Comprehensive General Education

There are several other professions in which chemistry plays a role astronauts, biologists, construction workers, dentists, electricians, farmers to name but a few, and many others are somehow confronted with chemical processes or chemical products as part of their job. In their chemistry lessons in general education, students could explore the role of these processes and products in some selected cases as part of their orientation on possible future careers other than in chemistry. Again, we should not intend to develop a comprehensive curriculum, a representative curriculum will suffice. Moreover, specific features of teaching chemistry in the context of vocational education will be discussed in Chapter 6. 

Quantum Mechanics offers the most comprehensive and most successful explanation of many chemical phenomena such as the nature of valency and bonding as well as chemical reactivity. It has also provided a fundamental explanation of the periodic system of the elements which summarizes a vast amount of empirical chemical knowledge. Quantum Mechanics has become increasingly important in the education of chemistry students. The general principles provided by the theory mean that students can now spend less time memorizing chemical facts and more time in actually thinking about chemistry. 

For some basic ideas on waste management, see Journal of Chemical Education, 65, pp. A64-A68 (1988). Although not comprehensive, this journal provides a good general description on the topic. However, because many localities have specific requirements on toxic substance control, always check with local authorities. 

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