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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the readiness of science teachers in West Lombok Regency Indonesia to apply the Merdeka Curriculum and to describe their experiences in implementing learning oriented to the development of process skills and scientific literacy in the classroom. This research was carried out using an ex post facto approach. This study involved 24 science teachers and 256 students consisting of 93 seventh-grade students, 108 eighth-grade students, and 64 ninth-grade students as respondents spread across 10 State Junior High Schools in West Lombok Regency in the academic year 2021-2022 which was collected by using a proportional random sampling. The data were obtained using three questionnaires, namely a questionnaire on teacher readiness to apply Independent Learning, distributed to teachers, a questionnaire on the application of Science Process Skills learning, and a questionnaire on the application of scientific literacy learning, each distributed to both teachers and students. Data were analysed descriptively with percentage and correlation techniques. The results showed that the readiness of junior high school science teachers in West Lombok Regency to apply the Merdeka curriculum was in the fair category, with an average score of 50.08. Science teachers who have participated in the Guru Penggerak program have better readiness, with an average score of 66.68, than those who have not, with an average score of 46.28. The teachers considered that they had a good experience on implemented the science process skills learning, while the students considered it fair, with an average score of 73.33 and 59.26, respectively. The teachers' responses to how well they had applied scientific literacy learning in the classroom were higher than the students, with an average score of 65.88 and 60.97 in the good category, respectively. It seems that the teacher's experience in applying science process skills and scientific literacy learning plays a role in the teacher's readiness to apply the Merdeka curriculum. The results of this study are the basis for recommendations on the need for training for science teachers in junior high schools to accelerate the implementation of an independent curriculum through learning oriented towards developing science process skills and science literacy to realise the Pancasila Students Profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study endeavours to develop a questionnaire instrument capable of classifying respondents based on their tendencies towards divergent or convergent thinking. The questionnaire serves a valuable purpose by enabling teachers to identify the thinking potential of individual students and maximise it during the learning process. The research involved 149 junior high school (SMP) students from the West Lombok district, who participated in the stages of validity and reliability testing, and 84 respondents in the categorisation trial. The instruments were compiled and assessed through expert validation using descriptive methods, employing percentage scores. Additionally, validity was assessed using product moment correlation coefficients, reliability was measured through alpha reliability coefficients, and categorisation abilities were evaluated based on non-level categorisation (nominal). The findings revealed that the divergent and convergent categorisation questionnaires consisted of 40 items, encompassing 20 descriptors each for divergent and convergent thinking. Expert ratings yielded an average score of 89.50, falling within the excellent category. The product moment test confirmed the validity of all 40 items, with a product-moment correlation value greater than the critical value (rtable (149, 0.05)=0.16). The reliability of the questionnaire was deemed high for both the divergent and convergent item groups and satisfactory for all items, as indicated by alpha reliability coefficients of 0.64, 0.72, and 0.55, respectively. The trial results demonstrated that the questionnaire effectively categorised subjects, achieving accurate categorisation for up to 20% of the total subjects in both the divergent and convergent thinking groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiZnPO4 having an ABW framework structure is one of many nanoporous materials which possess important applications. Its synthesis, characterizations, and applications have been previously reported, but not its crystal growth. The study of crystal growth is crucial to get information on how crystals grow and how small ions and molecules of solvent and solutes interact during the hydrothermal process. With this knowledge, one can control the crystal habits, such as crystal size, morphology, and defects. In this study, we observed the crystallization of LiZnPO4 (ABW) using X-ray diffraction, to produce its growth curve, combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The data were then compared with the growth simulation employing CrystalGrower (CG) program. The results showed that there were differences in the crystallization curve of the studied material with that of the common zeolite crystallization curve. Primary nucleation of the LiZnPO4 (ABW) occurred during its stirring process before the hydrothermal reaction at 70 °C. The crystals continued to grow in high supersaturation conditions until approximately 15 minutes of heating. After 60 minutes of the hydrothermal reaction, the synthesis condition has reached equilibrium. SEM analysis depicted bar-like crystal morphology with prism ends. The crystal morphology and growth profile from the laboratory observation agreed well with the CG simulation, in which a rough crystal surface was seen when supersaturation was high. This was followed by surface growth producing a smooth crystal surface when the equilibrium was reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of bimetallic oxide compounds as cathode materials for potassium ion batteries was studied. In this study, the bimetallic oxide compound Mn/Cr was synthesized using the sol-gel method with precursors CrCl3.6H2O, Mn(NO3)2.4H2O, KOH, and orange peel extract as templates. The result was analyzed using SEM, XRD, and IR. XRD data showed that MnCr2O4 compound formed from synthesis without adding orange peel extract, while the addition of 5 mL and 10 mL orange peel extract form a composite of K2CrO4/MnO2. Cyclic voltammetry data shows that MnCr2O4 material has the potential as a KIB cathode material with an oxidation-reduction potential value of 0.24/0.50 V (vs Ag/AgCl). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mixed design of multiphase transition metal oxides is one strategy for obtaining electrode materials. The MnCr2O4/Cr2O3 mixture has been synthesized using a simple and inexpensive coprecipitation method. XRD analysis revealed the formation of the MnCr2O4/Cr2O3 mixture. The electrochemical properties of the MnCr2O4/Cr2O3 mixture were studied using cyclic voltammetry. MnCr2O4/Cr2O3 mixture showed redox potential in the potential range -0.3 - 1.0 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Therefore, mixed electrodes are predicted as candidates for application as electrode materials. The electrochemical properties of MnCr2O4/Cr2O3 need to be compared with the single phase of Cr2O3 and Mn Cr2O4 so that it can be seen whether the mixed material of the two TMOs has a higher electrochemical potential compared to individual TMOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spinel oxide MnCr2O4 compound with two constituent metals (Mangan and Chromium) has an electrochemical potential as an anode material for KIB. This study focused on the determination of the as-synthesized MnCr2O4 composition who is formed from the coprecipitation of Mn(II) and Cr(III) salts solution and sintering at 750°C as well as electrochemical activity. The as-synthesized MnCr2O4 gave high purity of 99.2% with a particle size of 114 nm. The electrochemical activity (against Ag/AgCl) showed an anodic peak (Ipa) at 0.5677 V and cathodic peak (Ipc) at 0.1280 V. The as-synthesized MnCr2O4 potentially studied as anode material for KIB batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern civilization is always correlated with higher energy demand. Science development also brings possibilities of energy preservation along with the realization of the shortage of fossil fuel. Scientists are working for alternative energy resources and new materials for energy storage and transformations. More materials related to energy are emerging, along with new methods developed and validated to justify the applications and capabilities. However, the side effect of this sort of activity is not well considered so far. It becomes the background of environmental problems today. Chemistry as fundamental science plays a significant role in changing natural resources and shifting the natural equilibrium in our environment. Deep consideration based on previous reports was done by the literature review method. In this case, ethics in science might become very important to be implemented from the perspective of chemists and science as early as possible. At the same time, chemistry education can also display its role in describing a minute change in molecular level and its impact on the whole nature in the long run. Daily life attitude and wiser urban management, in turn, affect balancing small scale life web and preserving nature and energy for the common good for the whole world and community. A better scientific view of our environment as reported and reviewed is the crucial attitude of human beings as a part of nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ni(2-ampy)2[N(CN)2]2 complex has been successfully synthesized using the reflux method and has been characterized. The complex (blue cubic) was characterized by melting point, FTIR, and XRD tests. Melting point measurement gave 245oC at ambient pressure and the colour turned from blue to green. FT-IR analysis indicated some vibrations of 2-aminopyridine and dicyanamide at 437(C-NH2 in-plane), 854 (aromatic ring), 1612, 1631 (C=C); 1448 (C-H) in-plane, (C=N): 2154, 2185 (vs), 2252 (ms) cm−1 which were unique for the coordination of both ligands to the nickel site. The results of XRDP analysis showed that this compound is isostructural with a Co(2-ampy)2[N(CN)2]2 complex, which has an octahedral geometry. The antibacterial activity was carried out by diffusion technique using Staphylococcus Aureus and Salmonella Typhi bacteria and chloramphenicol and ligands were used as reference. The bioactivity test results showed that 2-aminopyridine had the highest inhabitation zone S. typhi bacteria and the highest S. aureus was crystal samples. These differences provide an early picture of the antibacterial properties for S. typhi produced from the 2-aminopyridine ligand, while in S. aureus, it is produced from its own complex compound. The as-synthesized complex has the potential as an antibacterial agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]