Author Archives: alan

Bond Order Goes under the Microscope

The 2012 Sept 17 issue of Chemistry & Engineering News ("C&ENews" is what we call it) begins with an article, Bond Order via Microscopy. A team of scientists at IBM's Zurich research center used a scanning probe microscope to… Continue reading

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Lecture slides (Day 5) for hybrid & molecular orbitals

You can download the slides that I showed last Wed/Thur (Sept 12/13) here. I didn't get to show all of the slides, but if I could have, I would have divided the talk into three sections: what you already… Continue reading

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Learning objectives (Day 5) for hybrid & molecular orbitals

I have prepared a list of learning objectives and study tips for last Wed/Thur's (Sept 12/13) class. You can download them here…. Continue reading

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Challenge Problems + Molecular Modeling Questions = Answers

I promised that I would post answers to the challenge problems in the learning activities and I have also received requests for 'answers' to the molecular modeling activity (#2). Here are some answers and comments. Keep in mind: many… Continue reading

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Beyond Oil and Water

Organic chemistry is filled with mysteries. The measurements involved in this week's experiment (solubility of alcohols in water) are straightforward, but scientific understanding has not really kept pace. Why do some liquids mix and others separate into distinct phases… Continue reading

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Vaux Swift Watch 2012

This post has nothing to do with o chem, but I think watching 5000+ small Vaux swifts swarm and then roost in the Chapman School chimney is one of the best FREE displays of urban wildlife you will ever… Continue reading

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Learning Activity #2 – Corrections

Some corrections and clarifications for Learning Activity #2 follow. Let me know if you have other suggestions. #DU. A ring and a double-bond both count as 1 DU. Consider some three-carbon compounds. CH3CH2CH3 is propane, the saturated molecule. CH2=CHCH3… Continue reading

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William Perkin? Meet Silas Cook!

Organic chemistry has a long history. This week we took a look at William Perkin, whose "unsuccessful" preparation of quinine spawned an entire industry, and Silas Cook, Reed '99, who recently supervised the first short "total" synthesis of artemisinin…. Continue reading

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MUST READ: O-Chem Week #1

Hi, This is Alan Shusterman, your Chem 201 instructor. Classes get underway tomorrow and the first o-chem lecture will be in Eliot 314, but o-chem will actually start earlier in the day for some of you. Confusing? Let me… Continue reading

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Preregistration for Fall 2012

Chem 201 will experiment with a new schedule in Fall 2012 (but Chem 202 will stick with the traditional schedule). So for 201 only: Two lecture sections to choose from: MW 3:10-4:20 OR TuTh 10:30-11:50. They will cover identical… Continue reading

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