Nicotine Smoke Chemistry

Research: Science and Education edited by

JCE Featured Molecules

William F. Coleman Wellesley College Wellesley, MA 02481

Nicotine Smoke Chemistry October Featured Molecules As educators we must constantly make decisions about how one introduces students to both the principles of chemistry and the complexity of real chemical systems. The featured molecules this month come from the paper by Jeffrey Seeman (pages 1577–1583) detailing some of the complexities involved in the volatilization of two alkaloids, nicotine and cocaine. Students could be asked to identify how chem-

istry is involved in the various "steps" described in the paper, and most beginning students will be surprised to learn just how complex a process the volatilization of a molecule such as nicotine is. Fully manipulable (Chime) versions of these and other molecules are available at the Only@JCE Online Web site: http://www.JCE.DivCHED.org/JCEWWW/Features/ MonthlyMolecules/2005/Oct

nicotine

myosmine

cocaine decomposition product of cocaine hydrochloride when heated

www.JCE.DivCHED.org

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Vol. 82 No. 10 October 2005

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Journal of Chemical Education

1583