Resumen de Introducing Bond-Line Organic Structures in High School Biology: An Activity That Incorporates Pleasant-Smelling Molecules
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.
