ABSTRACT
Consider an English as a second language (ESL) student who is a chemistry major and who has successfully completed her first two years of college, aided by introductory textbooks and lab manuals. As she begins her third year, imagine her surprise when she is faced with a text like this:
Reagents and Materials. The PCB congeners, 2,4,4’-trichlorobiphenyl (PCB-28), 2,2’,5,5’-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB-52), 2,2’,4,5,5’-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB-101), 2,3,3’,4,4’-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB-105), 2,3’,4,4’,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB-118), 2,2’,3,4,4’,5’-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB-138), 2,2’,3,4,4’,5’-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB-153), 2,3,3’,4,4’, 5’-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB-156), and 2,2’,3,4,4’,5,5’-heptachlorobiphenyl (PCB-180) (PCB numbering according to IUPAC) were supplied by Ultra Scientific (North Kingstown, RI).
Llompart, Pazos, Landin, & Cela, 2001, p. 5859