ERIC Number: EJ939002
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Jul
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Introducing Bond-Line Organic Structures in High School Biology: An Activity that Incorporates Pleasant-Smelling Molecules
Rios, Andro C.; French, Gerald
Journal of Chemical Education, v88 n7 p954-959 Jul 2011
Chemical education occurs in settings other than just the chemistry classroom. High school biology courses are frequently where students are introduced to organic molecules and their importance to cellular chemistry. However, structural representations are often intimidating because students have not been introduced to the language. As part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) GK-12 program, we designed and implemented a classroom activity to help students become familiar with the symbolic nature of bond-line structures and to gain experience in recognizing distinctive features among classes of organic molecules. Odorant molecules associated with food are engaging vehicles for students to make structural observations and practice pattern recognition for the discovery of functional groups; they also learn the rules for unwritten carbon and hydrogen atoms. Introducing the molecular nature of odors and the associated smells provides a tangible chemistry-biology connection that stimulates students' interests in organic chemistry while learning the structural language used by practicing chemists. (Contains 2 tables, 1 figure, and 3 notes.)
Descriptors: Interests, Organic Chemistry, Pattern Recognition, Biology, Science Education, High Schools, Secondary School Students, Observation, Olfactory Perception, Elementary Secondary Education, Program Effectiveness, Integrated Learning Systems, Food
Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education; Elementary Secondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305A080692
Author Affiliations: N/A