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2025 Vol. 40,No. 1Published:10 January 2025
Special Subject
  • Exploration and Practice of Chemistry Education between Universities and High Middle Schools in the Context of Science-Education Integration
  • Chenyao Li, Yuening Pan, Pengfei Zhang, Weiming Xu
  • The integration of science and humanities education is imperative for the advancement of science and technology in line with the current societal trends, constituting a gradual process. This integration necessitates collaborative efforts from educators and learners alike, seamlessly incorporated into the entirety of the educational journey. The foundational knowledge acquired during the high school phase under the prevailing educational system is comprehensive and pivotal, serving as a crucial underpinning for specialized studies at the university level. Effectively extracting and extending high school knowledge while fostering chemical insight in basic chemistry education pose significant challenges for educators. Consequently, the teaching paradigm of science-education integration aligns aptly and urgently needs to be applied to the transitional chemistry education at present. Drawing upon years of relevant teaching experience, this paper proposes a comprehensive teaching framework that amalgamates science and education principles with chemistry, charting a novel course for chemistry education with the aim of broadening students’ horizons and guiding them deeper into the realm of chemistry.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 7-14. DOI: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202401055
  • Reform and Practice of University Analytical Chemistry Course Teaching Based on High School Education
  • Chunjin Wu, Xiangchun Li, Wenyong Lai
  • Addressing the challenges of course alignment between universities and high schools, as well as the limitations of traditional teaching methods in analytical chemistry education, this paper proposes a novel teaching model: one goal, one integration, two steps, and six templates. By employing a range of teaching methods—such as pre-class problem orientation, case studies, integration of research outcomes, student video presentations, post-class application discussions, and a comprehensive evaluation mechanism—a new diversified teaching system for analytical chemistry has been established. This approach fosters a strong connection between high school and university curricula, stimulates students’ interest in learning, and significantly enhances teaching effectiveness.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 15-23. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202407090
  • Innovation and Practice in University Chemistry Instruction for Medical Freshmen
  • Yuwen Liu, Zhenzhen Huang, Min Xie, Ran Cui, Faqiong Zhao, Jinping Zhou
  • University Chemistry is a compulsory foundational course for undergraduate students in medical fields, playing a crucial role in solidifying their professional knowledge, cultivating scientific thinking, and enhancing overall competencies. However, the instruction of University Chemistry for students from diverse backgrounds faces several challenges, including significant differences in foundational knowledge, weak self-directed learning abilities, the complexity of course content, and a lack of integration with medical applications. This reform adopts a student-centered teaching philosophy, incorporating innovative practices such as classified instruction, streamlined content, and effective use of case studies. It also introduces classroom micro-activities like book clubs, mind map presentations, and homework discussions to enrich the learning experience. Additionally, a dual-teacher model and scientific evaluation methods are implemented to enhance the professional character and engagement of the course. These initiatives contribute to richer scientific nature, professionalism and fun in the curriculum, positively impacting the cultivation of high-quality medical professionals.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 24-29. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202408102
  • Practice and Reflections on Integrating Chinese Traditional Culture into the Construction of Basic Chemistry Curriculum Groups
  • Wei Wang, Baohan Zhou, Jie Min, Dan Sun, Lixin Hu
  • In response to biased public perceptions of chemical industries, there is an urgent need to stabilize the learning emotions and cultivate professional dedication among freshmen entering chemistry-related majors at local colleges. Focused on achieving first-class curriculum standards, this study aims to construct curriculum groups that incorporate emotional education and draw on the wisdom and romanticism of Chinese traditional culture. By enriching the implicit values of courses, this approach adds vibrancy and warmth to teaching, ensuring that students at various learning levels and with diverse needs can achieve personal growth.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 30-39. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404033
  • Exploration of “Integrating Curriculum Ideology and Aesthetic Education” in Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Teaching for Freshmen
  • Ling Li, Juan Wang, Feiyi Wang
  • Strengthening moral and aesthetic education in freshmen’s inorganic chemistry laboratory teaching is instrumental in achieving the goals of “Establish morality and cultivate talent” and “Simultaneous development of five educations”. This study aims to uncover ideological and aesthetic education elements within inorganic chemistry laboratory teaching at our university. By integrating innovative teaching methods leveraging information technology, the collaborative effect of curriculum ideology and aesthetic education functions in information-based laboratory teaching is harnessed to realize the goal of talent cultivation through moral education. This exploration provides insights for integrating ideological education into professional practice courses.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 40-47. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202401012
  • Exploration and Practice of Situational Teaching Mode in Bridging Chemistry Experiment Teaching from High School to University
  • Jiayu Lin, Yizhen Zhu, Yuanyao Zhang, Wanmei Li, Weiming Xu
  • Chemical experiments are fundamental to the formation and advancement of the chemistry discipline and crucial for fostering students’ innovative abilities. Currently, high school education, guided by the requirements of college entrance examinations, emphasizes theoretical teaching while often neglecting practical skills development among students. Addressing this challenge involves effectively integrating and expanding high school knowledge into university-level chemistry experiments through bridging teaching methods. This approach aims to enhance students’ comprehensive chemistry skills and cultivate innovative talents urgently needed in science and technology fields. This study explores effective strategies for bridging high school and university chemistry experiment teaching using real-world scenarios such as Analysis of Celery Elements, Unveiling the Mystery of Warm Patches, and Production of Flower Handmade Soap. By adopting situational teaching methods, we aim to comprehensively develop students’ core competencies in chemistry, laying a solid foundation for nurturing future innovators.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 53-59. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202405109
  • The Guiding Effect of a Stereoscopic Evaluation System on Freshmen’s Self-Directed Learning in Inorganic & Analytical Chemistry Experiments
  • Wei Wang, Lijun Dong, Lirong Guo, Yong Huang, Zhichang Cui
  • Inorganic and analytical chemistry experiments for first-year students play a crucial role in bridging the educational gap between university and high school. Centered on student development and aligned with teaching objectives, the course employs a stereoscopic evaluation system characterized by “multi-dimensional, process-focused, and ability-enhancing” criteria based on evaluation stages and subjects. This system combines formative and summative assessments, effectively guiding freshmen to continuously refine their learning strategies, manage their learning processes, and improve their self-directed learning capabilities. Additionally, it helps students appreciate the significance of scientific values such as exploration, empirical evidence, innovation, and collaboration.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 60-66. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202408016
  • Design of a Series of Fundamental Electrochemical Experiments
  • Tao Zhang, Meng Zong, Bokai Ling, Heng Rao, Yi Yan, Kaijie Chen
  • Electrochemical technologies, such as energy storage, electrochemical CO2 conversion, and hydrogen production through water electrolysis, are crucial for helping our country achieve its dual carbon goals. Additionally, electrochemistry is a core concept in high school and university-level chemistry, including inorganic and physical chemistry. To enhance students’ understanding and application of electrochemical knowledge, we have designed a comprehensive series of electrochemical experiments. These experiments include the assembly of a galvanic cell, copper electroplating on an iron nail, hydrogen evolution corrosion of zinc, and the cathodic protection of an iron nail. They cover key electrochemical principles such as galvanic cells, electrolytic cells, and electrochemical corrosion. Observable phenomena like voltmeter readings, color changes, and bubble formation are used to indicate the reactions. The experiments are designed to be clear, reproducible, and easy to perform, thereby deepening students’ comprehension, enhancing their practical skills, and sparking their interest in chemistry. This series of experiments can serve as demonstration experiments in high school chemistry classes and as part of the laboratory curriculum for first- and second-year undergraduate students in non-chemistry science and engineering majors.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 67-74. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202403004
Chemistry Today
Study and Reform of Chemical Education
  • College Chemistry Teaching in Cultivating Research-and-Design Talents for the New Energy Industry
  • Yao Zhou, Jiao Yang, Yuejiao Zhang, Juntao Li
  • College chemistry is a compulsory course for developing new energy talents, typically offered in the early years of university education. Based on years of teaching and research practice, and considering the psychological characteristics and learning habits of Chinese freshmen, this paper organizes the main content of college chemistry into structured modules. It explores the relationship between course content and the development of micro-nano functional materials, analyzing how college chemistry education can cultivate advanced thinking abilities such as first-principles thinking. It is expected to contribute to the cultivation of research-and-design talents urgently needed in China’s new energy industry.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 82-90. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404134
  • Ideological and Political Education Design in Organic Synthesis Chemistry Course Based on Deep Learning: A Case Study of “Radical Reactions and Their Applications”
  • Ge Zhang, Min Ren, Yue Wang
  • Organic synthetic chemistry is an elective course for undergraduate chemistry majors at universities. Radical chemistry represents a cutting-edge area of research field within organic chemistry. Addressing the current gap in students’ understanding of radical chemistry concepts in foundational organic chemistry, this study proposes an interactive teaching approach guided by a “moral education” framework, aiming for “deep learning”, and taking “scientific frontiers” as a backdrop for cultivating national confidence. The course design encompasses a knowledge module on radical reactions, facilitating in-depth exploration through various aspects, including the introduction, development, and expansion of radical concepts, as well as the application of catalytic asymmetric radical reactions. This approach aims to integrate ideological and political elements into the organic synthesis curriculum, establish a repository of case studies for ideological education, and offer a novel perspective on the integration of organic synthesis teaching with ideological and political education for undergraduate students.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 91-98. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404082
  • “Double-Line Three-Drive Four-Coupling” Precise Targeted Training of Innovative Chemical Professionals: “Physical Chemistry One” Curriculum Innovation Reform Exploration
  • Bei Ruan, Kezhong Wu
  • “Physical Chemistry One” is a core compulsory theoretical course for undergraduates majoring in chemistry in normal universities. Its curriculum innovation faces the needs of the cultivation of national innovative talents and the cultivation of high-quality middle school chemistry teachers in the new era. Guided by the threedimensional talent training objectives of “knowledge”, “ability” and “meaning”, under the “online and offline” integrated teaching and four innovative measures, the current difficulties and problems faced by the course are effectively solved. The students’ learning motivation is effectively stimulated, and their innovative consciousness and comprehensive quality are significantly improved. The present research provides a useful reference for the effective development of professional basic theory course teaching.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 99-108. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404140
  • Exploration and Practice of Ideological and Political Education in “Surface Physical Chemistry” Course Guided by “Spirit of the Congratulation Letter”
  • Zhongping Yao, Ying Song, Peilin Cong, Yang Li, Chunxiang Li, Songtao Lu, Xiaohong Wu
  • Exploration and Practice of Ideological and Political Education in the basic theoretical course “Surface Physical Chemistry” for graduate students in the discipline of chemical engineering was conducted. By leveraging the research achievements and engineering application cases of our school relevant to the course content as the entry points for ideological and political education, we designed ideological and political contents, determined ideological and political goals, and developed a comprehensive “321” model that integrates the ideological and political education throughout the course. Guided by the “Spirit of the Congratulatory Letter” and the “Spirit of Harbin Institute of technology (HIT)”, we implemented a holistic approach to ideological and political education encompassing in-class, out-of-class, and extracurricular activities, which aligned the teaching and ideological goals of graduate courses with the demand for cultivating high-level leading talents.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 109-113. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404128
  • Integrating Ideological and Political Education Practice in Organic Chemistry Curriculum under the Innovative National Strategy
  • Yanru Wang, Wei Xiong, Li Zhang
  • In response to the development needs of the Innovative National Strategy, we have reformed the organic chemistry course by addressing various aspects, including teaching design, objectives, content, pedagogical mode and method, extracurricular activities, and assessment strategies, with the aim of establishing a high-quality platform for ideological and political education. This reform is anchored in the requirements of organic chemistry within the framework of the national strategic innovation. We have developed a systematic approach to integrate ideological and political education into the curriculum, supported by corresponding cases studies. In practice, the course encourages students to engage in active learning, deep thinking, and collaborative communication. This approach significantly enhances students’ sense of achievement in learning organic chemistry while reinforcing their professional knowledge and ability literacy. Additionally, it incorporates elements of ideological education to support the cultivation applied, research-oriented talents in the organic chemistry field. This model can serve as a reference for implementing ideological and political education in other foundational chemistry courses.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 114-124. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404101
  • A New Model for Comprehensive Design Experiment Teaching in Emerging Engineering Majors: Integrating Virtuality and Reality through a Dual-Channel Approach in the Context of Lithium-Ion Battery Design and Fabrication
  • Xiaoming Zhang, Chuanbo Li, Yuping Yang, Bin Zou, Dongxiang Li
  • This study emphasizes the perspective of emerging engineering education by centering on student development and aligning course objectives, using the design and fabrication of lithium-ion batteries as a case study. We aim to establish a novel model for comprehensive design experiment teaching by integrating virtual simulation with hands-on practice, combining in-class and extracurricular activities, and linking experimental teaching with college students’ innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives, as well as ideological and political education. By merging virtual simulation exercises with experimental practice, we can visualize key concepts such as the fundamental experimental principles, micro-electrode reaction mechanisms, dynamic aging processes, and ion transport mechanisms of lithium-ion batteries, thereby enhancing student engagement. Through collaborative group work, students are encouraged to independently design the overall experimental plan and procedures for lithium-ion batteries, which improves the effectiveness of the teaching through the “integration of virtuality and reality”. We incorporate cutting-edge academic research and industry needs into the curriculum to foster a tighter coupling between theoretical knowledge and practical application, as well as between experimental courses, scientific research activities, and innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives. This approach leads to the development of a “dual-channel” model for experimental teaching that complements both in-class and extracurricular learning. The assessment methodology employed throughout the process is comprehensive and multidimensional, effectively motivating students, enhancing their overall competencies, and developing their abilities in comprehensive design, independent analysis, and problem-solving, resulting in positive teaching outcomes.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 125-132. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404107
  • Returning to the Essence of Education, Consolidating Basic Teaching, Enhancing the Literacy of Teacher Trainees, and Cultivating Innovative Talents: The Design and Practice of the “Old and New” Sixtet in the Teaching of Organic Chemistry
  • Zhaoyang Wang, Guang Shi, Shihe Luo, Zhuo Zeng, Yuhua Long, Huawei Jiang, Yulin Zhu, Jingqi Tao, Shengjian Liu
  • Organic Chemistry is a compulsory basic course offered for undergraduate majors such as chemistry, biology, materials, and environment. The course of Organic Chemistry in South China Normal University adheres to the teaching philosophy of “reviewing the old to learn the new and applying what is learned”, adheres to the guidance of “cultivating virtue and educating student” and “teaching people to fish”, attaches importance to the personalized growth of students, fully utilizes information technology and new form textbooks and other teaching platforms, makes the combination and interaction of “offline” and “online” teaching, creates a learning community that promotes “learning-research-teaching”, and implements diverse and flexible course grade evaluation methods. By benchmarking the cultivation of outstanding talents, especially particularly versatile, practical, innovative, and individualized teacher trainees, we have reorganized an organic chemistry teaching pattern that integrates, permeates the history of chemistry, and green chemistry knowledge, and constructed a curriculum teaching model with innovative characteristics of the “old and new” sixtet. Through years of teaching innovation and practice, our curriculum has achieved significant results in educating students. In 2020, it was recognized as one of the first batch of “national first-class undergraduate courses” and “provincial first-class undergraduate courses”.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 133-142. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404142
  • Exploring Ideological and Political Education in the Course “Fundamentals of Organosilicon Materials”
  • Jian Zhang, Linlin Jiang, Jisen Li
  • The course “Fundamentals of Organosilicon Materials” is a key component of the applied chemistry program at our university. In pursuit of the educational goal of fostering virtue and cultivating talent, it is essential to fully utilize the classroom as a primary platform for learning. By integrating ideological and political education into the curriculum, we aim to develop professionals in the organic silicon industry who possess both robust expertise and practical skills. This integration will enhance students’ identification with their field, instill a spirit of innovation, and strengthen their national pride and social responsibility. Consequently, students will not only master professional knowledge but also improve their political literacy.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 143-148. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202405004
  • Introduction to the New Form Textbook Physical Chemistry Experiments (Ideological & Political Edition and Case)
  • Haiyun Shen, Lina Zhu, Jinxiang Du, Haichao Li
  • Tianjin University, in collaboration with Qinghai Minzu University, which it supports, has jointly developed a new form textbook titled Physical Chemistry Experiments (Ideological & Political Edition and Case). The main content of the textbook not only includes handouts of the classic physical chemistry experiments, but also includes in-depth exploration and explanation of experimental theory, technology, phenomena, as well as cutting-edge knowledge and technology in related fields. It also provides typical cases of each experiment and ideological and political materials closely related to the experiments. At the same time, the videos of the key points in experimental operations, a part of ideological and political materials, and knowledge expansion materials are used to enhance and expand the printed version by digital technology. The new form has effectively enhanced the knowledge capacity of the textbook, and fits with the learning types of modern students. The textbook not only serves as a guide for experiments but also plays a dual role in practical education, providing a reference for the compilation of college textbooks for experiment or practice.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 149-156. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202405023
  • Innovation and Practice of General Chemistry Course with Reduced Lecture Hour for Engineering Specialty: A Case Study of “Fundamentals of Electrochemistry”
  • Dongyang Feng, Ming Xia, Jianhe Tang, Xiaoyun Sun, Defen Shen
  • To address issues in short duration general chemistry courses, such as significant individual differences among students, lack of interest in learning, and poor applicability of the course, a student-centered approach was adopted. The course content, resources, ideological and political education, and assessment systems were optimized to create an integrated teaching model for general chemistry. By incorporating both self-developed and cross-institutional resources, a blended learning environment was established, providing progressive teaching materials to mitigate disparities in students’ chemistry foundations. The introduction of advanced experimental curriculum, grounded in scientific innovation, was designed to stimulate student interest and enhance the course’s practical relevance. This teaching model has shown positive outcomes in practice and offers valuable insights for the future development of general chemistry courses with reduced lecture hours in engineering programs.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 157-163. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404084
  • Exploration of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry Teaching by Integrating Ideological Elements and Innovative Thinking
  • Siyuan Yang, Yingju Liu, Xin Cai, Shengsen Zhang, Haifeng Liu, Qiongzhi Gao
  • This paper uses the “Redox and Primary Cell” chapter of the Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry course as a case study to explore how the three-tiered teaching design approach of “Basic Principles-Extended Knowledge-Practical Application” can effectively integrate ideological and political education elements into the curriculum. By utilizing diverse teaching strategies such as case analysis, flipped classroom, and group discussions, this approach not only promotes students' active learning and critical thinking, but also nurtures their scientific spirit, patriotism, and sense of social responsibility. Through this educational exploration, the paper demonstrates how to cultivate professionals with strong expertise and innovative thinking, alongside a sense of social responsibility, thereby achieving the objectives of comprehensive quality education.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 164-173. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404138
  • Cultivating Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry Postgraduates Combined with Science-Education Synergy and Multidisciplinary Interdisciplinary Philosophy
  • Lan Zhang, Zhijia Li, Ziyue Yuan, Bo Liu
  • Medicinal chemistry is an important leading discipline in the field of pharmacy, with talent cultivation encompassing critical stages in drug discovery, including new drug creation, drug synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and drug metabolism changes in vivo. Given the broad scope and interdisciplinary nature of medicinal chemistry, we compare the different training advantages among comprehensive universities, polytechnic universities and pharmacological institutions from the perspective of “science-education synergy” and “multidisciplinary intersection”. We also explore the training strategies and specific measures for cultivating well-rounded medicinal chemistry postgraduates, focusing on mentorship system, training program design and classroom teaching methods.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 174-184. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404147
  • Exploration and Practice of Multi-Point Connected Blended Teaching of Inorganic Chemistry Centered on “Ammonia Synthesis”
  • Jing Ning, Ni Hui, Zuwei Song, Bei Qian, Aiqin Liang, Wu Cai, Jie Wang
  • As a fundamental course in university-level chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry encompasses numerous discrete knowledge points, which can often make it difficult for students to develop a cohesive understanding of the subject. To foster deeper connections between chapters, this study uses “ammonia synthesis” and its related reactions as a thematic thread, designing a series of interconnected teaching cases. Comprehensive examples are carefully crafted to integrate key concepts such as chemical reaction principles, equilibria in aqueous solutions, and atomic and molecular structures across three levels: gas-phase reactions, solution behavior, and microscopic structures. Mind maps are also employed to aid in connecting these key concepts, enhancing students’ cognitive processing. By blending course content with ideological education, this approach trains students’ thinking skills and fosters knowledge internalization while guiding them towards value-based learning. Teaching practice has shown that this multi-point connection approach improves students’ understanding of the relationships between key concepts, facilitates review and memorization, enhances knowledge transfer, and promotes deep learning.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 185-195. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202405125
Survey of Chemistry
  • Recent Advances in the Electrochemical Aziridination of Alkenes
  • Hong He, Xiadie Wu, Zhongwei Hou, Lei Wang
  • Aziridines are significant organic structural motifs that serve as key intermediates for the synthesis of diverse nitrogen-containing compounds. Organic electrochemistry has emerged as an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to organic synthesis, facilitating a range of chemical transformations without the need for external redox reagents. This review highlights recent advancements in the electrochemical aziridination of alkenes for the synthesis of aziridines, with a focus on reaction design, active intermediates, and future prospects for development.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 196-205. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404145
  • Applications of Machine Learning in Chemistry
  • Siyuan Zhang, Zhicheng Zhang, Rongjin Li
  • Driven by advancements in computer science and technology, machine learning has emerged as a powerful tool in chemical research. This paper begins by introducing the basic concepts of machine learning, followed by an exploration of its four key applications in the field of chemistry: predicting synthetic pathways in organic total synthesis; conducting efficient sampling and reconstruction of potential energy surfaces in atomic simulations; revealing reaction pathways and screening catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis design; and processing and interpreting signals in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Additionally, the concept of the robotic chemist is introduced, illustrating the potential of integrating machine learning with automation technologies. Finally, the paper discusses the future prospects of machine learning in chemical research, highlighting its potential transformative impacts.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 206-218. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404151
  • The History and Progress of Antiaromatic Compounds
  • Kexin Ma, Jiawei Fei, Yumei Lin
  • Antiaromatic systems are a class of compounds where the delocalization of π electrons results in an increase in system energy and a decrease in stability. Antiaromatic compounds typically exhibit distinctive features including narrow HOMO-LUMO gaps and paramagnetic ring currents, holding considerable potential applications in fields such as optics, electronics, and magnetism. This article introduces the concept of antiaromaticity and discusses the structures and properties of five representative types of antiaromatic compounds, which enriches the relatively sparse discourse on antiaromatic compounds present in traditional undergraduate textbooks, thereby contributing to enhancing students’ knowledge on aromatic chemistry.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 219-226. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404090
  • The Development and Application of X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy
  • Ruonan Xiao, Lichun Zhang, Yi Lv
  • X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is a widely used instrumental analysis technique, often referred to as the “magic glasses” for material identification and research. XRF spectrometers are characterized by their high accuracy, broad elemental analysis range, and non-destructive nature, making them widely applicable in fields such as food analysis, environmental monitoring, and industrial testing. This paper provides an overview of the development history, fundamental principles, and classification of XRF instruments, while also summarizing its applications in areas such as food analysis, archaeological relic studies, and rapid imaging.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 227-233. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404080
  • Creation, Inheritance and Development of Chiral Coordination Stereochemistry
  • Xueming Fang, Leiqi Chen, Xianying Wang, Dongdong Ding, Ziang Nan, Shilin Zhang, Lirong Lin, Hui Zhang
  • 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of our research on the resolution and absolute asymmetric synthesis of cis-[CoBr(NH3)(en)2]Br2 in the department of chemistry at Xiamen University. It has been 113 years since the founder of coordination chemistry, Alfred Werner, successfully resoluted the two series of complexes cis-[CoX(NH3)(en)2]X2 (X = Br-, Cl-) in 1911. In order to commemorate Werner and his team’s extraordinary contributions to the founding and development of coordination chemistry, this article for the first time elaborates on the initial exploration, subsequent progress, and related studies on the resolution (Alfred Werner with Victor Louis King and Ernst Scholze) of cis-[CoX(NH3)(en)2]X2and the absolute asymmetric synthesis (Kouichi Asakura) of cis-[CoBr(NH3)(en)2]Br2. It elucidates the important role of coordination stereochemistry of chiral octahedral complexes in the history of scientific development, and the “electron transfer catalysis-crystallization induction” mechanism based on the basic principles of coordination chemistry is proposed for the absolute asymmetric synthesis of cis-[CoBr(NH3)(en)2]Br2.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 234-246. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202405081
Science Education
  • Sugar Kingdom: A Live Broadcast
  • Jixiang Liu, Xiangyuan Ouyang, Fangfang Chen
  • Sugar, a natural sweet gift, plays an indispensable role in our daily lives. Beyond delighting our taste buds, its influence extends to crucial sectors such as medicine, energy, and the environment. This article delves into the world of sugar, exploring its basic structure, extensive societal applications, and innovative uses across various fields. It aims to provide readers with fresh perspectives and deeper insights.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 247-255. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404102
  • The Conqueror of Oil Fires: The Remarkable Foam Guardian
  • Shaochen Sun, Ruichen Yang, Haoxuan Jiao, Mei Ni, Yancen Liu, Xiangjing Gao
  • Fire poses a severe threat to public safety and property. Enhancing fire safety awareness is crucial for preventing fires and minimizing damage. This paper presents a comprehensive popular science experiment to introduce aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which is widely used today. Unlike ordinary foam extinguishers, AFFF contains fluorocarbon surfactants, key components that significantly reduce the surface tension of water and the interfacial tension between water and oil. This allows the AFFF solution to spread over the oil surface, forming a water film and facilitating foam formation. During firefighting, the water film and foam work together to isolate air. In this experiment, several concepts, such as surface tension, the properties of fluorocarbon chains, intermolecular interactions, and combustion conditions through demonstrations, interactions and questioning, have been first introduced. In a live demonstration, the fire-extinguishing effects of AFFF are vividly presented. The experiment is visually impactful, utilizing affordable and readily available instruments and reagents. The educational and interactive aspects of the demonstration effectively combine learning with entertainment, significantly enhancing audience’s scientific literacy and safety awareness.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 256-266. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404097
  • The Transformation Chronicle of Straw
  • Fangfang Chen, Yukun Xing, Yue Fu, Xiangyuan Ouyang, Gang Xie
  • Straw, as a significant agricultural waste, presents both a resource waste and a pollution challenge when traditionally managed. To promote the sustainable utilization of straw resources, this paper vividly introduces the current utilization status and existing issues of straw from a chemical perspective. By highlighting the potential applications and social value of straw, and advocating for its rational use, this paper aims to enhance resource utilization efficiency and contribute to the sustainable development of agriculture, green growth, and the construction of an ecological civilization.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 267-276. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404110
  • The Ubiquitous Noncovalent Interactions: Weak Interactions Unleashing Great Energy
  • Xiyao Zhang, Dong Yang, Jie Zhao
  • Noncovalent interactions encompass hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic effects, π-π interactions, and van der Waals forces, among others. Despite being weaker than covalent bonds, these interactions pervade our daily lives, showcasing their significant influence at every moment. This article adopts a conversational format to briefly introduce everyday phenomena and objects driven by noncovalent interactions. Through practical examples, we aim to deepen readers’ knowledge and understanding of the field of supramolecular chemistry, allowing the public to appreciate the marvels of molecular art within supramolecular chemistry.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 277-281. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404120
  • The Rise of the Phosphorescent Anti-Counterfeiting Team
  • Xiaomin Luo, Zhixiong Cai, Xiaobing Liu
  • Throughout history, the use of chemical knowledge for information encryption has been common. This paper introduces the public to the chemistry behind phosphorescent materials through the "promotion story" of the phosphorescent materials team. It highlights the waterproof and color-changing properties of new phosphorescent materials and explores recent scientific advancements in encryption, anti-counterfeiting, and decryption technologies. The article aims to engage readers in the fascinating world of chemistry while emphasizing the importance of information security and technological progress.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 282-288. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404146
  • Chinese Red: A Cultural Exploration through Chemistry and Ideology
  • Yue Ren, Yixuan Zhu, Zhaohui Xi, Qingqing Lin, Wei Zhang, Gang Xie, Junlong Zhao
  • This article intertwines the popularization of red materials, the legacy of red romance, and the ideological and political beliefs associated with red. It delves into elements such as romanticism, historical and cultural narratives, revolutionary ideals, technological advancements, and practices in popularization of science. By uncovering the chemical and ideological dimensions behind the color red, this work presents a multi-dimensional exploration of the unique sentiments of the Chinese people towards “Chinese Red”.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 289-296. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404150
  • A Conversation with Semaglutide: Not a Miracle Drug
  • Zhi Zheng, Lingyan Gao
  • Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have garnered significant attention in recent years for their notable effects in lowering blood glucose and treating cardiovascular diseases, with semaglutide being a leading example. This article, written in a popular science format, provides a brief introduction to the hypoglycemic mechanism, functional structure, and side effects of semaglutide, as well as the critical role of the penetration enhancer salcaprozate sodium (SNAC) in its oral formulation. Through this discussion, we aim to highlight the fascinating aspects of drug design while promoting the importance of rational medication use.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 297-302. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404153
Chemistry Laboratory
  • Electrochemical Reduction of Benzothiophene Derivatives
  • Shijie Bo, Weisi Guo, Shuwen Wang, Ran Song, Ming Li, Linbao Zhang
  • Organic electrosynthesis is a green, mild, and efficient synthesis method, but it has not been effectively promoted in undergraduate organic experimental teaching. Dihydrobenzothiophene derivatives are widely found in biologically active compounds and have important application value in the pharmaceutical industry. Hydrogenation reduction of benzothiophene derivatives is the simplest and most direct method to obtain such compounds, but traditional reduction methods have many shortcomings. We developed an electrochemical-promoted reduction method of benzothiophene derivatives using electrons as the reducing agent and hexafluoroisopropanol as the hydrogen donor. On this basis, an organic chemistry experiment was designed to prepare 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]thiophene 1,1-dioxide by electrochemical reduction of benzothiophene sulfone.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 303-308. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404111
  • Novel Experimental Development: Preparation, Characterization, and Application of Tungsten Trioxide Photoanodes in the Halogenation of Benzyl Ethers
  • Ruitao Liu, Benhong Pan, Nenghui Pan, Liang Xu, Zhenhua Li
  • Photoelectrochemical (PEC) technology is regarded as an environmentally benign route for H2 production via water splitting. Among them, directly PEC splitting of seawater is expected to significantly reduce the cost of H2 production, which has attracted wide attention. However, the reaction efficiency is always hindered by the energetically and kinetically demanding O2 evolution reaction. This experimental design a PEC strategy for anisole halogenation with simulated seawater over an WO3 photoanode, producing high value-added organic halides coupled with cathodic H2 production. This experiment introduces scientific research achievements into teaching, guiding students to understand the development of cutting-edge fields in the discipline, helping to cultivate their scientific thinking ability, and stimulating their interest in scientific research.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 309-317. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404106
  • Preparation of N―N Coupling Compounds via Nitrogen-Centered Radical Reaction
  • Yuji Liu, Yuntian Zhang, Xu Jia, Zhiwei Zeng, Shupeng Zhang, Wei Dong, Yongxing Tang
  • This study presents a nitrogen-centered radical reaction designed for undergraduate experimental teaching. By performing the same experiment under three different conditions, students become more familiar with the experimental procedures while deepening their understanding of the characteristics of radical reactions. The experiment is characterized by its simplicity, high efficiency, and reproducibility. Additionally, it incorporates elements of curriculum ideology and politics, such as energy conservation, emission reduction, and green chemistry, thereby fostering students’ scientific research and innovation skills. This reaction is well-suited for promotion as an undergraduate teaching experiment.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 318-323. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404131
  • Innovative Experimental Design for Assembly and Performance Study of Aqueous Batteries Using Gel Electrolytes
  • Qi Zhang, Zefang Yang, Qinke Li
  • With the advancement of the “Dual Carbon” strategy and the rapid development of new energy technologies, there is a growing demand for safe and environmentally friendly battery technologies. This paper presents a comprehensive and innovative experimental design that integrates principles from chemistry, materials science, and electrochemistry to study the assembly and performance of aqueous batteries using gel electrolytes. The experiment is designed to enhance students’ understanding of advanced battery technologies through both theoretical and practical approaches. It encompasses the preparation and characterization of gel electrolytes, the assembly of aqueous batteries, and the evaluation of battery performance. The study investigates the impact of material preparation and battery assembly processes on battery performance. By integrating the concepts of green chemistry and sustainable development, the experiment guides students to apply chemical knowledge to solve real problems, thereby stimulating their interest in scientific research and innovative thinking.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 324-333. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202405025
  • Design of Comprehensive Chemistry Experiments for the Synthesis and Characterization of Silicone Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives Based on the Innovative Thinking
  • Xingyu Liu, Pengcheng Du, Yongwen Shen, Xinping Hui, Jianshan Guo
  • To foster innovative thinking among undergraduates, we have developed a novel experiment focused on the preparation of silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives. Utilizing the silicate method, we synthesized a variety of organosilicon resin structures based on ethyl orthosilicate, which were then combined with 107 glue to create high-performance pressure-sensitive adhesives. This experiment investigates the relationship between structure and performance, integrating polymer materials with practical applications. It aims to enhance students’ understanding of the performance variations in pressure-sensitive adhesives, improve their hands-on skills, and provide them with a profound appreciation of the unique properties and appeal of these materials.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 334-343. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404085
  • On-Demand Adhesive Polymer Skin Patch: An Innovative Experimental Design for Intelligent Clinical Communication
  • Qiankun Zeng, Min Zhang
  • This experiment designs a novel dual-layer skin patch, combining a temperature-sensitive polymer base layer and a pressure-responsive ion polymer top layer, to achieve customized adhesion properties and high sensitivity reactivity. Utilizing this technology, an advanced non-verbal clinical communication system has been developed, which can recognize and translate patients’ sign language while sending remote alarm signals. Through these studies, students will initially establish a scientific research thinking framework, laying a solid foundation for their future research or career development.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 344-352. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404096
Between Teacher and Student
  • To Deepen the Understanding of Ionic Crystals in General Chemistry Education
  • Jingjing Nie, Wenjun Fang
  • Classification of crystalline solids is one of the basic contents in general chemistry courses. This article elucidates the various interactions between anions and cations in different ionic crystals, showing that these interactions may include not only ionic bonds but also hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals force. Therefore, the statement that ionic crystals are solely formed through ionic bonds between anions and cations is inaccurate. It is necessary to re-examine the definition of ionic crystals in general chemistry, and to consider how different types of ionic interactions affect the properties of ionic crystals, such as their melting and boiling points.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 362-368. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404095
Self Studies
  • An Interpretation of “Directionality” in the Second Law of Thermodynamics
  • Enren Zhang
  • The study explores the scientific meaning of “directionality” in the Second Law of Thermodynamics, revealing two distinct interpretations: the unidirectionality of spontaneous changes and the bidirectionality of state changes. Through an analytical framework of the interactions between a closed system and its surrounding, the study elucidates the spontaneous changes’ unidirectionality as defined by the Second Law. Additionally, it highlights the bidirectional characteristics of state changes under different conditions (isothermal, isothermal-isochoric, isothermal-isobaric). A comprehensive analysis of the path characteristics of state changes in both forward and reverse directions is provided. Finally, practical examples demonstrates the essential role of thermodynamic laws in guiding the understanding of actual change processes, with the analysis serving as a reference for physical chemistry education.
  • 2025, 40 (1): 369-374. DOI: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202408054