January 2011
Vol 48, No 1. Selected articles and reviews available online to all. Full issue available online to subscribers.
Column
Teaching - our life, our future
As the International year of chemistry begins, acting editor Laura Howes reflects on what's to come
2010 RSC Bill Bryson Science Communication Prize
Bill Bryson and RSC President Professor David Phillips presented the winners of the 2010 RSC Bill Bryson Science Communication Prize with their prizes
Diamond Light Source
RSC ChemNet members visited Diamond Light Source in Didcot
O2 learn launched
Telecommunications company O2 has launched a new competition for UK secondary school teachers
Salters' events and news
The Salters' Institute announces details of chemistry events for 2011
Spotlight on Scotland
The Scottish Curriculum for Excellence has been announced and the RSC hosted an event at the Scottish Parliament, Laura Howes reports.
Carbon's noble matchmaker makes Nobel
Negishi, Suzuki and Heck were honoured for their pioneering work on palladium catalysis, David Bradley reports
Friday scribble yields Nobel Prize
David Bradley on the strongest, thinnest material known to man
In brief
Items: Various short items
Chemlingo - Treacle
Peter Childs, University of Limerick, investigates words in chemistry. In this issue: As thick as treacle
Soundbite molecules - Caffeine
Simon Cotton takes a look at those compounds that find themselves in the news or relate to our everyday lives. In this issue: caffeine
Web watch
Tony Tooth looks at some websites that may be of interest to chemistry teachers. In this issue: Water, nanoscience and organic synthesis
Letters
Exhibition Chemistry
The thermite reaction
Demonstrations to capture the student's imagination by Adrian Guy of Blundell's School. In this issue: The thermite reaction
The Elements
The Elements
John Emsley, University of Cambridge, takes you on a tour of the Periodic Table. In this issue: Silicon - standard weight and stinging nettles
Features
Really cheesy chemistry
Stilton, camembert, limburger and cheddar - why, and how, does cheese come in such a variety of smells and tastes?
A sinister side to a synthetic sex hormone
The story of the discovery, synthesis and prescription of a synthetic hormone, and the effects on those who took it and their descendants
Entropy - a masterclass
The concept of entropy might seem abstract, but can be illustrated by a statistical interpretation
Distillates
Integrating inquiry into teaching
A study of an experienced teacher over one year
Enthusiasm for science
There have been several reports on the decline in students' attitudes towards science in secondary schools
Revisiting information processing
How recent research gives us a greater insight into the learning process
Reviews
Maths for chemistry: A chemist's toolkit of calculations
Paul Monk and Lindsey J. Munro
Forensic chemistry
Sam Holyman
A healthy, wealthy, sustainable world
John Emsley
Endpoint
Whither University Chemistry?
David Phillips has the last word
Infochem
