Welcome to my home page where my current activities are described. Pictures and figures will change from time to time. Several forms of gold from my element collection are the foil, wire, shot, and sponge shown here.
For more information see:
"Collecting and Using the Chemical Elements"
by S. Solomon and D. Bates, J. CHEM. EDUC.1991, 68, 991
"Collecting and Using the Rare Earths"
by S. Solomon and A. Lee J. CHEM. EDUC.1994, 71, 247
Science in Motion
Project
Sally Solomon also works with outreach programs involving local community colleges and public schools. One of these, Science In Motion (SIM), is funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and provides equipment and materials for high school chemistry and middle school earth science classes. The program delivers modern scientific instrumentation to schools and provides support to local teachers in this program that levels the playing field between well-funded and poorly funded school districts. To learn more about SIM visit our website at www.philasim.org.
Research Interests
Dr. Solomon has utilized a varied background in chemistry ranging from experience in organic synthesis to extensive studies in molecular spectroscopy in order to establish a unique graduate program in chemistry with a specialization in chemical education.
A series of experiments that utilize inexpensive, easily obtained household chemicals, and very simple equipment have been created in my laboratory.
"Qualitative Analysis of Eleven Household Compounds "
by S. Solomon,A. Lee, J. Chem. Educ. (Cover Article) 1991 , 68, 328
"Quantitative Determination of Phosphorus in Plant Food Using Household Chemicals "
by S. Solomon , A. Lee , and D. Bates, J. Chem. Educ. 1993 , 70, 252
"Synthesis and Isolation of Ethyl Salicylate from Aspirin using Household Chemicals "
by S. Solomon and C. Hur, J. Chem. Educ. 1996, 73, 173
Note: A new experiment on "Determination of Cadmium in Battery Starter Fluid using Household Chemicals " will be described here next month. Anyone interested in class testing this may contact us for details.
A manual of overhead projector demonstrations written by Sally Solomon, Doris Kolb, and Chinhyu Hur will be available in early 1997. The demonstrations are arranged according to topics covered in general chemistry texts. The one shown below belongs to Chapter 3 "Stoichiometry" under Calculations and Limiting Reactants.
D emonstrations included in the new manual that were created in this laboratory include:
"Measuring Avogadros Number on the Overhead Projector "
by S. Solomon, C. Hur
J. CHEM. EDUC.1993, 70, 252
"Spectroscopy on the Overhead Projector "
by Sally Solomon, C. Hur, A.Lee and K. Smith, J. CHEM. EDUC.1994, 71, 250
"Overhead Projector Spectrum of Polymethine Dye: A Physical Chemistry Demonstration "
by S. Solomon and C. Hur, J. CHEM. EDUC.1995,72, 730
We are now creating interactive multimedia materials that can be be edited by the user. Our first project will be a CD-ROM , based upon an 1870Ős text,"Fourteen Weeks in Chemistry" by J.Dorman Steele, from which the figure below was taken.
Features will include a time line to follow modern development., and a virtual lab so that students can manipulate equipment and chemicals as they perform the experiments suggested in the lab portion of the text, experiments that
would be too dangerous to perform in modern student laboratories.
"Fourteen Weeks in Chemistry" by Sally Solomon and Maria Oliver-Hoyo should be available in 1997. Maria Oliver-Hoyo is a graduate student in chemical education in the Drexel University Department of Chemistry Ph.D. program. e-mail sg95q453@dunx1.ocs.drexel.edu 215-895-1693
