TCE     
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The Chemical Educator
ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)
Abstract Volume 6
Issue 6 (2001) pp 321-323
Spontaneous Assembly of Magnetic LEGO Bricks
Dean J. Campbell,* Ellen R. Freidinger, Moira K. Querns
Department of Chemistry, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625
Received July 31, 2001. Accepted August 27, 2001
Published online: 16 November 2001
Abstract. This paper describes simple methods of demonstrating macroscale spontaneous assembly. These demonstrations can illustrate topics in college or high school chemistry courses, such as the thermodynamics of crystallization and the chelate effect. The assembling units are built from a combination of magnetic and conventional LEGO building blocks. Unlike many other spontaneous-assembly experiments, these assemblies do not require surface flotation to form.
Key Words: In the Classroom; general chemistry; thermodynamics
(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: campbell@bradley.edu)
Article in PDF format (336 KB) HTML format
Issue date: December 7, 2001
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