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The Chemical Educator
ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)
Abstract Volume 25
(2020) pp 63-68
Using the Force: Combining Magnets with 3D Printing for a Star Wars-Themed Stereochemistry Demonstration
Felix A. Carroll* and Michael T. Bovino
Department of Chemistry, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28035, fecarroll@davidson.edu
Received August 28, 2019. Accepted February 12, 2020.
Published: 23 April 2020
Abstract. 3D printing was used to prepare a model with embedded magnets for a dynamic demonstration of an internal plane of symmetry. This demonstration helps students in introductory organic chemistry understand the equivalence of the terms mirror plane and plane of symmetry. Theatrical elements and pop culture references make the concepts both more interesting and more memorable for students.
Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; organic chemistry; second-year undergraduate; stereochemistry; chirality; enantiomers; symmetry
(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: fecarroll@davidson.edu)
Article in PDF format (7430 KB) HTML format
Supporting Materials:
Supporting Materials.zip includes STL files for the model discussed here, a cartoon of some steps in the demonstration, a video of the demonstration, and suggestions for carrying it out. (266 KB)
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