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Combustion heat determination using a Parr oxygen bomb calorimeter is a traditional physical chemistry experiment that fails to challenge students because they are asked to measure a well-known quantity. However, the experiment can be made more interesting by determining the combustion heat of a coal sample with an unknown sulfur content. This process is used by industrial chemists and so provides a real world experience. Coal samples with composition data are obtainable from various sources.

Describes a demonstration for making titanium powder and clear gels from the hydrolysis of titanium alkoxides. Use of transition metal oxides for glassmaking; Mixture of equal mole ratios of titanium n-butoxide to water; Characteristics of titanium alkoxides; Method of disposal of gels waste.