This study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of analogy-enhanced instruction accompanied with concept maps over traditionally designed chemistry introduction on understanding of acid-base concept and attitude toward chemistry as a school subject. 81 8th grade students from two classes of a chemistry course taught by the same teacher in Nuh Eskiyapan Primary School in Ankara in 2003-2004 fall semesters were enrolled in the study. There were two groups of students. During the treatment, students in the control group were instructed only with traditionally designed instruction. Students in the experimental group studied with the analogy-enhanced instruction accompanied with concept maps through teacher lecture. Both groups were administered Acid-Base Chemistry Achievement Test and Attitude Scale toward Chemistry as a School Subject as pre-tests and post-tests. Logical Thinking Ability Test was given to both groups at the beginning of the study to determine students&rsquo / logical thinking ability levels. Research data were analyzed by using (SPSS 12.0) ANCOVA and t-test. As a result of the research, it was obviously seen that analogy-enhanced instruction accompanied with concept maps caused a significantly better acquisition of scientific conception related to acid-base and produced significantly higher positive attitudes toward chemistry as a school subject than the traditionally designed chemistry instruction.

The objective of this study was onboard testing of a mixed metal oxide diesel soot oxidation catalyst composing of oxides of lead and cobalt previously developed in our lab, by mounting a diesel particulate filter (DPF), which is coated with this catalyst, to the exhaust stream of a diesel vehicle. Commercial wall flow type DPF&rsquo / s (Corning EX-80) were coated with the catalyst by a slurry wash-coating procedure and then mounted on the exhaust stream of a diesel light duty vehicle (LDV) provided by TOFAS (FIAT Doblo 1.9 JTD). These vehicles were driven on the rollers of the chassis dynamometer at constant speed and gear for two different loading conditions and on a standard driving cycle (NEDC) in the Test and Emission Laboratory of TOFAS-FIAT. The exhaust gases were analyzed for NOx, CO, CO2, THC and PM. The pressure drop caused by the filter was monitored during these tests as an indication of soot accumulation on the filter with the help of pressure sensors placed before and after the filter. Also temperatures before, inside and after the filter were monitored by means of thermocouples. Three different filters were tested in this manner: (1) Monocoated (CoOx), (2) Sequential PbOx coated over CoOx (PbOx/CoOx), (3) Simultaneously coated (PbCoOx). Also tests with the uncoated filter were performed to determine the pressure drops as a result of non-catalytic soot oxidation. The performances of the catalytic filters were evaluated by determining the temperature at which the soot oxidation rate on the filter equals the soot production rate in the engine (balance point temperature-Tbal). This temperature was used for comparing the catalytic activity of the supported catalyst with that of the powder form tested in the laboratory, i. e. Tpeak. The results of the onboard test were in parallel with the previous laboratory studies with similar catalytic activity temperatures. The continuous regeneration temperatures (Tbal) obtained in onboard tests with PbOx/CoOx and PbCoOx filters of about 370oC, which was close to the values attained in the lab study with the same mixed metal oxide catalyst having a Tpeak value of 385oC. Also the PM emissions during the tests were complying with the current EURO-IV emission limits.

Spatial and temporal variations and factors affecting these variations in concentrations of measured parameters at two different groups of stations in Ankara are investigated in this study. The first group consists of three curbside stations that are under the direct influence of traffic emissions, on the other hand, the other group is composed of eight residential stations in which domestic heating is the main emission source. State of air quality in Ankara is determined through comparison with air quality data generated in other countries and available air quality standards. Based on this comparison, although air quality has improved in recent years, it is still not one of the clean cities around the world. Although measured concentrations of pollutants comply with standards in the Turkish Air Quality Regulation, further reduction in concentrations will be necessary, if EU directives become effective in the country. Relation between measured concentrations and meteorological parameters are also investigated. Wind speed and mixing height are the two parameters that are most closely related to measured concentrations at residential stations. However, at curbside stations concentrations are determined by emissions. Qualitative comparison of two groups of stations emphasizes the contribution of motor vehicle emissions on residential areas. Seasonal and diurnal variations of measured parameters and lower winter-to-summer ratio of SO2 indicate contribution of diesel vehicle emissions to SO2 levels at curbside stations. Contribution of traffic emissions are also observed in terms of well defined bimodal traffic pattern of SO2 and PM-10 at non-curbside stations. Seasonal and diurnal pollutant ratios are investigated to apportion different source types that are effective in each group of station. PM-to-SO2, NO-to-NO2, PM-10-to-NOX and SO2-to-NOX ratios are found to be good tracers for qualitative assessment of source groups, namely traffic and domestic heating. Different statistical methodologies are demonstrated to determine the source regions of pollutants with respect to wind direction. Air quality level of Ankara, instead of air quality level in each station, is determined in terms of daily API. One by one correlation between API and meteorological factors are investigated, maximum wind speed and daily thermic excursion is found to be the highest correlated variables. The relation between API and these variables is analyzed by multiple linear regression method and then air pollution forecast model highly correlated with API and meteorological variables is developed. The assimilative capacity of Ankara is calculated in terms of ventilation coefficient and found to be highest in summer and lowest in winter. In winter poor dispersion conditions favor the poor air quality in the city.

The synthesis of cyclic allenes with eight or less skeletal C-atoms, known as highly strained organic compounds, has for the past decades attracted increasing interest. The first part of study describes an investigation aimed at the incorporation of an allene unit into a natural compound, being &amp / #945 / -pinene, by using &amp / #946 / -elimination method. The two double-bond isomers 310 and 299b were synthesized as key compounds. Treatment of 310 with t-BuOK resulted in the formation of ketone 308 and diene 313. For the formation of 308, the cyclic allene 300 was proposed as an intermediate. Treatment of 299b, with t-BuOK gave arise to the diene 313 and the dimerization product 322. On the basis of density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations on the allene 300 and the alkyne 320, the formation of the latter as the intermediate was excluded. In the second part of study, the stability of endo-carbene 304 was investigated. Previous studies indicated, during the formation of intermediate 264, no exo-carbene 330 structure could be optimized in its free carbene form. At this point, we were curious about the stability of endo-cyclopropylidene 304 not discussed before in literature. First, addition of bromofluorocarbene to anti-7-ethylbenzonorbornadiene (352) was aimed to isolate the endo-adduct 302b. However, no carbene addition reaction was observed caused by pyramidalization on double bond respect to the methoxy derivative, 363b. Therefore, the bromine was introduced to C-7 carbon atom. Treatment of 302a with MeLi in the presence of furan, gave furan adduct 306a confirmed the formation of allene 305a as a reactive intermediate. Theoretical calculations showed endo-carbene 304a was optimized in the free carbene form . However, it readily isomerizes to allene 305a afforded furan adduct 306a.

ABSTRACT SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ETHANOL ELECTRO-OXIDATION CATALYSIS Demir-Kivrak, Hilal Ph.D., Department of Chemical Engineering Supervisor : Prof. Dr. Deniz &Uuml / ner Co-supervisor : Dr. Sadig Kuliyev October 2010, 196 pages In this study, the role of defects, the role of Sn in relation to defects, and the role of oxide phase of tin in ethanol electro-oxidation reaction were investigated. Firstly, adsorption calorimetry measurements were conducted on monometallic (1%Pt, 2%Pt, and 5%Pt) and bi-metallic (5% Pt-Sn) &gamma / -Al2O3 supported Pt catalysts. It was observed that while saturation coverage values decreased, intermediate heats remained same for Pt-Sn catalysts by the increasing amount of tin. The effect of particle size was investigated on Pt/C (pH=5), Pt/C (pH=11) catalysts at different scan rates. At high scan rates (quite above diffusion limitations), current per site activities were nearly the same for 20% Pt/C (E-Tek), Pt/C (pH=11), and Pt/C (pH=5) catalysts, which explained as electro-oxidation reaction takes place at the defects sites. Furthermore, the effect of support on ethanol electro-oxidation was investigated on CNT supported Pt catalyst. Results indicate that only the metal v dispersions improved ethanol electro-oxidation reaction and support did not have any effect on ethanol electro-oxidation reaction. Results on the 20% Pt-Sn/C (15:1 to 1:1 Pt: Sn atomic ratios) and 20% Pt-SnO2/C (6:1 and 1:1) catalysts indicated that ethanol electro-oxidation activity increased by increasing tin amount. For 20% Pt-Sn/C catalysts, Pt-Sn (6:1)/C indicated best activity. On the other hand, 20% Pt-SnO2 (6:1)/C catalyst was better than Pt-Sn (6:1)/C in terms of ethanol electro-oxidation activity due to the fact that there was low contact between Pt and tin oxide particles.

ABSTRACT CARBON SUPPORTED AND SURFACTANT STABILIZED METAL NANOPARTICLE CATALYSTS FOR DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLS &Ccedil / elik, &Ccedil / aglar M.S., Department of Chemistry Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. G&uuml / ls&uuml / n G&ouml / kaga&ccedil / August 2005, 72 pages Carbon supported surfactant, such as 1-decanethiol and octadecanethiol, stabilized platinum and platinum/ruthenium species have been prepared recently. In this thesis, for the first time, 1-hexanethiol has been used as an organic stabilizer for the preparation of carbon supported platinum and platinum/ruthenium nanoparticle catalysts. These new catalysts were employed for methanol oxidation reaction, which were used for direct methanol fuel cells. Cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy have been used in order to determine the nature of the catalysts. The effect of temperature and time on catalytic activity of catalysts were examined and the maximum catalytic activity was observed for carbon supported 1-hexanethiol stabilized platinum nanoparticle catalyst (with 1:1 thiol/platinum molar ratio) which was heated up at 200oC for 5 hours. The particle size of platinum nanoparticles was determined to be ~ 10 nm in diameter. The size and distribution of metal nanoparticles on carbon support, the Pt/Ru surface composition, the relative amount of Pt(0), Pt(II) and Pt(IV) and the removal of organic surfactant molecules around the metal nanoparticles were found to be important in determining the catalytic activity of electrodes towards methanol oxidation reaction. A significant decrease in catalytic activity was observed for carbon supported 1-hexanethiol stabilized Pt75Ru25 and Pt97Ru3 (with 1:1 thiol/PtRu molar ratio) with respect to carbon supported 1-hexanethiol stabilized Pt (with 1:1 thiol/platinum molar ratio). This result might be due to unremoved stabilizer shell around platinum/ruthenium nanoparticles and increase in amount of Pt(II) and Pt(IV) compared to Pt(0) where the methanol oxidation occured.

PMMA is a widely used biomaterial especially in the fields of orthopedia, orthodontia and ophthalmology. When biocompatibility is considered, modification of the biomaterials&amp / #8217 / surface may be needed to optimize interactions of the biomaterial with the biological environment. After the surface modifications one of the most important changes that occur is the change in the surface free energy (SFE). SFE is an important but an obscure property of the material and evaluation methods with different assumptions exist in the literature. In this study, SFE of pristine and oxygen plasma modified PMMA films were calculated by means of numerous theoretical approaches (Zisman, Saito, Fowkes, Berthelot, Geometric and Harmonic Mean and Acid-Base) using numerous liquids and the results were compared to each other to elucidate the differences of methods. Dispersive, polar, acidic and basic components of the SFE were calculated by the use of different liquid couples and triplets with the application of Geometric and Harmonic mean methods and Acid-Base approach. The effect of SFE and the components of SFE on the cell attachment efficiencies were examined by using fibroblast cells. It was observed that with the treatment of oxygen plasma, cell attachment capability and hydrophilicity of PMMA surfaces were altered depending on the applied power and duration of the plasma.

Explosive materials have always been attracting the attention of scientists. Various explosives either in pure bulk form or as admixtures are synthesized and investigated from different points of view. However, because of dangerous character of these materials, their syntheses and properties have to be forecasted by theoretical studies. The new research trends of explosive materials generally include the designs of novel derivatives of well&ndash / known explosives to improve their detonation performances (heats of explosion, detonation velocities and detonation pressures) and thermal stabilities and decrease their sensitivities towards friction, electric spark, shock and impact either experimentally or theoretically. NTO (5&ndash / nitro&ndash / 2,4&ndash / dihydro&ndash / 3H&ndash / 1,2,4&ndash / triazol&ndash / 3&ndash / one) and PATO (3&ndash / picrylamino&ndash / 1,2,4&ndash / triazole) are very important secondary explosives that take place in the literature for many years in terms of their explosive properties. In this thesis study, new species of these explosives have been designed to enhance their detonation performances (ballistic properties) and to lower their sensitivities and reactivities computationally. Additionally, aromatic nitration reactions and their mechanisms for unprotonated and protonated PATO species have been analyzed. The ab initio quantum chemistry methods, Hartree&ndash / Fock (HF) and Density Functional Theory (DFT), have been used in the calculations with Pople basis sets. Novel NTO and PATO tautomeric species have been designed and investigated to enlighten the effects of tautomerism on their quantum chemical properties and detonation performances in the gas phase. Various aromatic nitration mechanisms (carbon and nitrogen mono&ndash / nitration mechanisms) of unprotonated tautomeric PATO species as well as PATO have been designed in gas phase and the reaction states (pre&ndash / transition states, transition states, intermediates and nitration products) have been detected belonging to these mechanisms. Nitrations in solution phase have also been analyzed. The reaction states have been detected for carbon and nitrogen mono&ndash / nitrations of protonated PATO species in the gas phase. The detonation performances of unnitrated and nitrated PATO products have been presented.