Inorganic Chemistry - My research explores the kinetics and mechanisms of solution reactions involving these fields of coordination chemistry: (1) ligand exchange (2) metal exchange and (3) complex formation. The primary goal of my research is to determine reaction mechanisms via laws and measured rate constants.

Chemical Education - My interests revolve around the secondary curriculum and include: outreach activities, crime scene investigation, cosmetic chemistry, animations and videos, writing in the chemistry classroom, new computer data aquisition experiments and environmental chemistry.

Courses Taught at EMU:

Chemistry Education (Chem 101)
General Chemistry (Chem 121 and 122)

Professional Affiliations:

American Chemical Society

Selected Publications:

Kolopajlo, Larry and Boston, Jason, “ A Thermostatted Holder for a Long-Path Cylindrical UV/Vis Sample Cell, Chem. Educator 12 (2007) 4, 253-254.

Kolopajlo, Larry, “Chapter 1: Guided Inquiry Animations in General Chemistry,” In “Toward Transformations, EMU Faculty Journal into the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning,” Editor, Jeffrey Bernstein, Development Center, August, 2007

Kolopajlo, Larry, “Cosmetic Chemistry Experiments for High School,” Michigan Science Teachers Association Journal, Fall 2006, Volume 51

Phillips, Donald and Kolopajlo, Larry "Chemistry Lab Manual for Elementary Teachers", Hayden McNeil Publishers, 2006

Kolopajlo, Larry "Metal Exchange Reaction between NiMIDA and Copper(II)", Journal of Coordination Chemistry. 59:8, 891-899, May 2006

Kolopajlo, Larry "The Crystal Growth of Gypsum: An Automated Laboratory Experiment for Integrated Science Classes", Michigan Science Teachers Association Journal, 50:1, 8-11, Spring 2005

Brewer, Timothy and Kolopajlo, Lawrence H. "Kinetics of the Ligand Exchange of Bipyridine in Tetradentate Nickel Complexes", J. Coord. Chemistry, 56:10, 851-860, July 2003

Workshop Presentations:

Kolopajlo, Larry, "SummerQuest 2007: Crime Scene Investigation," June 2006

Kolopajlo, Larry "SummerQuest 2006: Crime Scene Investigation", June 2006

Kolopajlo, Larry and Brewer, Timothy "SummerQuest 2005: Crime Scene Investigation", June 2005

Kolopajlo, Larry and Brewer, Timothy "Teacher's Workshop: Crime Scene Investigation", June 2005

Conference Presentations:

M. Kallio and Kolopajlo, Ligand Exchange Kinetics of Ni(tren)2+ and 2,2’-Bipyridine, Poster #325., 233rd American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition, Chicago, IL, March 25 – 29, 2007

Larry Kolopajlo, Guided Inquiry Learning in Chemistry Using Animations, Case Studies and Heuristic Writing, Faculty Showcase 2007, 9:15 – 9:30 a.m., Marshall Hall, Eastern Michigan University, March 9, 2007

Sarah Ginsberg, and Kolopajlo, Larry, Accessing Affective Learning, Faculty Showcase 2007, Marshall Hall, Eastern Michigan University, March 9, 2007

Kolopajlo, Larry, Visualizing Chemistry Through Computer Animations, MSTA 53rd Annual Conference, 10 a.m., Michigan 3, Radisson Center, Lansing, Michigan, March 3, 2006

Kolopajlo, Larry, Computer Animations in Lower Level Chemistry Courses, MCCTA Conference, Michigan State University, Nov. 18, 2006

Kolopajlo, Larry, Computer Animations of Electrochemical Cells, MDSTA Conference, Lawrence Tech University, Oct. 21, 2006

Kolopajlo, Larry and Renaud,Cathy, New High School Experiments Modeling Weathering and Tooth Demineralization, MESTA Conference, North High School, Grosse Pointe Woods, Oct. 7, 2006

Kolopajlo, Larry, Attitudes of Future Elementary Teachers Towards Chemistry, 2006 Biennial Conference in Chemical Education, Purdue University, July 31 – August 4, 2006

Kolopajlo, Larry, “Kinetics of the Ligand Exchange Reactions of NiTetren with 2,2’-Bipyridine and 2,2’:6’,2”-Terpyridine, 2006 ACS Regional Meeting & 39th Silicon Symposium, Frankenmuth, Michigan, May 16 – 20, 2006

Kolopajlo, Larry, “Elementary Teacher Science Fair,” Faculty Showcase, Eastern Michigan University, Thursday, April 6, 2006