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Featured Molecules
William F. Coleman Wellesley College Wellesley, MA 02481
The Big Picture April Featured Molecules In the article “The Big Picture: A Classroom Activity for Organic Chemistry” on pages 513–514, Thomas Poon makes interesting use of the device exploited by Istvan Banyai in his Zoom books to help students of organic chemistry make connections between the molecular world and ways in which those molecules are important in daily life. The paper should have appeal at all levels of science education from the time the idea of molecules is first introduced through college-level courses. Along the way, students will encounter important biological molecules (such as chlorophyll), inks (such as pen ink), CFCs, hydrocarbon fuels, plastics (such as Lexan polycarbonate), and molecules with medical applications (such as aspirin and Novocaine).
This paper not only stands alone as an interesting and enjoyable way of demonstrating the importance of chemistry, but also introduces a template for future molecular voyages. Too often applications of chemistry to the “real world”, while discussed in some depth in courses for non-science majors, are minimized or omitted in courses for chemistry and other science majors. The approach introduced here provides an engaging way to connect the details of molecular structure, bonding, and reactivity with many aspects of the impact that chemistry has on society. 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/2004/Apr/
chlorophyll a hydrocarbon fuels
Lexan polycarbonate
pen ink
aspirin
Novocaine CCl2F2
CCl3F
604
Journal of Chemical Education
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Vol. 81 No. 4 April 2004
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www.JCE.DivCHED.org
