Category Archives: Post-lecture

Chem 201 – Olde Reede version

I have retired from the Reed College faculty, effective Sept 1, 2021. This Chem 201 site hosts materials that I created for the classes I taught between Fall 2008-2019. If you are looking for a current version of the Chem … finish reading Chem 201 – Olde Reede version

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Ring Flipping Apps & YouTube Videos

Understanding what molecules look like, how they move, what relationships exist between atoms, are all challenging mental tasks. Here are two tools that might help.

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Molecular Model Kits – Is NOW the time?

The Day 3 materials offered a small taste of where we are headed next: the 3-D world of molecules. Carbon is tetrahedral. Does this wedge-dashed diagram make sense? Can you rotate it in your head (rotate around any bond or … finish reading Molecular Model Kits – Is NOW the time?

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Making Sense of Electrons, Atoms, and Molecules

The discovery of the electron in 1897 was followed just 14 years later by the discovery of the atomic nucleus in 1911. In 1913 Bohr proposed a model of the hydrogen atom in which the electron made perfectly circular orbits … finish reading Making Sense of Electrons, Atoms, and Molecules

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Elemental Haiku

Carbon, C Show-stealing diva, throw yourself at anyone, decked out in diamonds. And that pretty much sums it up. Carbon is awesome. Interested in seeing how the other elements fare when filtered through haiku paper? Check out Elemental Haiku (Science, 4 … finish reading Elemental Haiku

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Protecting Your Eyes During Next Week’s Eclipse and Beyond

What’s so special about the sunlight during an eclipse? Isn’t it the same old sunlight we see the rest of the time? Yes, it is, but because the event is so interesting to look at, and because the normally blinding solar … finish reading Protecting Your Eyes During Next Week’s Eclipse and Beyond

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SN2 Reaction Animation

Predicting the outcome of an “opposite side attack” SN2 reaction can be confusing at first, but animations can help. Check out the SN2 animation at chemtube3D.com. To operate the animation, find the drawing of the chemical reaction and click on … finish reading SN2 Reaction Animation

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Vaux Swift Watch 2016

This post has nothing to do with o chem, but you have a long weekend ahead of you and I don’t want you miss something really special: the swarming and roosting of 5000+ small Vaux swifts in the Chapman School … finish reading Vaux Swift Watch 2016

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Combination Coupling in Salicylic Acid 1H NMR

The reading of Exp’t 4 (salicylic acid) lab reports informed me that many 201 students struggled with the complexities of the proton NMR spectrum. The NMR of salicylic acid is complicated, no doubt about it, but it can be understood … finish reading Combination Coupling in Salicylic Acid 1H NMR

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Optical Activity of Sucrose: Laptop + Sunglasses

The web is loaded with videos explaining optical activity and demonstrating polarimeters of various types (see Sorrell, Fig. 4.3, p. 114). Here are two SHORT clever videos from David Whyte (and his cheeky daughter?): Home made polarimeter by David Whyte. (https://youtu.be/HP14LAEy9BY) … finish reading Optical Activity of Sucrose: Laptop + Sunglasses

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