemical principles, so as to improve the public chemical literacy.

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.

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.

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern technology, the exploration and advancement of novel materials have garnered significant interest and acclaim. This paper takes an engaging narrative approach, portraying a dialogue between a small wearable sensor and Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO), to elucidate the intricacies of RGO’s preparation, application, and development. As a new composite material, RGO has emerged as a compelling contender in various technological fields.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology is an important tool for chemists to analyze compound structures and purity, especially in organic chemistry research, where it is widely applied. This article introduces an interactive NMR spectrum analysis practice website. By practicing the analysis of real NMR spectra, students can gradually develop an understanding of NMR spectroscopy techniques and learn how to interpret the spectra encountered in their studies and work. Learning and practicing NMR spectrum analysis skills during undergraduate studies will help students smoothly conduct future research work. With the practice website introduced in this article, students can easily choose practice questions of appropriate difficulty level to enhance their learning.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction represents a pivotal organic transformation for the formation of carbon-carbon bonds, holding extensive applications within the realms of both organic synthesis and pharmaceutical chemistry. This article presents a comprehensive review of the mechanism underlying the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction, alongside recent advancements in various catalytic approaches, such as metal catalysis, organocatalysis, visible light photocatalysis, enzymatic and electrochemical catalysis. By merging cutting-edge scientific developments with undergraduate teaching content, this review endeavors to inspire students’ learning interests while fostering their capacity for innovative thinking.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Chlorophyll is a compound that can be found everywhere in our daily lives. When exposed to ultraviolet light, chlorophyll emits red fluorescence, which holds significant value in scientific research and production. This paper aims to popularize a hands-on experiment that introduces the fundamental concepts of chlorophyll, the mechanism behind its fluorescence, laboratory and household preparation methods, experimental characterization, and potential applications. By doing so, it enables the public to better comprehend the principles of chlorophyll fluorescence, experimental procedures, and the promising prospects for its application, fostering a deeper appreciation for the beauty of chemistry and its essential contributions to societal development.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From the viewpoint of students’ problem-solving skills, this paper provides a comprehensive and detailed analysis of organic questions 9 and 10 in the 37th Chinese Chemistry Olympiad (Preliminary). This analysis can help students build their logical thinking skills, which will further improve their learning efficiency in solving organic questions. Meanwhile, by deep understanding of the reaction mechanism, students can experience the scientific thoughts behind the topic and feel the charm and fun of organic chemistry.

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.

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".

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.

In recent studies, ammonia, a chromogenic reagent, has been used to detect the solubility product constant of copper(Ⅱ) iodate via colorimetry. However, the use of ammonia can result in environmental pollution. As an alternative, glycine can be used as the chromogenic reagent. In this study, the reaction between glycine and copper(Ⅱ) ions was investigated in detail. The reaction time and glycine concentration were optimized by acquiring UV-Vis spectra, determining the appropriate conditions for reacting the copper(Ⅱ) complex with glycine. The absorption intensities at 640 nm for solutions of copper(Ⅱ) ions at different concentrations were measured, and the concentration of copper(Ⅱ) ions in saturated copper(Ⅱ) iodate was determined by using the standard curve. The solubility product constant was calculated, which was close to the literature value. The release of corrosive and volatile gas was prevented in this experiment, and the complex solution could be recycled to prevent environmental pollution. Therefore, this method is green and applicable for use in basic experimental teaching activities.

The use of lacquer in China for thousands of years has resulted in the development of a unique lacquer art culture. The “lacquer” refers to urushi lacquer, which is collected from lacquer trees. Lacquer phenol undergoes series of chemical reactions to form a solid film with excellent properties, such as moisture resistance, high temperature resistance, and resistance to acid and alkali. Adding color powder into lacquer can produce a brilliant color paint, which is widely used in jewelry, anti-corrosion and cultural relics restoration. From the perspective of chemistry, the chemical composition, properties of lacquer and the chemical reaction of urushiol to lacquer film are introduced. Also, a series of popular science experiments are designed to verify what is lacquer and its excellent properties so that the people can deeply understand the ubiquity and importance of chemistry. The introduction of the history of lacquer, and the hands-on participation of primary and secondary school students in lacquerware production and lacquer painting drawing could exercise hands-on ability of young people, and convey the lacquer culture and the craftsman spirit of lacquer artists. The combination of lacquer art and chemistry can help the people to appreciate the beauty of lacquer art, realize the crucial role of chemistry in lacquer, and stimulate their interest in chemistry, therefore, realize the purpose of carrying forward the intangible cultural heritage of lacquer art and spreading the scientific knowledge of chemistry.

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.

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.

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.

Starch, a plant polysaccharide typically comprising amylose and amylopectin, exhibits a well-known property of turning blue upon encountering iodine. This color reaction, celebrated for its sensitivity, has found widespread application in experiments aimed at detecting iodine or starch. However, the coloration of starch upon iodine exposure is not always blue; rather, it varies depending on the starch composition. This study explores the diverse coloration exhibited by different food starches under various conditions (starch concentration, iodophor concentration, temperature, pH, polymerization degree), capturing the enchanting encounter between starch and iodine. Utilizing common food starches and iodophors as experimental materials, this educational experiment is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and user-friendly. By harnessing the distinct color reactions of starch and iodine, we create environmentally friendly multi-color ink, seamlessly integrating traditional calligraphy and Chinese painting techniques. Additionally, we explore captivating chemical experiments such as the magical iodine clock reaction, iodine fumigation for fingerprint analysis, and the preparation of non-Newtonian fluids from starch. With its strong appeal and broad audience reach, this experiment effectively employs gradient science popularization strategies. Through hands-on offline activities, participants experience the beauty of chemistry firsthand, fostering a deep appreciation and passion for the subject. The experiment yields significant outcomes in promoting scientific literacy and cultivating interest in chemistry among learners.

This paper provides a concise overview of three commonly employed methods for the determination of crystal structures from powder diffraction data, each exemplified with a specific case study. The first method is the single-crystal-like direct methods, leveraging reciprocal space information to construct the structure model. The second approach involves simulated annealing, which performs a global optimization of randomly generated models in real space to identify the structure. The third is the charge flipping method in which modifications to structure factors in reciprocal space and charge densities in real space are made, leading to the determination of the structure model through Fourier cycling switching back and forth between the two spaces. The presented examples are Ba₃BPO₇, MgSO₄·2H₂O and MgSO₄·2.5H₂O, respectively.

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.

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°.

In the physical chemistry experiment “Colloid ζ potential measurement by electrophoresis”, there exist some issues affecting the effectiveness of experimental teaching, such as prolonged colloid purification time and low accuracy in interface position measurement. To address these challenges, this paper explores methods and conditions for the rapid, large-scale, and repeatable purification of Fe(OH)₃ colloids using acid and alkali ion exchange resins. Additionally, an innovative device utilizing a digital scale and a light barrier for precise measurement of colloidal interface position has been designed. This device is integrated with the electrophoresis tube holder, forming a dedicated set of instrumentation. The increased accuracy in interface position measurement allows for a reduction in electrophoresis measurement time to 5 minutes, mitigating the impact of potential gradient changes caused by prolonged electrophoresis. The application of these improved methods and instruments in experimental teaching has resulted in enhanced efficiency, reduced measurement result deviation, and improved repeatability. This lays the groundwork for incorporating some exploratory experiments into the teaching program.

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.

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.

In response to the problems of insufficient consideration of social development needs and lack of the support for graduation requirements in setting course objectives and teaching goals, as well as the failure to effectively paly the guidance function of teaching objectives and to develop the integration of teaching, learning, and evaluation closely around goals in universities, the college of chemistry and chemical engineering at Linyi University has boldly reformed. These reformations are based on the demands of chemical industry and the reformation of chemistry education in middle school, as well as the graduation requirements and the characteristics of structural chemistry. Reasonable course objectives and teaching goals have been formulated, the teaching mode of “Teaching-learning-assessment integration” has been constructed, and a rich database of case studies has been generated. Through the deep integration of teaching, learning, and assessment, it has achieved teaching goals and fulfilled course objectives. Better support for graduation requirements and better adaption to the needs of industry development have been achieved, and satisfactory results have been yielded.

"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.

Conductive hydrogels amalgamate characteristics of both biomedical materials and conductive materials, finding applications in medical rehabilitation, motion monitoring, and human-machine interaction among others. To enhance the innovative awareness and experimental skills of undergraduate students majoring in flexible electronics, this experiment designs a conductive hydrogel crosslinked by nanogel materials. By exploring the initiator concentration and cross-linking mechanisms during the polymerization of co-polymeric hydrogels, the impact of material structural components on the durability and sensing performance of hydrogel-based flexible electronic devices were elucidated. Through taking part in this novel experimental design, undergraduates majored in flexible electronics can acquire key points on polymer emulsion polymerization, hydrogel synthesis, stress-strain sensing property characterization, gaining a deeper understanding of the influence of cross-linking agent structural design on material functionality. Additionally, this experiment developed a hydrogel based flexible and wearable sensing system based on hydrogel flexible electronic sensors. By integrating a smart glove capable of controlling a small car’s movement and a hydrogel controller for computer game control, we tightly merge cutting-edge research with undergraduate experimental teaching tasks. This integration is beneficial in stimulating the research interest and innovative exploration spirit among undergraduates majoring in flexible electronics, materials, and electronic information.

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.

The experiment for synthesizing cinnamic acid is a crucial foundational experiment in the current “Organic Chemistry Experiment” curriculum in higher education. However, during its implementation, several issues have emerged, including the unpleasant odor of residual benzaldehyde, sensitivity of raw materials to water, procurement challenges, and the generation of numerous high-temperature by-products. In response to these challenges, this paper proposes improvements to the classic cinnamic acid synthesis experiment. A homogeneous reaction system comprising benzaldehyde/malonic acid/triethylenediamine was employed to synthesize cinnamic acid. Additionally, a post-treatment method involving washing with sodium bisulfite was introduced to eliminate residual benzaldehyde, thereby aligning the experiment with modern teaching practices and the principles of green chemistry. The enhanced experiment not only effectively mitigates the odor issue associated with residual benzaldehyde but also offers advantages such as improved raw material stability, lower costs, and simplified post-treatment procedures. Furthermore, by incorporating spectroscopic characterization and column chromatography, the experiment can be expanded into a comprehensive 8-hour laboratory session targeting the synthesis of the fine chemical ferulic acid, thus enhancing the development of students’ overall chemical proficiency.

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.

Crystal field theory stands as a cornerstone in coordination chemistry and poses a pivotal challenge in undergraduate inorganic chemistry education. Leveraging recent advancements in the synthesis of nickel macrocyclic coordination compounds, we introduce a highly adaptable and multifaceted comprehensive experiment. Students engage in synthesizing a series of nickel complexes, observing their colors, and analyzing their infrared absorption spectra, UV-visible absorption spectra, and effective magnetic moments. By integrating classroom instruction with literature review, students deduce the ligand composition and central ion crystal field configuration of the complexes. Spanning 8 class hours, this experiment amalgamates theoretical knowledge and experimental skills across inorganic, analytical, and physical chemistry domains. It exhibits conspicuous experimental phenomena, excellent reproducibility, low cost, and high safety standards. Moreover, it extensively cultivates students’ analytical prowess in tackling real-world problems within a problem-oriented learning framework, thereby enhancing their fundamental chemical literacy.

This study presents a computational chemistry experiment designed for junior undergraduates majoring in chemistry in the structural chemistry course, focusing on the discoloration principle of phenolphthalein indicator. The experiment serves as a fundamental investigation into discoloration reactions in the inorganic chemistry course. By employing the Gaussian program, the discoloration processes of phenolphthalein are explored. Through the analysis of macroscopic phenomena, such as changes in UV-Vis absorption spectra before and after discoloration, students gain insights into the mechanism of phenolphthalein discoloration from various microscopic perspectives. Additionally, the "class-micro-topic-flipped classroom" approach is employed to foster scientific innovation by incorporating knowledge extension training.

Two protocols, the transient method and the mathematical method, are introduced to deduce all the rate constants in the enzyme-catalyzed reaction model based on the Michaelis-Menten mechanism. The transient method focuses on analyzing the period before reaching a steady state, while the mathematical method aims to establish a relationship between the concentration of the enzyme and the substrate. By calculating all the rate constants, one can enhance their understanding and grasp of the kinetics of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction.

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.

The newly published "Organic Chemistry Experiment (6th Edition)" from Dalian University of Technology combines both printed textbook and online digital resources. The online resources integrate the content from the teaching CD and website resources in 5th edition, alongside newly developed digital resources for 6th edition, to enhance and expand the printed version. The textbook newly presents 14 fundamental experiments in topics about reaction mechanism verification, visualized synthesis, Huang Minglong's reduction, and olefin interchange etc. Additionally, it includes 3 comprehensive experiments: natural cinnamaldehyde extraction and hydroxyaldehyde condensation, proline-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis and LED photocatalytic luminescent material preparation. All new experiments draw from domestic and international experimental teaching papers. Moreover, A design-oriented experiment on industrial flavor esters using the Fischer esterification synthesis, as well as a research-oriented experiment which optimizing the reaction condition for the microwave-assisted Williamson synthesis of 4-nitrophenethyl ether, are also dicussed. The 6th edition textbook establishes a personalized learning platform fostering students' experimental abilities and cultivating a rigorous and innovative style of study.

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.

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.

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.

The proline-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reaction stands as a classic experiment illustrating the concept of enantiomerism. However, due to substrate reactivity limitations and experimental constraints, the stereochemical concepts of diastereoisomerism and racemization have not been adequately addressed. To bridge this gap between experimental and theoretical teaching and enhance students’ understanding of stereochemistry in Organic Chemistry, we have innovated and expanded the proline-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reaction. Firstly, by upgrading the conventional two-component reaction to a three-component reaction, we efficiently generate diastereomers through the conversion of arylaldehydes to highly reactive aldimines. Secondly, we introduce the stereoselective control of proline through the use of catalysts with opposite chiral configurations, while also incorporating the concept of racemization by mixing products with opposite configurations. Thirdly, we employ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology to elucidate the diastereoisomerism ratio of the products, facilitating a deeper understanding of diastereoisomerism concepts. Our results demonstrate that this experiment offers excellent repeatability, appropriate duration, and a balance of exploration and innovation. Implementation of this project not only enhances students’ scientific inquiry and innovative thinking but also cultivates their ability to conduct innovative experiments.

Addressing the challenges in teaching the Nernst equation in inorganic chemistry, this experiment introduces the cutting-edge zinc-air battery as a teaching model. By altering the concentration of oxidizing and reducing materials, students explore the key factors of the Nernst equation, enhancing their understanding of electrochemical processes. Simultaneously, the experiment incorporates flexible electronics technology, using carrageenan as a safe and environmentally friendly solid electrolyte to guide students in learning and constructing solid zinc-air batteries. The batteries are tested for voltage performance at various bending angles to assess their flexibility. Moreover, to foster creativity, students design and build various forms of solid zinc-air batteries to power electronic devices. This experiment is closely aligned with fundamental electrochemical knowledge and state-of-the-art technology, allowing students to deepen their understanding of the Nernst equation while gaining practical experience in creating flexible electronic devices. This approach sparks students’ interest in electrochemistry and proves cost-effective with promising results.

This paper explores the integration of artificial intelligence technology into the construction of chemistry courses, highlighting its practical applications in chemical research. It outlines the teaching objectives, curriculum design, and syllabus for AI-enhanced chemistry courses, along with implementation strategies and case studies. Additionally, the paper introduces the development of an AI+chemical engineering virtual simulation platform. The establishment of these courses aims to significantly enhance chemical education and research in China.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Incorporating the backdrop of the novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this paper provides a brief introduction to the chemical composition of chocolate. It offers a user-friendly explanation of several mainstream 3D printing technologies and their principles, discussing the advantages of food 3D printing in the food manufacturing industry. Furthermore, it places a particular focus on the historical development, working principles, and sensory aspects of chocolate 3D printing. By merging familiar everyday foods with cutting-edge scientific advancements, this article is presented in an easily understandable and reader-friendly manner, effectively serving the purpose of popularizing science.

In response to the issues in the teaching of the medicinal chemistry course, we propose an innovative teaching approach based on a higher-order skills-oriented advanced research-oriented learning model. By combining the P-MASE research-oriented learning model with advanced instructional activity design, we create a higher-order skills-oriented teaching activity that integrates "interesting case research + creative research activities + project challenges", and construct a teaching scenario that incorporates the instructional content. Under the guidance of teachers, students advance their research-oriented learning in medicinal chemistry through the P-MASE framework, which involves problem identification, method exploration, scientific analysis, effective solution, and evaluation of outcomes. This approach facilitates theoretical development and enhances students' research and innovation thinking skills. Through an analysis of the achievement of the medicinal chemistry course, it is confirmed that this model can effectively enhance the higher-order nature, innovation, and challenge of the course.

Coordination chemistry, fundamental to understanding molecular interactions, has played a pivotal role in various fields from ancient dyeing techniques to modern industrial applications. However, public awareness of coordination chemistry remains limited. This interdisciplinary experiment integrates traditional mordant dyeing techniques with coordination chemistry to elucidate the rich colors and complexities behind dyeing processes. Utilizing plant pigments like alizarin and hematoxylin, the experiment showcases the formation of complex compounds through metal ion coordination, emphasizing the pivotal role of coordination chemistry in dyeing and fixation effects. Inspired by China’s intangible cultural heritage, tie-dyeing, the experiment further demonstrates the fusion of chemistry, art, and culture through the creation of tie-dye works, showcasing both the beauty of chemistry and the craftsmanship of traditional Chinese handicrafts. Additionally, a home experiment plan utilizing onion skin to produce dyes promotes hands-on experimentation and highlights the experiment’s accessibility and applicability to diverse audiences. This comprehensive science popularization initiative caters to young children, students at different educational levels, and the general public, promoting a deeper understanding of chemistry while emphasizing sustainability and safety.

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.

In the teaching of university-level physical chemistry, the Arrhenius formula elucidates the relationship between the rate constant of a reaction, temperature, and activation energy. However, it is difficult for students to understand and master the formula simply from its expression. Taking the reaction of isopropyl nitrate with Cl atoms, OH and NO₃ radicals as examples, the rate constants of the reactions at different temperatures were calculated based on the potential energy surface by the Transition State Theory. The change trends of rate constants with temperature for the reactions with different energy barriers have been visually analyzed. We hope to help students understand Arrhenius formula in essence by analyzing specific cases, so as to broaden their knowledge and cultivate their scientific inquiry ability.

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.

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.

A two-step synthetic experiment to produce paracetamol from 4-hydroxyacetophenone was designed for undergraduate organic chemistry courses. The experiment begins with the condensation of 4-hydroxyacetophenone with hydroxylamine to form 4-hydroxyacetophenone oxime. This oxime then undergoes a Beckmann rearrangement catalyzed by cyanuric chloride to yield paracetamol. The experiment incorporates several essential organic laboratory techniques, such as reflux, extraction, drying, filtration, rotary evaporation, thin-layer chromatography, and column chromatography, providing students with comprehensive training in organic synthesis. By synthesizing a compound of significant medical and economic value, the experiment demonstrates practical applications of organic synthesis, thereby enhancing student interest in organic chemistry. Additionally, the use of a small molecule organic catalyst for the Beckmann rearrangement deepens students’ understanding of the principles of organic catalysis and the mechanism of the Beckmann rearrangement.

Organophosphorus pesticides rank among the most extensively used pesticides in agriculture, leading to widespread contamination of water bodies, soil, and vegetation, thereby disrupting ecosystems and posing health risks. Consequently, rapid and precise detection of organophosphorus pesticide residues is crucial for effective pesticide management. Conventional analytical methods such as chromatography and spectroscopy rely on sophisticated equipment and specialized personnel, incurring high costs and time consumption. In response, this study presents an innovative approach involving the development of aptamer-based colloidal gold lateral flow test strips for the swift and accurate detection of residual organophosphorus pesticides in fruits and vegetables. These test strips offer advantages such as sensitivity, portability, and ease of operation, enabling on-site application in real sample detection and demonstrating excellent applicability. Furthermore, the logical operation process of these test strips facilitates science popularization and education. Diverse experimental processes and schemes tailored for different audiences serve to stimulate interest in chemistry and science while enhancing awareness of food safety.

Starting with the emotional response of university students to Li Bai’s poems after watching the film “The Longest Day in Chang’an”, this paper delves into the concept of entropy and the principle of entropy increase. By introducing the origin and significance of entropy, the paper aims to elucidate the contents and connections of the three laws of thermodynamics. It further explores the implications of the principle of entropy increase on both life and everyday living. The paper reveals that the entire history of human evolution and the development of life is a narrative of combating entropy. To live a meaningful life, one must continuously strive against entropy, breaking free from comfort zones and maintaining self-discipline.

Plant pigments are natural organic compounds found in plant cells. They impart vibrant colors to plants and play essential roles in processes such as photosynthesis and other physiological reactions. This article provides an overview of the classification and chemical molecular structures of plant pigments, as well as an introduction to their basic coloration mechanisms. It guides individuals in understanding the colorful world at the molecular level and emphasizes the intrinsic connection between organic chemistry and plant physiological activities.

The occurrence of accidents in college and university chemical laboratories has raised significant concerns in society, emphasizing the need for effective safety education for students. In response, a virtual simulation teaching system for safety education in chemical laboratories has been developed, incorporating 3D visualization, network communication, multimedia, and human-computer interaction. This system transforms "typical accident cases", "hidden trouble investigations", and "accident response and evacuation" scenarios in different chemistry laboratory settings (including inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry) into interactive virtual simulation experiments. These simulations provide students with a highly realistic virtual experimental environment, enabling them to effectively learn how to respond to safety incidents such as fires, chemical burns, gas leaks, and electric shocks. By combining virtual and real knowledge, this teaching approach enhances students' engagement, eliminates the risks and costs associated with practical training, and improves their safety skills and problem-solving abilities. Ultimately, this course achieves the objectives of safety education and aligns with the educational policy of "three complete education".

During the crystallization process of certain racemic compounds, spontaneous resolution can lead to distinctive external appearances of enantiomeric crystal forms. This article offers a comprehensive overview and delineates four methods for identification, namely, examining hemihedral faces, assessing macromorphology, employing circular polarization, and analyzing surface topography. These identification techniques serve as invaluable tools and viewpoints for studying the crystallization behavior of chiral compounds, holding significant potential across diverse applications in pharmaceutical production, materials science, and chemical synthesis.

The apparatus for moving-boundary method is upgraded by digital technique. The conductivity-time curve is measured, and the moving velocity of the boundary through two pairs of conductive electrodes can be determined precisely and objectively. This method eliminates the subjective deviation from manual observation. No indicator is needed to mark the boundary, and the problem of unobservable boundary at low concentration is therefore solved. The experimental object is also extended from traditional acidic electrolyte solution (e.g., aqueous HCl) to neutral electrolyte solution (e.g., aqueous NaCl, KCl, etc.). In the range of experimental concentrations (approx. 0.01 mol?L^?1 to 0.1 mol?L^?1), the transference number of H⁺ can be obtained with a reasonable deviation (0.8230–0.8350) by this method. The improved apparatus can be used to determine the transference numbers and mobilities of electrolytes, which provides a new way for physical chemistry experiment teaching.

This article presents a series of molecular dynamics experiments employing the SPC/E water model, which have been incorporated into the author’s undergraduate computational materials science course. The SPC/E water model is renowned for its simplicity, efficiency, and accessibility, particularly for undergraduate students. These experiments encompass the validation of molecular dynamics algorithms, as well as the computation of radial distribution functions, specific heat capacity, and transport properties. These experimental components establish a direct link with the theoretical contents covered in the course, such as the fundamental principles of molecular dynamics, and the computation of material structure, thermodynamic properties, and dynamical properties. This design facilitates students’ comprehension of the fundamental principles of molecular dynamics. Furthermore, these experiments utilize the same model system and open-source software LAMMPS for all simulations, thereby minimizing computational resource requirements. Consequently, the teaching of molecular dynamics experiments in the context of computational chemistry and computational materials science courses is both uncomplicated and efficient.

The Analytical Chemistry course focuses on quantitative analysis, emphasizing the integration of theory and practice, and the unity of knowledge and practice. To cultivate students’ innovative and logical thinking skills, this paper uses the “application of acid-base titration method” as a case study. Starting from microscopic knowledge content, it constructs the logical relationships within the theoretical system. Based on this, the teaching design is developed, focusing on clarifying the knowledge framework, deeply considering logical relationships, and reconstructing course resources. Through a project-based case teaching method, the initiative and innovation of students are stimulated, enhancing the effectiveness of teaching.

Laboratory common instruments and glassware safety are necessary knowledge and skills for laboratory. In this case, the specialized knowledge is organically combined with ideological and political elements. The laboratory common instruments and glassware safety are related to the safety accidents in the laboratories of university and real life. The multi-integration teaching design and implementation centering on students' core competencies further strengthen the students' awareness of safety and environmental protection, stimulate the students' interest in learning. The corresponding knowledge of adopted online MOOC is extended, expanded and supplemented. These cultivate the students' knowledge transfer ability, make students fully realize the significance of laboratory instruments and glassware safety for the safe operation of laboratories as well as national security and stability, enhance the students' social responsibility, and play a good role in improving students' ability and quality.

This paper, taking the preparation and composition analysis of tetraammine copper(II) as an example, explores teaching reforms by incorporating independent design experiments to enhance students’ autonomous learning and cultivate their experimental design thinking. Independent design experiments require students to independently consult literature, design experimental plans, analyze the feasibility of the plans, and engage in comprehensive discussions and analyses after experimental exploration. This approach further nurtures students’ abilities for independent thinking and synthesis, fostering skills in literature review and experimental plan writing, thereby laying a solid foundation for future scientific research.

In complexometric titration, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), commonly referred to as Y, is the titrant of choice. This system often encompasses various side reactions. This paper derives a formula at the stoichiometric point, based on the side reaction coefficient (α), for calculating the concentration of NY or ML coordination compounds with a coordination ratio of 1 : 1, where NY represents the complex of ligand Y with coexisting metal ions (Nⁿ⁺), and ML denotes the complex of the target metal ions (Mⁿ⁺) with other ligands (L). The formulation significantly streamlines the computation of these complex concentrations.

Test paper, a type of paper product chemically treated to produce color changes in response to specific substances, serves as a valuable tool for rapid detection and analysis. This experiment, based on the surface modification of glass fiber filter paper, introduces a heavy metal ion detection test paper designed with the fluorescence sensing characteristics of rare earth complexes. The test paper demonstrates its effectiveness and convenience in detecting heavy metal ions in water sources. The innovative test paper proves highly useful in addressing heavy metal ion contamination in water, emphasizing the significant role of chemistry in advancing ecological civilization. The simplified, safe, and environmentally friendly process of creating the test paper yields a practical and user-friendly product. This experiment not only educates on the general production and testing principles of test papers but also sparks students’ interest in scientific exploration and application. The experiment, characterized by its simplicity, repeatability, low entry barrier, environmental friendliness, and safety, possesses a unique color aesthetic, leaving a lasting impression. It is suitable for conducting popular science experiments in public places and promoting awareness in experimental teaching across various educational levels.

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.

Chemical bonding is one of the core concepts in the whole field of chemistry and provides a very effective way of communication. It must be clear that chemical bonds are not real, they are artificially abstracted concepts. To accurately describe chemical bonding, various models or theories have been proposed throughout history. The most widely used models are the electron-pair bonding model and hybrid orbital theory. However, the rules of thumb have their limitations, as evident in the explanation of hypervalent molecules. We suggest that in teaching, hypervalent molecules should be used as examples to explicitly point out the shortcomings of empirical rules in describing chemical bonding to younger students. In another hand, molecular orbital theory or modern valence bond theory can be used on bonding analysis for senior students. It is expected that students maintain an open-minded attitude towards the behavior of chemical bonding and cultivate spirit of scientific inquiry.

Both acid-base titration curve and titration end point error are two important teaching contents in the chapter of acid-base titration in analytical chemistry textbook. In view of the above two problems, it is proposed that a new general teaching strategy of 'strengthening of modeling capability, integrating of information technology into analytical chemistry, enhancement of visualization and avoiding of formularization memory'. The strategy is carried out in two steps. Specifically, in the first step, the acid-base titration problem is converted into a mathematic model by means of three underlying logic tools, namely charge balance equation, dilution law and distribution coefficient of species. The building modeling process is referred to as three-step modeling method. In the second step, visualization and digital solution on the built models are realized by the aid of GeoGebra software.

Cinnamic acid is an important intermediate in organic synthesis and a valuable raw material in the fine chemicals industry, with a wide range of applications across various fields. The preparation of cinnamic acid is a significant component in undergraduate organic chemistry experiments. Traditionally, it is achieved through the classic Perkin reaction, using benzaldehyde and acetic anhydride as starting materials and employing potassium acetate/potassium carbonate as catalysts. This article proposes a novel approach, namely the Aldol condensation-hydrolysis method, for the synthesis of trans-cinnamic acid. In this method, benzaldehyde, ethyl acetate, and potassium tert-butoxide are used as reactants, and the reaction proceeds through a “one-pot” process involving reflux, distillation, alkali hydrolysis, distillation again, and acidification, ultimately yielding pure trans-cinnamic acid. This method offers numerous advantages, including the use of inexpensive raw materials and reagents, low quantities required, simple equipment setup, low energy consumption, easy operation, high yield, short reaction time, and minimal environmental pollution. Therefore, it is highly recommended for undergraduate experimental teaching. Furthermore, this method not only helps students acquire a comprehensive understanding of fundamental theoretical knowledge and experimental skills but also encourages them to think innovatively in terms of convenient and efficient synthesis of organic compounds. Additionally, it fosters awareness of energy conservation and environmental protection, contributing to the development of well-rounded individuals.

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.

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".

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 study presents a new experimental design and teaching practice for polymer chemistry, physical chemistry, and instrument analysis. Here, a type of thermosensitive polymer microgel was synthesized in an aqueous solution by free radical precipitation polymerization. The thermo-responsivity of these microgels was assessed using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer and dynamic light scattering instrument. These microgels were then utilized as carriers to construct a controlled drug delivery system, in which the drug was uploaded to the microgels in the swollen state and released from the microgels in the collapsed state. To understand the drug release process, a combination of color theory and chemical knowledge was proposed, in which the drug with visible range absorption was selected to "visualize" the drug release process, making it more intuitive and observable. Based on this perceptual understanding, the molecular diffusion mechanism of the drug release process was analyzed rationally. This experiment was based on cutting-edge green research results that have been widely investigated and verified. Moreover, this experiment, which can be extended to other responsive polymers and drugs, has universal applicability. This experiment can not only exercise basic operational ability but also help develop research skills for identifying and solving problems and improve students' innovation ability.

Blowing bubbles is a universally enjoyable activity. However, commercially available bubble solutions often contain unknown ingredients that can be irritating to the skin. In this study, we utilized common household items to develop a green, safe, and non-toxic bubble solution using the single variable method, enabling the creation of giant bubbles. The experiment progresses systematically, from basic to advanced, fostering curiosity and exploration. Suitable for individuals of all ages, this endeavor aims to ignite and nurture interest and passion for chemistry experiments. Participants can engage in the delightful experience of concocting their own giant bubble solution.

Organic chemistry experiments involve complex procedures and the use of various instruments and reagents. Traditional laboratory safety education has been lacking in the identification of potential hazards in experiments. Taking the synthesis of triphenylmethanol as an example, we break down the experimental procedures into multiple steps, guiding students to identify the hazards involved in each step of the operation. We share relevant typical cases with students and reinforce their awareness of experiment safety through accident examples. By repeatedly practicing hazard identification in different experimental projects, students become proficient in the safe operation of common hazards in chemical synthesis experiments and are able to proactively analyze hazards, take personal protective measures, and strictly follow safety protocols in new experiments

Chitosan, a deacetylated form of chitin, is renowned for its exceptional biocompatibility and antibacterial capabilities, making it a material of choice in various biomedical applications such as antimicrobial disinfection and drug delivery. This study, rooted in the principle of sustainable development of waste utilization, employs shrimp shells—an everyday kitchen waste—as the raw material for extracting chitin and preparing chitosan. Comprehensive characterization techniques are conducted to substantiate the viewpoints in the paper, leading to the development of a chitosan-based antibacterial gel. Employing a gradient science popularization program, we captivate audiences ranging from kindergarten children to university students and the general public, illuminating the allure of chemistry. The study aims to spark public interest in the subject, inviting everyone to discard preconceived notions and rediscover the intrinsic beauty of chemistry from a more enlightened vantage point.