1790
JOURNAL o ~ CHEMICAL l EDUCATION
OCTOBER, 1929
CHEMICAL BANK* HOWARD JAMES,CROTIZEY, COLORADO Structural formulas, those invaluable aids to the organic chemist, constitute the basis of this game. The characters employed represent atoms of various elements and these are hooked together in the proper manner to form molecules. The characters are round, from one-half to threequarters inch in diameter and one-quarter inch in thickness. They are cut from corks with a safety razor blade. Copper wires with hooks on one end are fastened into the sides, forming the valence bonds. The central disk is marked with the symbol of the atom it represents. Each player has the following characters in his hand: 1 carbon atom; 1 chlorine; 2 oxigen; 1 nitrogen; 1 hydrogen; and 1 hydroxyl group. A common pool or "bank," from which each player may draw, contains atoms of the following elements: C, N, I, P, 0 , H, S, Br, and C1; also such groups as OH, C*H5,and CH3. The player who begins the game has an extra carbon atom in his hand. He synthesizes a simple compound, such as methane, by uniting together the proper atoms, mhich are taken from his own hand. Atoms he does not hold may be taken from the bank. For the size hand designated, the synthesized moleTHE CHARACTERS MOST USED cule must contain no more than two Groups are made by uniting the carbon atoms. The molecule must be proper characters. one that can be produced either directly from its elements or from inorganic compounds by a definitely known reaction. If the original player builds a molecule that does not meet the above requirements, his opponent may call "Stop." The original player then loses his turn and must keep the extra carbon atom. Another method of starting the game is to construct any simple molecule from the atoms in the bank, regardless of the possibility of synthesis. Roth hands should then, of course, be equal. The player who first disposes of all the characters in his hand wins the game. * Edilor's Nole: Mr. James, who will be remembered as a previous contributor to the Chemistry Student, completed his freshman year at the University of Colorado last spring. The interesting game which he describes here may be used, as he suggests, for chemistry club contests or by classmates as a painless method of improving their knowledge of chemistry.
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VOL.6. No. 10
THECHEMISTRY STUDENT
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The play passes first to one contestant, then to the other. One move constitutes those changes necessary to alter the molecule in accordance with a definite and known chemical reaction. The player uses atoms from his hand and from the bank to accomplish the change. Each molecule must be named by its builder. Ordinarily, the displaced atoms are discarded to the bank. If, however, he who displaces them can explain how the substitution can be accomplished chemically, his opponent must take the displaced characters. Supposing the molecule on the table is methyl alcohol. I A player removes two hydrogen atoms, one from the oxygen atom and one from the carbon, and connects the bonds left free. The result is formaldehyde. The player explains: "Pormaldehyde @+@-+@ can be obtained from methyl alcohol by passing a mixture of the alcohol TYPICAL CONSTRUCT~ONS vapor and air over a heated platinum spiral." The other player must add two hydrogen atoms to his characters. The first player disposes of none of-his atoms, but adds to those of which his opponent must dispose. T The opponent of the player actually playing may call "Stop" if the latter executes a move which cannot be represented by any one reaction which the moleculeon the table could undergo. The player executing the false move then loses a turn and the opponent gains one. A player wrongly stopped may add to his opponent's hand one atom from his own. A player may utilize his play in changing the positions of the various atoms to form an isomeric compound. His THE TYPE OP A VERY IMPORTANT METHYLAM~NE, SERIESoa COMPOUNDS opponent must then choose an atom or group from the player's hand and add it to his own. If the player can explain how one form can be changed chemically to the other, his opponent must choose
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two. If the player cannot explain, and the opponent can, no transfer takes place. A textbook of organic chemistry should always be a t hand to settle any questions that may arise concerning the correctness of any formula or reaction. As the players' knowledge increases, the number of characters to be disposed of should be increased. The players may see chances to improve the game as they go along. They may formulate new rules and even new games. There is a chance.for a similar game to embody inorganic displacement. Chemical clubs will find the game useful for contests. The winner will probably be he who can plan for future plays and give his opponent atoms the latter will have trouble in disposing of.
