Philosophy of chemistry and the image of science

The philosophical analysis of chemistry has advanced at such a pace during the last dozen years that the existence of philosophy of chemistry as an autonomous discipline cannot be doubted any more. The present paper will attempt to analyse the experience of philosophy of chemistry at the, so to say, meta-level. Philosophers of chemistry have especially stressed that all sciences need not be similar to physics. They have tried to argue for chemistry as its own type of science and for a pluralistic understanding of science in general. However, when stressing the specific character of chemistry, philosophers do not always analyse the question ‘What is science?’ theoretically. It is obvious that a ‘monistic’ understanding of science should not be based simply on physics as the epitome of science, regarding it as a historical accident that physics has obtained this status. The author’s point is that the philosophical and methodological image of science should not be chosen arbitrarily; instead, it should be theoretically elaborated as an idealization (theoretical model) substantiated on the historical practice of science. It is argued that although physics has, in a sense, justifiably obtained the status of a paradigm of science, chemistry, which is not simply a physical science, but a discipline with a dual character, is also relevant for elaborating a theoretical model of science. The theoretical model of science is a good tool for examining various issues in philosophy of chemistry as well as in philosophy of science or science studies generally.     

大学“通才教育”背景下《无机化学》教学改革探讨

无机化学是化学及相关专业的一门重要基础课。在通才教育背景下，如何深化无机化学教学改革？本文在教学理念、教学内容、教学方法和评价体系等四个方面进行了初步的探讨。     

新课程理念下中学化学教师素质结构问题探讨

介绍了化学新课程理念的内涵,探讨了在新课程理念下中学化学教师应具备的素质结构,强调在新基础改革形势下,化学教师应更新教育观念,认同素质教育,强化教师职业道德,树立终身教育的观念,努力提高化学教学能力,积极参与教育科研活动,全面提高综合素质.     

高师《分析化学》教材体系的主要特点及教法试验

本文分析了高师分析化学教材体系主要特点,并提出理论课采用辐射式教学法,实验课采用激发式教学法;用双向引导式教学法,把理论课和实验课教学,有机地联系起来.     

化学教学改革与创新型人才培养

简述了21世纪化学人才的基本要求,剖析了现行高校化学人才培养的现状,提出了在课程体系、教学内容、教学方法、教学手段及创新型人才培养模式方面的改革思考和实践.     

在有机化学实验教学中实行双语教学的尝试

随着中国加入世界贸易组织、外语在人们的日常生活中变得越来越重要，一个优秀人才不仅要懂专业，而且更要有较高的外语水平，才能适应当今社会的发展要求，根据西南民族学院化学专业学生的实际情况，为了提高学生的专业英语水平，有机化学实验教学中进行了双语教学的尝式，取得了一定的成效。     

初中生学习化学兴趣的发展趋势

针对目前初中化学教学中学生因缺乏应有的学习兴趣而导致学习动力不足和影响其个性和谐发展的问题，运用现代教育学、心理学的理论，结合初中生的心理特点和化学学科特点，提出把初中生学习化学兴趣提到学生稳定的个性心理品质上来研究，是符合马克思主义关于人的学说和现代教育心理学理论以及初中化学教学实际的；初中生学习化学兴趣的形成和发展是一个立体发生的过程，其纵向趋势为：直感兴趣→解析兴趣→探索兴趣；其横向品质为：指向性、持久性、广泛性和有效性，初中生学习化学兴趣水平的提高应当在有效的教学中进行     

高师化学实验绿色化问题的研究

化学实验教学中使用的药品种类繁多、性能复杂,常常给环境带来负面作用.已经查明现行高师化学教学实验存在一系列的环境污染问题,对此遵循绿色化学的提出12项基本原则分别对环境友好实验材料的使用、防止有毒物质的泄露等问题等进行了研究和实践,通过化学实验课程绿色化问题的研究性学习取得了绿色化学实验和绿色化学教育的双赢.     

化学教学中文献探究教学模式初探

文章对文献探究教学模式的概念、特点、功能、评价以及适用范围进行了介绍;设计出文献探究教学模式在中学化学教学中的使用程序,并且指出了运用文献探究模式教学时需要注意的事项.     

Evolutionary and ecological implications of cardenolide sequestration in the monarch butterfly

Summary Monarch butterflies sequester cardenolides from their larval host plants in the milkweed genusAsclepias for use in defense against predation. Of 108Asclepias species in North America, monarchs are known to feed as larvae on 27. Research on 11 of these has shown that monarchs sequester cardenolides most effectively, to an asymptote of approximately 350 g/0.1 g dry butterfly, from plants with intermediate cardenolide contents rather than from those with very high or very low cardenolide contents. SinceAsclepias host plant species are distributed widely in space and time across the continent, monarchs exploit them by migration between breeding and overwintering areas. After overwintering in central Mexico, spring migrants east of the Rocky Mountains exploit three predominantAsclepias species in the southern USA that have moderately high cardenolide contents. Monarchs sequester cardenolides very effectively from these species. First generation butterflies are thus well protected against predators and continue the migration north. Across the northern USA and southern Canada most summer breeding occurs on a fourthAsclepias species and in autumn most of these monarchs migrate back to Mexican overwintering sites. The ecological implications of this cycle of cardenolide sequestration for the evolution of monarch migration are discussed.