Chemistry Primary Literature Problem Solving
6 weeks · 0 milestones
Select a named primary chemistry paper (journal article, not a textbook) and work through a key calculation, derivation, or experimental result from that paper step by step. Document every step in the calculation or reasoning chain, identify approximations or assumptions made, and evaluate whether the methodology is sound. The proof is your documented step-by-step working for the selected problem plus a written assessment of the methodology's limitations. Primary chemistry papers are accessible via Royal Society of Chemistry open access, ACS Publications, PubMed, and arXiv chemistry preprints — entirely free. Reviewed by a chemist who presents a second related paper during the review session and asks you to identify the key calculation step — requiring you to demonstrate that you understand the methodology, not just the specific paper you prepared.
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Milestone map
3 milestones
Select a specific open or contested chemistry problem from the recent primary literature — a mechanism challenged by subsequent experiments, a reaction optimisation question with competing proposed solutions, or an analytical puzzle where two papers reach different conclusions from similar data. The problem must be genuine and specific, not a textbook exercise with a known answer. No physical laboratory is required: the proof at this outcome is analytical.
Proof required
Submit a one-paragraph problem statement that names the specific chemistry question, identifies the papers where it is posed or contested, and explains why it is a live problem rather than a solved one. Include an annotated bibliography of 8–12 primary sources covering the current state of evidence.
What gets checked
- Problem is specific — names the specific compound class, reaction type, or analytical method in question, not a broad topic like 'enzyme catalysis'
- At least two sources in the bibliography present conflicting evidence or interpretations of the same problem
- Annotations describe the experimental evidence each source provides, not just their conclusions