Student-Made Organic Chemistry Templates Templates far organic chemical ring structures may be made from "Shrinky Dinks," a type of plastic sheet material available a t hobby and craft shops. These sheets are manufactured from oriented polystyrene by Calorforms. Inc., Ramsey, N.J. 07446. They come as 8 X 10-in. rectangles, 0.010 in. thick, in packages of six ($4.30). We normally prepare three 8 X 3-in. templates from each sheet. Most importantly, the material is smooth an one side but frosted on the other. The desired ring structures may be traced with pencil from a commercial template onto the frosted side. The figures are then cut uut with s sharp, pointed knife (X-adoe) guided by a metal-edged ruler. Non-standard rings are e a d y incorporated. The entire process, carefully done, requires about 45 min. All of the students in my undergraduate organic chemistry course have made their own templates in this way using material and tools that were provided. They tend to take pride in the quality of their templates, which they use a t least on examinations and in writing up laboratory reports. It is interesting to note that the overall clarity of their written work is enhanced. t from 11,when h k e d at .(2SeF. The r x p r p s s ! ~brand name of the plast~rrheet derives from the f a n that any r u - ~ umade rxperirnre.i an rven hrinkaye inwlwng a 9-fdd decrease in area and a n,rrc-pundmg ~~~~~~~r in thwknrs.. Shrunken t r m d n t t s are not quite flat enough to he used furdrir~ing,but they are in dernand a\ unique rhrmicnl rr~nkets.
Samuel G. Levlne North Carolina State Universihl Raleigh. NC 27650
780
Journal of Cherrlical Education
