Lab 1: Tao of the Molecular World

Compare tetrahedrons; view caraway & spearmint (use Lab01_Tao in Structures menu)

Surfaces jmol view (will be presented in lab)[Created by Frieda Reichsman)

Dan Damelin's electronegativity gizmo (courtesy Dan Damelin & the Concord Consortium)
Alternate form

Dan Damelin's demo of bond strengths

You're so far away--where's an electron?

Brian Cox on electrons, waves & orbitals--not directly relevant, but fun & interesting

The (molecular) world according to Bruce unfinished, but perhaps useful

Periodic table with access to great electronegativity displays

Chemistry: a volatile history (BBC show online about discovery of the elements)

Interactive periodic table

Other representations of the periodic table

Yet more periodic tables

20 things about the periodic table

MIT on wettability and surface tension

Nice explanation of electronegativity from chemGuide

Scaling: Size, spacing of proton & electron (scroll right to find the electron!)

S.F. Exploratorium experiments involving ice & angles

APPLICATIONS

Making bread (with some molecule-y insights)

H-bonds and spider silk strength

Kevlar: H-bonding saves lives

non-stick chewing gum! (try 'why things stick' & 'shoe testing')

Better paper (think cast iron!) through H-bonding

An African desert beetle that uses principles of this lab to harvest water

Periodic Table of Videos--each element linked to a video about the element

HHMI structural images (stick and 3D) of common molecules (aspirin, sugar...)

Secrets to rose petal's beading of water

Wonderful Question/Answer page on orbitals, energies, electrons, light

Hydrophobicity to clean up oil spills

Wherefore capsaicin (the hot in hot peppers)[structure available in Structviewer under 'Other']

Overview of how we detect/classify scents

FURTHER READING

Nice write-up on electronegativity

Rings & Double Bonds: 'Aromaticity'