This article describes a wide range of commercially available UV–vis spectrometers, with particular emphasis on educational models, and how this technique can be included in all aspects of the chemistry curriculum. Portable instrumentation and new software technologies are also highlighted.

This paper describes assignments that have been implemented in a General Chemistry I course to promote science literacy. This course was chosen in particular because it reaches a broad audience, which includes nonscience majors. The assignment series begins with several discussions and tasks to develop information literacy, in which students find and critique sources of information and evaluate a journal article. It then culminates in an assignment that asks students to critically review a variety of information on a current issue and compose a written supported argument. This set of assignments gives our course a broader, liberal arts context, and according to student feedback, it has been successful in fostering science literacy. Adaptation for use in upper-level courses is also discussed.

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