In the Classroom
Organic Chemistry Wordsearch Terry L. Helser Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, SUNY College at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY 13820-4015;
[email protected] This puzzle contains 27 names and terms that describe organic chemistry. Discover them by filling the blanks in the description below the matrix. Then, find and highlight these terms in the letter matrix. (Hint: there are no words within words.) “ORGANIC” is already done for you. Afterward, use the 13 letters remaining in the matrix to complete the sentence describing a reason to learn organic chemistry. Your success will be rewarded. The answers to the Organic Chemistry Wordsearch are on the following page. Good hunting!
O R G A N I C is the chemistry of C _ _ _ _ _. C _ _ _ is the most abundant source of elemental C. Its A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _s are G _ _ _ _ _ _ _, used in lubricants, D _ _ _ _ _ _, and the newly recognized _ _ _ _ _ balls and tubes found in S _ _ _ . Its compounds with H include the H _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _s obtained from P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Natural _ _ _ contains small A _ _ _ _ _ _ like M _ _ _ _ _ _, while LP gas is mainly P _ _ _ _ _ _. G _ _ _ _ _ _ _ performance is rated by comparison with standard mixtures of H _ _ _ _ _ _ and I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Double _ _ _ _ s in the alkenes make them U _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, and thus, some can have C _ _ and T _ _ _ _ I _ _ _ _ _ s. B _ _ _ _ _ _, a carcinogenic solvent, is not a C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, but an important A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ arene. The only common alkyne is A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ used in welding torches. The rest of chemistry is I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. (How many other words of three or more letters can you find?)
Use the remaining letters to fill in the following sentence: Life _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
www.JCE.DivCHED.org
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Vol. 81 No. 4 April 2004
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Journal of Chemical Education
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In the Classroom Answers to the Organic Chemistry Wordsearch
ORGANIC is the chemistry of CARBON. COAL is the most abundant source of elemental C. Its ALLOTROPEs are GRAPHITE, used in lubricants, DIAMOND, and the newly recognized BUCKYballs and tubes found in SOOT. Its compounds with H include the HYDROCARBONs obtained from PETROLEUM. Natural GAS contains small ALKANES like METHANE, while LP gas is mainly PROPANE. GASOLINE performance is rated by comparison with standard mixtures of HEPTANE and ISOOCTANE. Double BONDs in the alkenes make them UNSATURATED, and thus, some can have CIS and TRANS ISOMERs. BENZENE, a carcinogenic solvent, is not a CYCLOHEXENE, but an important AROMATIC arene. The only common alkyne is ACETYLENE used in welding torches. The rest of chemistry is INORGANIC.
Life IS CARBON BASED.
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Journal of Chemical Education
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Vol. 81 No. 4 April 2004
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www.JCE.DivCHED.org
