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We developed an alternative electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction for the organic chemistry teaching laboratory. The experiment is an electrophilic iodination reaction of salicylamide, a popular analgesic, using environmentally friendly reagents--sodium iodide and household bleach. Further, we designed the lab as a guided-inquiry experiment, asking the students first to predict the orientation of the substitution reaction. After synthesizing the product, the students are asked to determine its structure using FT-IR spectroscopy. The choice of this method of characterization was intentional because of the utility of infrared spectroscopy in determining substitution patterns on aromatic rings and also because it requires students to analyze the fingerprint region of the spectrum. Given that most classroom instruction on IR focuses on functional group determination, we believe this is an added benefit to this experiment. (Contains 2 figures and 1 scheme.)

The introduction of an integrated curriculum into general, organic, biochemistry (GOB) course at Georgia Southern University is well received by students, as indicated by the improved course evaluations measuring student interest. This is clearly superior to the GOB curriculum in terms of coverage possible and student interest, and is easily adaptable to fit a variety of institutional types.

An experiment suitable for an introductory-level chemistry course using common foodstuffs to investigate biochemical principles relevant to nutrition has been developed. Students can lean about determination of carbohydrate composition of a banana, analysis of the changes in carbohydrate composition as the fruit ripens, and investigation of the control of the ripening process.

Biochemistry is often a secondary part of most chemistry programs and so revitalizing it through project-oriented labs and emphasizing its interdisciplinary nature can improve students' opinions. Traditional labs can be converted into discovery-based, long-term projects involving enzyme isolation, purification, and characterization that enhance student understanding of concepts and student interest.

An alternative procedure using disposable Pasteur pipets instead of micropipets is suggested for glucose oxidase assay of glucose as applied to the lactase activity assay previously presented. Students tend to turn the expensive micropipets upside down and to thereby damage them even when they have been given careful instructions.

A puzzle-oriented laboratory excercise increases the thinking skills and problem solving capacity of organic chemistry students. The excercise helps them to learn the techniques of reflux, and of simple and fractional distillation. The basis of the experiment is the pinacol rearrangement of 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-butanediol during its acid-catalyzed reaction. Students determine the structure of reactants and products on the basis of the infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data.