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We describe a simple undergraduate exercise involving the titration of a weak acid by a strong base using a pH meter and a micropipette. Students then use their data and carry out graphical analyses with a spreadsheet. The analyses involve using mathematical concepts such as first-derivative and semi-log plots and provide am opportunity for collaboration between biochemistry and mathematics instructors. By focusing on titration data, rather than the titration process, and using a variety of graphical transformations, we believe that students achieve a deeper understanding of the concept of buffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses a method of illustrating the concept of periodicity using human traits. Pictures of each student used to create a human `periodic table'; Information assembled into a computer database; Analyzing and grouping the students; Discussion questions; Drawing analogies and attention to failed analogies; Postive student interaction.