Editorial

16 February 2012

An exciting start to 2012! Innovation in scienc education - The Mole, Learn Chemistry and podcasts

The ASE Annual Conference - what did you miss?

03 February 2012

David Sait looks at some of the key events from the 2012 ASE Annual Conference

New developments for Learn Chemistry

13 February 2012

Following the launch of Learn Chemistry in January, there are some exciting new updates and resources to come soon

Spectroscopy in a Suitcase carries on

01 February 2012

The Spectroscopy in a Suitcase project continues to expand and improve

UK government proposes science universities

05 January 2012

New type of university would receive no public money with funding to come from businesses

UK chemistry student numbers hold steady

02 February 2012

Chemistry degrees predicted to buck the trend of a 9% drop in applications to UK universities

Google launches 2012 science fair

07 February 2012

13-18 year old students are invited to enter the largest online science competition in the world

Imminent deadline for student science communication competition

08 February 2012

Time is running out for students to enter the RSC Bill Bryson Prize 2012

Soundbite molecules - vancomycin

Simon Cotton looks at compounds in the news or relating to our everyday lives. In this issue: vancomycin

webwatch

Twig Science - outstanding videos for science lessons

Feedback

March 2012 - discussions from the magazine, website and social media. Teaching mechanisms and equilibrium. VLEs in school and Twitter for teacher CPD.

Lead

An element with a colourful and dubious past

Ethyne and flying food cans

Demonstrations to capture the student's imagination, by Declan Fleming of Pate's Grammar School, Cheltenham. In this issue: Ethyne and flying food cans

Thermoelectric materials: efficiencies found in nanocomposites

Thermoelectric materials can be assembled into mechanical structures which can transform heat to electrical energy. They can be used for heat harvesting and refrigeration.

Podcasting: support and enrich chemistry education

Podcasts are an easy and cheap way to provide supporting resources to enhance student learning. Find out why you should join in and prepare your own with this useful 'how to' guide...

The hydrolysis of 2-bromo-2-methylpropane

A one hour experiment to determine the order of the reaction and show that it follows an SN1 mechanism

Nitrous oxide: are you having a laugh?

Since its discovery, laughing gas has played its part in our dental surgeries, operating theatres and - more controversially - at our parties

Distillates

A look at recent chemical science research from Chemistry World

Reviews

Books and resources for school, university and general interest

Biologist!

"Michael Gove's gyring and gimbling will surely only have one result - perpetuation of a cycle of poor understanding and low achievement in chemistry in state secondary schools"

The Mole March 2012

In this month's student magazine: Shining light on artificial photosynthesis