Forces of Nature Chemistry in Pictures Winner

Home , Georgy Flyorov, John Gurdon, The Disappearing Spoon

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OctoberMay 2013 2012 Number Number 399 393 NovemberMay 2013 2012 Number 399

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As laboratory partners and classmates, Nicole Zucker and Alison Whitney had the opportunity to explore chemical bonding and intermolecular forces of attraction inside the chemistry classroom. Their photographs "reflect" the beauty of surface tension, spheres, and attractive forces in nature — drop by drop and bubble by bubble. Nicole and Alison are juniors at Scarsdale High School, Scarsdale NY and students of chemistry teacher Elise Hilf Levine and art teacher Dina Hofstetter.

We encourage other chemistry teachers to collaborate with their Art Department and send in some engaging chemistry photos. The deadline for this year’s Chemistry in Pictures contest is June 30, 2013. Be on the front cover of Chem 13 News and inspire other teachers with your classroom photos.

An almost forgotten simplification in Download iPod, iPad Letter to the editor the detection of amino acids What is in this issue? and Playbook apps ● What to call (CH ) CH(OH)? The November 2012 issue of 3 2 Chem13 News has “isopropanol” listed in the materials for the E. J. Behrman Remember the Periodic Table Project is a Miniature Whoosh Bottle Demonstration. The question was Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry  Letter to the editor, page 3 free app for iPod, Playbook and iPad. raised whether this was an appropriate name or whether “2- The Ohio State University, Columbus OH These apps have the basic atomic propanol” or “isopropyl alcohol” would be the better choice. A  An almost forgotten simplification in the detection properties for each element along with quick look in the 12th edition of The Merck Index revealed of amino acids, page 3 Abstract: Ninhydrin spraying may be eliminated by the creative student artwork and stories behind “isopropyl alcohol” as a major heading followed by pseudonyms “2- incorporation of ninhydrin into the chromatographic solvent.  Fun mole maze, pages 4 and 5 each uniquely designed tile. Search for propanol, isopropanol, secondary propyl alcohol, dimethyl carbinol,”

 Organic molecules of everyday life: 10. Hexenal, Periodic Table Project or scan the QR and “petrohol.” One can also find “rubbing alcohol” (70% A ninhydrin spray, with or without the addition of 2,4,6- pages 6-7 code to find the apps for these devices. We isopropanol) and “isopropyl alcohol” (91% isopropanol) at local trimethylpyridine [s-collidine]1, is commonly used to detect encourage you to submit an app review on pharmacies. So what should we call this substance?  Public enemy number one? pages 7 and 8 amino acids following chromatography on filter paper or on either iTunes or App World. 2  Newly named elements contest, pages 9 – 11 As an instructor, I teach students the IUPAC system of nomenclature various other thin layer media. This exercise is found in both introductory organic chemistry and biochemistry labs.2 It is a  What is John Gurdon doing now? pages 9 and 18 because this system allows one to deduce the structural formula of some ominous-looking named substances such as 2,2- good, cheap and colorful way to introduce students to both  ChemEd 2013, pages 12 – 14 ChemEd 2013 attendees can visit the dimethyl-3-methylenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptane. I also teach students paper and thin layer chromatography. Students will also be  Book review, page 15 Periodic Table Project wall mural common names when appropriate so they are aware that a interested to learn that this ninhydrin chemistry is used by forensic scientists as a sensitive probe for fingerprints — Google  A “light-hearted” crostic, pages 16 and 17 substance can go by more than one name. A good example For those who come to Waterloo ON this summer make sure to I use is that acetic acid is the common name for ethanoic acid. It “ninhydrin fingerprints” for many procedures and images.  Chem dates, page 18 visit our Periodic Table Project wall mural at the Earth Science is important to make our subject relevant to the students’ everyday Museum at the University of Waterloo. Rogers3 rediscovered an important simplification based on the lives. In talking about ethanoic acid or acetic acid, I would point out that vinegar is a dilute solution of acetic acid. fact that the reaction of amino acids with ninhydrin is rather slow 4 Publishing Chem 13 News at room temperature. If, therefore, chromatography is carried While I likely would not call it 2-propanol, dimethyl carbinol or out fairly rapidly, the ninhydrin can be incorporated into the chromatographic solvent. This eliminates the extra step of petrohol, the use of isopropanol is acceptable. And actually right spraying, the not inconsiderable cost of the sprayers, and the Chem 13 News is published for teachers by the Department of now there is a bottle labeled — by the manufacturer — as such Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The in my lab. possible hazard of inhalation of the spray. This is a rediscovery editors welcome letters, ideas and articles helpful to other teachers. because Nicholson first reported this idea in 1949.5 According to (For author’s guidelines go to: http://www.uwaterloo.ca/chem13news) Kenneth S. Lyle, Duke University, Durham NC  the Web of Knowledge, this paper was cited 8 times in the

Opinions expressed are those of our authors. We recommend 1950s but hardly at all thereafter (nor by ref. 3). It is not professional caution in adopting other people’s experiments and Russell wins a “vanishing quicksilver” crostic mentioned in any of the standard books on chromatographic demonstrations. methods that I have looked at (such as reference 2) except for The winner of the book prize for solving the December/January Subscription for 1 year, respectively (nine issues per year), inclusive Hais.6 It is virtuous to honor our forebearers. of HST in Canada: 2013 crostic is Christine Russell from Brock University, St. Catharines ON. Canada — CAN$25.00 References The quote is by Allen Abel in Canadian Geographic Magazine. USA — CANS$27.00 1. a) A.J. Woiwod, Journal of Chromatography, 1960, 3, 278. In the Arctic, when the spring sun rises, compounds of mercury Elsewhere — CAN$36.00 or US$36.00 b) H. Stübchen-Kirchner, Z. Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 349, vanish from the atmosphere. One moment the air is tainted with April issue correction 1049, 1968. Help save money; renew on your own initiative one month before mercury, the next it has gone, until it re-appears in the autumn sky. 2. a) I. Smith, Chromatographic and Electrophoretic Techniques, your subscription expires. Expiry date is at top left of address label. — “q” is no longer on periodic table Where it goes during the interim is not known. It is likely that Vol. I, 3rd edition, Chapter 5, Interscience, NY, 1969. Back issues: CAN$5.00 or US$5.00 each. : In the April issue of bromine atoms, produced by the reaction of ozone with sea salt, in Attention chemistry trivia enthusiasts b) M.O. Hurst & D.K. Cobb, Journal of Chemical Education, 67, Mailing address: Chem 13 News, Department of Chemistry, Chem 13 News we said “J” was the only letter of the alphabet sunlight, are responsible for the removal of mercury from the page 978, 1990. University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON N2L 3G1. not on the periodic table. This was true. The letter “q” had atmosphere, but how it gets back in the fall remains a mystery. c) R. Switzer & L. Garrity, Experimental Biochemistry, 3rd edition, Tel: 519-888-4567, ext 32505. Fax: 519-888-9168. appeared only as Uuq (ununquadium) for the element114. In E-mail: [email protected]. A allotropes M autoionization Y hunts the west in pages 111-121, W. H. Freeman, NY, 1999. May 2012, element 114 was named flerovium (Fl) and the winter B laboratory N discharge 3. P.W. Rogers, Journal of Chemical Education, 73, 189, 1996. This issue was prepared by Jean Hein, editor; Kathy Jackson, placeholder (Uuq) was no longer needed — so no more “q”. C Le Chatelier O Inn on the Front Z inky twin sisters production; Lew Brubacher, David Cash, Mike Chong, Jenn 4. a) C.E. Dent, Biochemical Journal, 43, 169, 1948. D ewes P Avogadro’s AA cadmium Coggan, Brian Ellis, Kaitlan Huckabone, Laura Ingram, Susan b) H. Meyer, Biochemical Journal, 67, 333, 1957. E no turkey-trotting Q number BB mercury c) Z. Khan & A.A. Kahn, Journal of the Indian Chemical Society, Kelso, Sue Stathopulos, Kaitlin Town, Stacey Willfang, and Gerry here R griffin CC atom smasher 66, 454 1989. Toogood, proofreading; and Creative Services, University of *Renew now* F absorption spectrum S either DD gaffs the fish 5. D.E. Nicholson, Nature, 1949, 163, 954, 1949. Waterloo. If your subscription expires soon (see top left of your G behemoth T ortho EE alpha tin 6. I.M. Hais, in Paper Chromatography, I.M. Hais & K. Macek, eds., mailing label), please renew on your own initiative. **Credit card charges will be in Canadian dollars. The exchange rate H eke out their life U Graham’s FF zinc Academic Press, NY, page 489, 1963.  is applied at time of processing. You will save us money and minimize future price I lucky number V rummy set GG it’s RI increases — rates in box (adjacent left). J complex W adenosine HH nine wines K activated triphosphate II ethernet  L new mummy theme X photosynthesis 2 Chem 13 News/May 2013 An almost forgotten simplification in Download iPod, iPad Letter to the editor the detection of amino acids What is in this issue? and Playbook apps ● What to call (CH ) CH(OH)? The November 2012 issue of 3 2 Chem13 News has “isopropanol” listed in the materials for the E. J. Behrman Remember the Periodic Table Project is a Miniature Whoosh Bottle Demonstration. The question was Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry  Letter to the editor, page 3 free app for iPod, Playbook and iPad. raised whether this was an appropriate name or whether “2- The Ohio State University, Columbus OH These apps have the basic atomic propanol” or “isopropyl alcohol” would be the better choice. A  An almost forgotten simplification in the detection properties for each element along with quick look in the 12th edition of The Merck Index revealed of amino acids, page 3 Abstract: Ninhydrin spraying may be eliminated by the creative student artwork and stories behind “isopropyl alcohol” as a major heading followed by pseudonyms “2- incorporation of ninhydrin into the chromatographic solvent.  Fun mole maze, pages 4 and 5 each uniquely designed tile. Search for propanol, isopropanol, secondary propyl alcohol, dimethyl carbinol,”

Opinions expressed are those of our authors. We recommend 1950s but hardly at all thereafter (nor by ref. 3). It is not professional caution in adopting other people’s experiments and Russell wins a “vanishing quicksilver” crostic mentioned in any of the standard books on chromatographic demonstrations. methods that I have looked at (such as reference 2) except for The winner of the book prize for solving the December/January Subscription for 1 year, respectively (nine issues per year), inclusive Hais.6 It is virtuous to honor our forebearers. of HST in Canada: 2013 crostic is Christine Russell from Brock University, St. Catharines ON. Canada — CAN$25.00 References The quote is by Allen Abel in Canadian Geographic Magazine. USA — CANS$27.00 1. a) A.J. Woiwod, Journal of Chromatography, 1960, 3, 278. In the Arctic, when the spring sun rises, compounds of mercury Elsewhere — CAN$36.00 or US$36.00 b) H. Stübchen-Kirchner, Z. Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 349, vanish from the atmosphere. One moment the air is tainted with April issue correction 1049, 1968. Help save money; renew on your own initiative one month before mercury, the next it has gone, until it re-appears in the autumn sky. 2. a) I. Smith, Chromatographic and Electrophoretic Techniques, your subscription expires. Expiry date is at top left of address label. — “q” is no longer on periodic table Where it goes during the interim is not known. It is likely that Vol. I, 3rd edition, Chapter 5, Interscience, NY, 1969. Back issues: CAN$5.00 or US$5.00 each. : In the April issue of bromine atoms, produced by the reaction of ozone with sea salt, in Attention chemistry trivia enthusiasts b) M.O. Hurst & D.K. Cobb, Journal of Chemical Education, 67, Mailing address: Chem 13 News, Department of Chemistry, Chem 13 News we said “J” was the only letter of the alphabet sunlight, are responsible for the removal of mercury from the page 978, 1990. University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON N2L 3G1. not on the periodic table. This was true. The letter “q” had atmosphere, but how it gets back in the fall remains a mystery. c) R. Switzer & L. Garrity, Experimental Biochemistry, 3rd edition, Tel: 519-888-4567, ext 32505. Fax: 519-888-9168. appeared only as Uuq (ununquadium) for the element114. In E-mail: [email protected]. A allotropes M autoionization Y hunts the west in pages 111-121, W. H. Freeman, NY, 1999. May 2012, element 114 was named flerovium (Fl) and the winter B laboratory N discharge 3. P.W. Rogers, Journal of Chemical Education, 73, 189, 1996. This issue was prepared by Jean Hein, editor; Kathy Jackson, placeholder (Uuq) was no longer needed — so no more “q”. C Le Chatelier O Inn on the Front Z inky twin sisters production; Lew Brubacher, David Cash, Mike Chong, Jenn 4. a) C.E. Dent, Biochemical Journal, 43, 169, 1948. D ewes P Avogadro’s AA cadmium Coggan, Brian Ellis, Kaitlan Huckabone, Laura Ingram, Susan b) H. Meyer, Biochemical Journal, 67, 333, 1957. E no turkey-trotting Q number BB mercury c) Z. Khan & A.A. Kahn, Journal of the Indian Chemical Society, Kelso, Sue Stathopulos, Kaitlin Town, Stacey Willfang, and Gerry here R griffin CC atom smasher 66, 454 1989. Toogood, proofreading; and Creative Services, University of *Renew now* F absorption spectrum S either DD gaffs the fish 5. D.E. Nicholson, Nature, 1949, 163, 954, 1949. Waterloo. If your subscription expires soon (see top left of your G behemoth T ortho EE alpha tin 6. I.M. Hais, in Paper Chromatography, I.M. Hais & K. Macek, eds., mailing label), please renew on your own initiative. **Credit card charges will be in Canadian dollars. The exchange rate H eke out their life U Graham’s FF zinc Academic Press, NY, page 489, 1963.  is applied at time of processing. You will save us money and minimize future price I lucky number V rummy set GG it’s RI increases — rates in box (adjacent left). J complex W adenosine HH nine wines K activated triphosphate II ethernet  L new mummy theme X photosynthesis 2 Chem 13 News/May 2013 May 2013/Chem 13 News 3 Fun mole maze Fun mole maze

Susan Kelso and Jean Hein Chem 13 News, University of Waterloo, ON

Not only is the mole our chemistry mascot, it is a fundamental unit of matter. One mole contains 6.022×1023 of whatever is being measured. It is often a challenge for students to understand that the mole provides a way of measuring matter.

The maze puzzle on the next page focuses on the mole with concepts such as molar ratios, gas laws, and solutions. It is a good review for grade 11 and a nice refresher for those in grade 12. The Periodic Table Project electronic app was used as the source for the molar masses.

Begin at one of the two starting locations (Start 1 and 2) and work through the questions to reach the finish space (Finish). Periodic table shower curtain is this month’s prize In each space there is a question that continues from that statement in the start box. — see page 19.

For example: “Is there one mole of… Lithium atoms in 6.022×1023 atoms of Li?”

If the content of hexagon equals one mole, follow the “true” arrow marked with a “T”. If it does not equal one mole, follow the “false” arrow marked with a “F”. Continue until the Finish is reached.

At the bottom of the puzzle, students can record their “T” or ”F” paths in the space provided.

Send in your students’ answers, and, for each entry, their teacher’s name will be entered into a draw. Teachers need only include the order of true and false answers that students followed to get to the finish — see bottom of puzzle. The prize is the coveted Periodic Table shower curtain donated by Educational Innovations. Go to www.teachersource.com for more about this prize. The deadline is on or before September 30, 2013. Send your students’ solutions to: Chem 13 News, Fun mole maze, Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Fax: 519-888-9168; or email: [email protected].

IDEAS THAT WORK Combining academic studies with co-op experience

Chanèle Polenz is combining academic studies with real-world experience in the co-op education program. Chanèle has held work term positions in a medical isotope facility, and at a molecular biology lab at Health Canada. Her current study term includes assisting with research in mitochondrial disease. This will all lead to “My goal is to explore how and graduate studies and a career in medical research. why things go wrong in living Whether searching for the causes of disease, building organisms. I chose University business leadership skills, or developing sustainable of Waterloo Science as the best energy solutions, you’ll ﬁ nd it all at the University of school to ﬁ nd innovative, non- traditional approaches. And I knew Waterloo. uwaterloo.ca that co-op would let me experience di erent paths before I graduate.”

C907496 - CHANÈLE POLENZ, 3RD YEAR BIOCHEMISTRY, FACULTY OF SCIENCE

IDEAS START HERE – IDEAS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD

Note: this is a staged photo. In all laboratory settings goggles are recommended. 4 Chem 13 News/May 2013 May 2013/Chem 13 News 7 Fun mole maze Fun mole maze

Susan Kelso and Jean Hein Chem 13 News, University of Waterloo, ON Sodium ions Gold in START #2 START #1 in Not only is the mole our chemistry mascot, it is a fundamental unit of matter. One mole Is there exactly 0.10642 kg of 1 L of 1 M Is there exactly contains 6.022×1023 of whatever is being measured. It is often a challenge for

one mole of… F Au? sodium one mole of…

F T

students to understand that the mole provides a way of measuring matter. T D in T Iron in carbonate? Na ions in T 55.85 atoms of F 2A + B → 4C + D? T 5.0 L of 0.2 M

The maze puzzle on the next page focuses on the mole with concepts such as molar T NaOH? ratios, gas laws, and solutions. It is a good review for grade 11 and a nice refresher for Fe? F F those in grade 12. The Periodic Table Project electronic app was used as the source Lithium atoms Electrons in A = 1 mol Nitrogen in 13C in for the molar masses. 23 22 T in 6.022×10 6.022×10 13 28.02 g of liquid T B = 1Fmol 13.0 g of C? atoms of Li? atoms of Ne? T nitrogen? Begin at one of the two starting locations (Start 1 and 2) and work through the T F questions to reach the finish space (Finish). T Bonds in Carbon atoms in Zinc in

0.50 mol of F 6 . 0 22×1023 Periodic table shower curtain is this month’s prize F F

T 65.39 g of Zn? methane? molecules of In each space there is a question that continues from that statement in the start box. — see page 19. T F F carbon dioxide?

T 2+

T T T Mg in For example: “Is there one mole of… Water in F Tungsten in T 23 Sodium in1.0 g of 3 Lithium atoms in 6.022×10 atoms of Li?” 18.03 cm of H2O? 1.0 kg of W? 24.31 g of Na? F 2 T Mg +? If the content of hexagon equals one mole, follow the “true” arrow marked with a “T”. Hydrogen in Helium in 1.5055×1023 If it does not equal one mole, follow the “false” arrow marked with a “F”. Continue until the Finish is reached. F 22.4 L of He gas at T F molecules of CH 4? F STP?

At the bottom of the puzzle, students can record their “T” or ”F” paths in the space provided. F F H+ in Nickel in Iron(III) oxide in T KCN in

Send in your students’ answers, and, for each entry, their teacher’s name will be entered into a draw. Teachers need only include the 1.0 L of 1.0 M 1 mol of melted 65.03 g of KCN ? T 0.15970 kg of

H SO solution ? Ni? T Fe O ? T T order of true and false answers that students followed to get to the finish — see bottom of puzzle. The prize is the coveted Periodic 2 4 T 2 3 F Table shower curtain donated by Educational Innovations. Go to www.teachersource.com for more about this prize. The deadline is on T F Carbon atoms

or before September 30, 2013. Send your students’ solutions to: Chem 13 News, Fun mole maze, Department of Chemistry, University Sodium in T LiF in in 12.011 g F F 1 mol of F T of Waterloo, Waterloo ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Fax: 519-888-9168; or email: [email protected]. 12 g of LiF?

graphite?

T table salt ? F T F F A in Dogs in Neutrons in O2 in A + 2B → 3C + 2D ? T 4.856×10 21 atoms F

a group of 22.4 L of O 2 gas at

C = 2 mo l T

6.022×1023 dogs? of 206Pb? T

F STP? D = 3 mo l T N in 2 Sodium atoms 6.022 L of N 2 FINI SH! in 1 mol of T

F gas at STP? sodium sulfate?

F T F Ammonia C in HCl(aq) in Carbon atoms molecules in A + 3B → C + 3D? F in one mol of 100.0 mL of F

17.04 g of NH 3?

F graphite?

T 0.50 M HCl? T F A = 1 mol T

AgCl in Hydroxide ions in Tin in

F 128.02 g of F T 1.0 mol of 47.87 g of Ti? B= 3mol AgCl?

F Cu(OH)2? T T T Hydrogen Oxygen atoms O xygen atom s atoms 24 in in 1.204×10 in 2 m ol of water? 2 mol of water ? molecules of T F

T O ? 2

Start 1 __ T ______

Start 2 ______Note: this is a staged photo. In all laboratory settings goggles are recommended. 4 Chem 13 News/May 2013 MayMay 2013/Chem 2013/Chem 13 13 News News 5 7

Organic molecules of everyday life: 10. Hexenal can do with your students would be to have them match a 2. A. Hatanaka, “The Biogeneration of Green Odour by Green Leaves”,

Jenn Coggan chemical to its smell as a way to remember their functional Phytochemistry. Vol 34, No 5, pages 1201-1218, 1993. Nano-biomaterials senior laboratory instructor groups. You might also want to have them go smell a freshly 3. http://www.serenascent.com.au/index.php University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON mowed lawn before writing a test as this should help them relax 4. B. Malnic, J. Hirono, T. Sato, L. Buck, Cell, 96, pages 713-723, 1999. and boost their memory. 5. P.T. Choy and N.A. Lavidis, “Praescent attenuates the up-regulation This is the 10th article in the series, which considers some common organic molecules encountered in our everyday lives. Described of sympathetic neurotransmission induced by chronic stress,” in References (Websites accessed April 2013.) Proceedings of International Brain Research Organization. July, 2007. will be some general chemical information about the organic molecule, how it is useful to us, and other interesting facts. 6. http://www.scienceinschool.org/print/378.  1. I. Kubo, K. Fujita, A. Kubo, K. Nihei, and T. Ogura, Journal of

Hexenal For a chemical to be perceived by our nose it must be small in Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52, 3329, 2004. size, lipophilic and volatile. An odour threshold is defined as the Chemical name: cis-3-hexenal or (Z)-hex-3-enal lowest concentration of a vapour in air that can be detected by

CAS registry number: 6789-80-6 smell and cis-3-hexenal has a very low odour threshold of 0.25 Public enemy number one?

Formula: C H O parts per billion (ppb). It readily rearranges to the more stable 6 10 Mark G. Torchia, (Contributing Editor, Canadian Society for Chemical Technology) Structure: trans-2-hexenal, which has a much higher odour threshold (17 Department of Surgery H ppb). An even higher odour threshold (70 ppb) is found for the St. Boniface General Hospital related alcohol cis-3-hexen-1-ol.2 Even so, this alcohol — Winnipeg MB O sometimes called the leaf alcohol — is used quite extensively in This colourless liquid is an aldehyde and is only slightly soluble the perfume industry to give fragrances a natural, fresh, clean This article was printed in April 1986 in Canadian Chemical News. So how is chemistry doing with its reputation after 27 years? in water, but is miscible with ether and ethanol. It is believed to scent or what perfumers call “green odours”. Reprinted with permission. be a component of the odour of freshly mowed grass. The smell At a party recently, a friend of mine (or should I say ex-friend), had a bad case of acute esophagitis, also known as indigestion does not last long because cis-3-hexenal is unstable and Researchers have actually discovered that the compounds notorious for his outspoken personality, ran towards me as I — very dangerous syndrome in dachshunds, as you may know. rearranges to form trans-2-hexenal. This molecule is an isomer released when mowing your lawn make people feel happy, entered the room. Realizing that I was about to be accosted, I of cis-3-hexenal but is more stable and differs in the relaxed, and could prevent mental decline in old age. They claim pretended that I had forgotten to plug in my car’s block heater, On the way home I thought about how chemical technology, and stereochemistry and position of the double bond. Trans-3- it works directly on the brain, particularly the emotional and 3,4 and tried to leave the room. “Mark….Mark….”, I was trapped! chemistry in general, has suddenly become, in the public’s eye, hexenal, another isomer, can also form. These naturally memory parts. People have a very strong association between a modern Atilla the Hun. Randomly, yet somehow purposefully, occurring aldehydes are believed to be produced in plants, and memory and the sense of smell, much more so than the other “You still into that chemistry stuff? Boy, you guys sure know how travelling around the globe maiming and killing innocent people, grass in particular, as protection from bacteria when cells are senses. Olfaction is closely linked with the limbic system, which to cause havoc on this planet…Bhopal and all that stuff. I have just endangering future generations and destroying nature’s delicate injured to give time for the cut ends to heal. The compounds, is responsible for emotions and memory. The sense of smell has the limerick for you…Listen to this…”. (Did I have any choice?) ecological balance. trans-2-hexenal and trans-3-hexenal have been found to be a direct link to the cerebral cortex in the brain; messages active against a range of bacteria, including Salmonella involving other senses such as touch or taste have a more By now, thanks to his fortissimo voice, all ears were tuned to Why don’t other professions seem to suffer from this same choleraesuis which is the most common cause of sepsis.1 circuitous route. From his research, Dr. Lavidis and his team him, and all eyes directed at me. public image? Are all engineers burned at the stake by the have developed a perfume that “smells like a freshly-cut lawn” 5 media when a plane crashes after losing an engine, or after a So how does the “freshly cut grass” end up producing (cis)-3- and reportedly relieves stress and helps boost memory. “Diddle diddle dumpling my chemistry friend Mark, support railing collapses and 100 people fall to their death? Are hexenal? It arises from rapid enzymatic oxidation/breakdown of With the process on full, he went to the park. geophysicists or meteorologists tarred and feathered when a linolenic acid present in the cells of grass leaves, resulting in Humans can distinguish between over 10,000 different smells. The safety valve got stuck, volcano suddenly erupts or a hurricane devastates an entire highly odoriferous C compounds, such as (cis)-3-hexenal, (cis)- Molecules from objects around us evaporate and travel to our The townspeople were out of luck, 6 Caribbean island? Are carpenters and newspaper publishers 3-hexen-1-ol and (cis)-3-hexenyl acetate. These chemicals noses, where they activate cells in the olfactory epithelium (a Diddle diddle dumpling my chemistry friend Mark.” treated like lepers because the deforestation of our continent is aren't present in the intact leaves but are formed in very small patch of tissue about the size of a postage stamp located high in GROAN! I thought that the force of his paroxysmal laughter would, causing major environmental problems? Let’s not forget the amounts when the grass leaves (and leaves of many other the nasal cavity). Each cell has receptors that have a certain at the least, burst a cerebral aneurysm. One consolation, he was physicians when an outbreak of cholera kills a few thousand plants) are cut.2 These compounds are volatile and extremely shape to fit a certain molecule, like a lock and key. When you the only one in the room laughing. To this day, I still believe he is unsuspecting people. Are they subjected to a cat-o-nine-tails, or odour intensive. smell something, the receptor gets activated and sends a suffering from witzelsucht.1 Looking around the room, I suddenly worse yet, have their Mercedes convertible compressed into message to your brain. It is interesting to note that small had the strangest hallucination…written on everyone’s forehead breadbox-size cube? Are all computer analysts banished to the changes in the chemical structure of many organic compounds were the “chemistry things” we would all like to forget about: wilderness when a glitch in a hydro computer shuts power off in can produce distinct smells.5 The fine-tuning of our receptor Bhopal, Love Canal, Three-Mile Island, PCBs, acid rain, dioxin… . a major city for hours? No, no, no, no, no. machinery allows us to distinguish between different molecules.

We can distinguish between different functional groups, the Yes, at this gathering of accountants, literature professors, There is something about the four letters C H E M that causes exchange of aliphatic and aromatic rings, and even elongation of plumbers, firefighters, taxi drivers, and other non-chemistry hearts to stop, stomachs to churn and ulcerate, and a mother’s a carbon chain.6 This is evident with cis-3-hexenal and trans-2- people, I had suddenly become Public Enemy Number One. love to wax cold. Yet they quickly forget about headaches they hexenal — isomers having noticeably different odour thresholds. I thought of saying something clever to my friend the poet, about complained about, then popped an ASA. The family pictures and Many fragrances are derived from plants, and plant products can his polyester leisure suit, his epoxy-filled teeth, his “natural look” home movies that bring tears to their eyes: what do you mean be used to demonstrate how small changes in the chemical toupee, or his crepe-soled yachting shoes, but I was reminded developed by the chemical industry? Their fibreglass sailboats structure of an odorant can give rise to completely different smells of a Proverb… “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, and sports car bodies. Videotapes and floppy diskettes. Rayon, or at least distinguishable flavours. but the mouth of a fool poureth out foolishness”.2 I decided, rather, nylon, polyester, acetate, Teflon, ceramics, silicon, germanium… .

that I would crawl over to the food table, grab a handful of cashews The science of scent would be a great way to introduce isomers and get myself into the kitchen, where I could be consoled by Perhaps we, as a responsible group of professionals, could start to your organic class. The leaf aldehyde also helps debunk the my wife. We left the party 10 minutes later, explaining to the a chemical police force. We could go out and remove all those popular myth that a “chemical smell” is bad. One exercise you other guests that our babysitter had just called to tell us our dog chemicals from people’s homes. Sure… 6 Chem 13 News/May 2013 May 2013/Chem 13 News 7

Organic molecules of everyday life: 10. Hexenal can do with your students would be to have them match a 2. A. Hatanaka, “The Biogeneration of Green Odour by Green Leaves”,

CAS registry number: 6789-80-6 smell and cis-3-hexenal has a very low odour threshold of 0.25 Public enemy number one?

“Hello, Mrs. Jennifer Jones. Yes, this is the Canadian Chemical Concentration of urine in a pool Newly named elements contest (colour insert, pages 10, 11)

sessions. Does it matter? Have your students calculate the design elemental tiles for the newly named elements, flerovium go towards each tile. You will need a Twitter account, which is “Oh wonderful. My husband has this jar of smelly paint thinner concentration of urea based on the information below. and livermorium. The winning Fl and Lv elemental tiles will be free and extremely easy to set up. This will give some of you a and there’s some 25-year old insecticide out in the garage.” added to our iPad, iPod and Playbook Periodic Table Project apps. reason to start on Twitter. If you do not like it, it is easy to take “Peeing in a swimming pool, even if all swimmers do it yourself off this social medium. You might be surprised about “Let’s just go through our standard list to make sure you haven’t simultaneously, has very little impact on the composition of the We have received many fun, colourful and creative tiles. We how much you like it. We will be retweeting the tiles several forgotten any chemicals. Food wrap, laundry and dish detergent, pool water itself. An Olympic-size pool contains over 2 million selected the top five entries by having our Periodic Table times until voting closes on August 1, 2013. Do not forget to fabric softener, bath soap, nylon tents, Teflon-treated wall-to- litres of water and a single urination is somewhere in the region sponsors vote (3M Canada, Chemical Institute of Canada and encourage your students to vote — and retweet their favorites. wall carpeting, latex or alkyd paint, vinyl wallpaper, plastic kids’ of 0.2 litres.” (from www.senseaboutscience.org/data/files/ the uWaterloo Office of Research). Along with members of the We love the thought of students reading about chemistry on toys, graphite tennis/squash racquets, perfume, pantyhose…” Celebrities_and_Science_2012.pdf). Don’t forget the approximate University of Waterloo Chemistry Department, the top five social media and elemental tiles spreading across Twitter. “Wait, wait. I thought you said you were coming for the chemicals concentration of urea in urine is 9.3 g/L. elemental tiles were selected based on creativity and artistic we have in the house.” “Yes ma’am. Lawn furniture, disposable -7 -4 (Answer 9.3 x 10 g/L or 9.3 x 10 ppm) design. The next two pages have the top five entries for In Person: The second way to vote is in person at diapers, toilet bowl cleaner, microcomputer, television, ghetto- each of the newly named elements. ChemEd 2013. We will have all the elemental tiles displayed at blasters, we can’t have all that silicon stuff hanging around.*” the Chem 13 News booth. Stop by the booth and drop in your Skeletal formulae revisited Now it is your turn to be part of the final decision. There are vote. Since ChemEd attendees tend to be chemistry teachers, “Cancel my appointment. I will have to reconsider this.” two ways to vote. educators and Chem 13 News readers, they make the perfect Andrew P. Dicks and group to help decide on the winning tile. What a ridiculous scenario. I think few of us involved in the chemical Stanislaw Skonieczny Twitter: The first way is electronically, through Twitter. On industry would disagree with the fact that our industry has had Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto ON May 30 we will post the five tiles for each contest on Twitter. If The deadline for Twitter votes and ChemEd attendee votes will its fair share of disasters and chemical products and by-products you “like” the tile, it will be considered a vote in this tile’s favor. be August 1. We hope to have the winner announced in that we would like to wipe off the slate anytime. Yes, there have It was interesting to read a recent “pet peeve” from Darrel Beach Yes, you may select more than one but the great thing about September issue of Chem 13 News.  been and continue to be environmental problems that we would about skeletal organic formulae.1 For many years he has rather not talk about. We are part of the “offended” society. We required his students to explicitly show all four bonds from each have children whose futures we want to keep bright and safe. carbon atom in every organic molecule they drew. As we indicated in our paper,2 this approach is reasonable for very What is John Gurdon doing now? Our responsibility as chemical technologists is to admit our small and uncomplicated molecules (e.g., methane, ethane and professional and technological shortcomings up front. We must their derivatives) and is the style adopted in very old chemistry Take a guess after you read his 1949 report card. always realize that the lay pubic is apprehensive at the best of textbooks, with formulae taking up a lot of space (and taking a times over what most of us consider everyday routines and lot of time to draw). In first-year courses at the University of Answer on page 18 perfectly “safe” substances. We must, with every new process Toronto, we used to observe students trying to save time by . and synthesis, put into practice every new safety control and drawing only carbon atoms and lines coming from them because procedure, for we might, one day, be one of the fatalities. We they did not want to include all the hydrogen atoms. must work together with the media to ensure that reports dealing with our industry are published and broadcast with accuracy and Because of this, we welcomed the IUPAC Compendium of without sensationalism. Both the good and the bad. Chemical Terminology3 to use skeletal formulae for longer chains and rings. All newer textbooks, scientific journals and We must now regain the trust of the public through trustworthy even Wikipedia4 currently use such representations. Why is this methods and put our industry and profession back in the good the case? Skeletal formulae take less space, clearly show all books of our society. Perhaps, instead of being Public Enemy functional groups, are quicker to draw and (most importantly) Number One, we will present an image of a group of indicate proper bond angles. We strongly recommend that professionals willing and able to provide new technology to teachers introduce skeletal formulae in high schools so that improve lifestyle and provide optimum protection from potential students are exposed to them and their meaning as early as hazards which we have generated concurrently. possible. We require students to use skeletal structures at our university and formally examine their understanding of them. The Canadian Society for Chemical Technology (CSCT) is working towards this. Literature cited

ARE YOU? 1. D.H. Beach, Chem 13 News, 392, 6, 2012. 2. S. Skonieczny, A.P. Dicks, Chem 13 News, 372, pages 10-12, 2010. References 3. IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd edition (the

"Gold Book"). Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. 1. Witzelsucht — A condition marked by the making of poor jokes and Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 1997. XML on-line puns and the telling of pointless stories, at which the patient is corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org created by M. Nic, J. himself intensely amused. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins, 2006. 2. Bible, King James Version, Proverbs 15, verse 2. 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUPAC_nomenclature_of_organic_ Reprinted with permission [*Now we would also need to pry away all mobile devices.]  chemistry (accessed September 2012).  8 Chem 13 News/May 2013 May 2013/Chem 13 News 9

“Hello, Mrs. Jennifer Jones. Yes, this is the Canadian Chemical Concentration of urine in a pool Newly named elements contest (colour insert, pages 10, 11)

Police calling. You called our office last week for removal of home During the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, US swimmer In September 2012, we asked Chem 13 News readers to help Twitter, is that you can only “like” something once. So you may chemicals. We will be by this afternoon to pick everything up.” Michael Phelps admitted to peeing in the pool during training update the Periodic Table Project by having their students vote for more than one, but only one vote from your account can sessions. Does it matter? Have your students calculate the design elemental tiles for the newly named elements, flerovium go towards each tile. You will need a Twitter account, which is “Oh wonderful. My husband has this jar of smelly paint thinner concentration of urea based on the information below. and livermorium. The winning Fl and Lv elemental tiles will be free and extremely easy to set up. This will give some of you a and there’s some 25-year old insecticide out in the garage.” added to our iPad, iPod and Playbook Periodic Table Project apps. reason to start on Twitter. If you do not like it, it is easy to take “Peeing in a swimming pool, even if all swimmers do it yourself off this social medium. You might be surprised about “Let’s just go through our standard list to make sure you haven’t simultaneously, has very little impact on the composition of the We have received many fun, colourful and creative tiles. We how much you like it. We will be retweeting the tiles several forgotten any chemicals. Food wrap, laundry and dish detergent, pool water itself. An Olympic-size pool contains over 2 million selected the top five entries by having our Periodic Table times until voting closes on August 1, 2013. Do not forget to fabric softener, bath soap, nylon tents, Teflon-treated wall-to- litres of water and a single urination is somewhere in the region sponsors vote (3M Canada, Chemical Institute of Canada and encourage your students to vote — and retweet their favorites. wall carpeting, latex or alkyd paint, vinyl wallpaper, plastic kids’ of 0.2 litres.” (from www.senseaboutscience.org/data/files/ the uWaterloo Office of Research). Along with members of the We love the thought of students reading about chemistry on toys, graphite tennis/squash racquets, perfume, pantyhose…” Celebrities_and_Science_2012.pdf). Don’t forget the approximate University of Waterloo Chemistry Department, the top five social media and elemental tiles spreading across Twitter. “Wait, wait. I thought you said you were coming for the chemicals concentration of urea in urine is 9.3 g/L. elemental tiles were selected based on creativity and artistic we have in the house.” “Yes ma’am. Lawn furniture, disposable -7 -4 (Answer 9.3 x 10 g/L or 9.3 x 10 ppm) design. The next two pages have the top five entries for In Person: The second way to vote is in person at diapers, toilet bowl cleaner, microcomputer, television, ghetto- each of the newly named elements. ChemEd 2013. We will have all the elemental tiles displayed at blasters, we can’t have all that silicon stuff hanging around.*” the Chem 13 News booth. Stop by the booth and drop in your Skeletal formulae revisited Now it is your turn to be part of the final decision. There are vote. Since ChemEd attendees tend to be chemistry teachers, “Cancel my appointment. I will have to reconsider this.” two ways to vote. educators and Chem 13 News readers, they make the perfect Andrew P. Dicks and group to help decide on the winning tile. What a ridiculous scenario. I think few of us involved in the chemical Stanislaw Skonieczny Twitter: The first way is electronically, through Twitter. On industry would disagree with the fact that our industry has had Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto ON May 30 we will post the five tiles for each contest on Twitter. If The deadline for Twitter votes and ChemEd attendee votes will its fair share of disasters and chemical products and by-products you “like” the tile, it will be considered a vote in this tile’s favor. be August 1. We hope to have the winner announced in that we would like to wipe off the slate anytime. Yes, there have It was interesting to read a recent “pet peeve” from Darrel Beach Yes, you may select more than one but the great thing about September issue of Chem 13 News.  been and continue to be environmental problems that we would about skeletal organic formulae.1 For many years he has rather not talk about. We are part of the “offended” society. We required his students to explicitly show all four bonds from each have children whose futures we want to keep bright and safe. carbon atom in every organic molecule they drew. As we indicated in our paper,2 this approach is reasonable for very What is John Gurdon doing now? Our responsibility as chemical technologists is to admit our small and uncomplicated molecules (e.g., methane, ethane and professional and technological shortcomings up front. We must their derivatives) and is the style adopted in very old chemistry Take a guess after you read his 1949 report card. always realize that the lay pubic is apprehensive at the best of textbooks, with formulae taking up a lot of space (and taking a times over what most of us consider everyday routines and lot of time to draw). In first-year courses at the University of Answer on page 18 perfectly “safe” substances. We must, with every new process Toronto, we used to observe students trying to save time by . and synthesis, put into practice every new safety control and drawing only carbon atoms and lines coming from them because procedure, for we might, one day, be one of the fatalities. We they did not want to include all the hydrogen atoms. must work together with the media to ensure that reports dealing with our industry are published and broadcast with accuracy and Because of this, we welcomed the IUPAC Compendium of without sensationalism. Both the good and the bad. Chemical Terminology3 to use skeletal formulae for longer chains and rings. All newer textbooks, scientific journals and We must now regain the trust of the public through trustworthy even Wikipedia4 currently use such representations. Why is this methods and put our industry and profession back in the good the case? Skeletal formulae take less space, clearly show all books of our society. Perhaps, instead of being Public Enemy functional groups, are quicker to draw and (most importantly) Number One, we will present an image of a group of indicate proper bond angles. We strongly recommend that professionals willing and able to provide new technology to teachers introduce skeletal formulae in high schools so that improve lifestyle and provide optimum protection from potential students are exposed to them and their meaning as early as hazards which we have generated concurrently. possible. We require students to use skeletal structures at our university and formally examine their understanding of them. The Canadian Society for Chemical Technology (CSCT) is working towards this. Literature cited

ARE YOU? 1. D.H. Beach, Chem 13 News, 392, 6, 2012. 2. S. Skonieczny, A.P. Dicks, Chem 13 News, 372, pages 10-12, 2010. References 3. IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd edition (the

New Elements Contest: Top five tiles for Livermorium New Elements Contest: Top five tiles for flerovium

Vote on your favorite tile! See page 9 for voting details. Vote on your favorite tile! See page 9 for voting details.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the namesake of livermorium (Lv), helped to discover and This element tile depicts the radioactive element flerovium with the atomic symbol Fl and an atomic name element 116 in 2012. The stylized “L” from their logo is included in our atomic symbol for Lv. So number of 114. Flerovium is produced when element 116 quickly decays into element 114. Scientists far, only a reaction of curium-248 and calcium-48 (with the release of 3 neutrons) has successfully also produced element 114 by firing calcium ions at plutonium. The image on the bottom represents created an atom of Lv — in this case, livermorium-293. Lv-293 quickly decays, with a probable half- The Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, where this new element was discovered life of 60 milliseconds, into an alpha particle and flerovium-289. The Russian scientists at Dubna also by scientists working jointly with colleagues from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in aided in the discovery of Element 116. We have included their proposed name, moscovium. In addition, Livermore, California.

it was assumed that the element will have the properties of eka-polonium, so we have included that on Shaira Diaz De Chavez, Marshall McLuhan Catholic Secondary School, Toronto, Ontario, Canada our design. The design is made of construction paper, printed paper and modeling clay.

William Wendorf, Dexter High School, Dexter, Michigan, U.S.A.

First produced in 2000, livermorium is the result of fusing calcium and curium atoms during high- Flerovium is a radioactive element that was discovered in a collaboration between the Joint Institute speed collisions. The creation of this heavy element supports the theory of the “island of stability”. for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. This refers to a region of the periodic table where radioactive elements have longer half-lives than The radioactive symbol in the middle expresses the property of radioactivity that flerovium has. To their neighbors. These elements may last long enough that they can be utilized in the future. My recognize the works between the two countries, the American and Russian flag are integrated into design was inspired by science’s search for the island of stability. With its discovery, livermorium acts the radioactive symbol. The background is left as a yellow gradient because yellow and black are the as the compass rose, guiding researchers toward their goal as they navigate through our world of colours that comprise the radioactive symbol.

matter. Avika Misra and Samantha Chittanousone, Port Credit Secondary School, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Susan Kelso, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

My tile represents the newly discovered super-heavy element livermorium (Lv). The hands in the tile Named after the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions (FLNR) in Dubna, Russia, flerovium is a symbolize and honour the scientists at the Flerov Laboratory for Nuclear Research and at the highly radioactive element. Hence, the image in the top-left corner is the radioactive symbol. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, who diligently worked to synthesize the scientist's image on the bottom right is of Georgy Flyorov, after whom the FLNR is named. I also element. The atomic number 116 can be found in the upper-left corner. During my research, I learned included the element's electron configuration. Flerovium was made after firing calcium ions at a that the element is placed as the heaviest member in group 16 on the periodic table. I thought it plutonium target in a nuclear reaction. Thus, there is a 3-D model of plutonium and the Bohr model of would be important to display this by depicting the massive electron shell in the background. To calcium, located within an explosion, which I tried to show through my background. As it was create my tile I used acrylic paint and pencil crayons. discovered in Russia, I also incorporated an outline of the map of Russia in the background.

Emily Cowley, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Janhavi Behal, Port Credit Secondary School, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory used to build nuclear weapons during the Cold War The scale is used to represent two concepts: the instability of flerovium’s nucleus and its weight as a between the United States and Russia. Today they focus their efforts on creating new elements such heavy metal. The radioactive symbol describes another property of the element. Its half-life is as livermorium. Around planet Earth, people form a circle of friendship to illustrate peace and "locked" in a stop watch. In the background, we can see a target zone with plutonium and calcium partnership among researchers in the domain of nuclear physics. Together they bring more nuclei flying around, which demonstrates the multitude of attempts to create the fusion of both knowledge of the universe into this world (stars on top). The fusion of calcium and curium allowed the elements.

creation of the radioactive livermorium and is represented by the nucleus in the centre of friendship Cyntsia Perron, École secondaire catholique de Casselman, Casselman, Ontario, Canada circle.

Sarah Forgues, École secondaire catholique de Casselman, Casselman, Ontario, Canada

Livermorium is an element created by combining calcium and curium. Even though it was Formally adopted by IUPAC on May 30, 2012, flerovium, formerly ununquadium, was first discovered “discovered” in Russia, it was named after the US Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory because in December 1998 at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions. The laboratory, within the Joint over the years scientists at Livermore have been involved in many areas of nuclear science. This is a Institute for Nuclear Research (JINT) in Dubna, Russia, bombarded a 244Pu atom with 48Ca ions. The prime example of great synthesizing among nations. I chose to use a silver arrow pointing at light to element is named after the Flerov Laboratory, which was itself named after the Russian physicist represent where we are headed, to a better understanding and clarity of our world. The colourful Georgy Flerov. The tile, done in marker and colour pencil, depicts a radioactive symbol and the logo ribbons symbolize the nations and how we are able to now work together to further our knowledge in of JINT with blue highlights to reflect the colour of their logo. The background has been layered with science as a world and community. marker so that when one looks closely, details regarding flerovium’s history are revealed.

Lisa Lai, Campbell Collegiate, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Emily Lam, University of Toronto Schools, Toronto, Ontario Canada

10 Chem 13 News/May 2013 May 2013/Chem 13 News 11

New Elements Contest: Top five tiles for Livermorium New Elements Contest: Top five tiles for flerovium

Vote on your favorite tile! See page 9 for voting details. Vote on your favorite tile! See page 9 for voting details.

William Wendorf, Dexter High School, Dexter, Michigan, U.S.A.

Emily Cowley, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Janhavi Behal, Port Credit Secondary School, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Sarah Forgues, École secondaire catholique de Casselman, Casselman, Ontario, Canada

Lisa Lai, Campbell Collegiate, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Emily Lam, University of Toronto Schools, Toronto, Ontario Canada

10 Chem 13 News/May 2013 May 2013/Chem 13 News 11

12 Chem 13 News/May 2013 May 2013/Chem 13 News 13

Calling all chemical educators and enthusiasts This year in late July, ChemEd returns to University of Waterloo for the 22nd biennial conference. The 2013 committee has been working hard to create a dynamic conference. With a great variety of activities, tour and sessions, ChemEd has something for everyone who loves chemistry.

Registration Early bird registration for ChemEd 2013 is open. You can go online to register at www.uwaterloo.ca/chemed2013/registration.

Registration includes:  Attendance at sessions including opening and closing plenary session, regular sessions and the demonstration series

 Conference program and abstracts  Opening reception, Ice Cream Social, and Oktoberfest-in-July  Lunches on Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 30. Don’t hesitate, early bird registration ends May 31.

Program Highlights

 Over 170 different sessions are planned, including presentations, demonstrations, labs and workshops — at-a-glance schedule will be posted online in May Fun facts about ChemEd For those of you not familiar with the conference, ChemEd is the  Reg Friesen Lecture to be presented by award-winning chemical educator, Geoff Rayner-Canham largest conference in North America that focuses on high school level chemical education. The biennial conference is designed to  Author’s Plenary by Sam Kean (The Disappearing Spoon) bring together chemical educators to learn and share new ideas.

 ChemEd 2013 opens with The first ChemEd was held in 1973 at the University of Waterloo So You Think You Can Demo Competition and had 325 attendees.  Mix and mingle with other chemistry educators at the Ice ChemEd was created by Leonard Sibley and Reg Friesen to bring Cream Social, Mole Day Breakfast, Mole Run and chemistry’s largest Bavarian festival – Oktoberfest-in-July! together high school chemistry teachers.

 Optional trips to the Stratford Festival, St Jacobs village and The Reg Friesen Lecture was first presented at ChemEd 1987. farmers market, Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, horseback Lecturers are chosen based on Reg’s belief that chemistry teachers riding and more can and do make a difference in the chemical community.

 The Laboratory Safety Institute will have an intensive full-day At ChemEd 95, the world’s largest periodic table of elements — at seminar on Safety in Secondary School Labs for 60% off the the time — was created on a football field out of 8’ x 8’ bed sheets. regular rate! Don’t miss out on this opportunity for attendees. The National Mole Day Foundation announced the first Mole of the  The 3-day chemistry-filled Kids Chem Program returns Year at ChemEd 95 to honour a teacher who enthusiastically  Find out who’s presenting online — or look on next page celebrates Mole Day. This has become a ChemEd tradition.

Since I'm the only chemistry teacher in our school, I sometimes feel as though I'm working in a vacuum. At ChemEd I get a chance to share ideas with some of the continent's best chemistry teachers. Attending ChemEd is the best way to get reenergized for a new academic year. — Enrico Uva, teacher , LaurenHill Academy, St. Laurent QC

ChemEd has given me so many new ideas to bring back to my classroom. I felt inspired, energized, and excited to go back to school in the fall. Best of all, I made some great friends who share my passion for chemistry education. — Sharon Geyer, teacher, Pomfret School, Pomfret CT

To learn more visit our website, www.uwaterloo.ca/chemed2013. For fun chemistry facts and ChemEd updates follow us on twitter, @ChemEd 2013.

May 2013/Chem 13 News 13

Jean Hein, ChemEd 2013 Conference Chair and Editor of Chem 13 News Book review We welcome chemistry teachers and educators to come together for five days to share their ideas, insights and teaching successes in the classroom and laboratory. ChemEd returns to its birthplace, University of Waterloo, strong and vibrant after 40 years. We are The Violinist’s Thumb and Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius as Written by Our Genetic Code thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of this wonderful community of chemical educators. See you in July! by Sam Kean, 401 pages, hardcover, CAN$28.99, ISBN 978-0-316-18231-7

Reviewed by: double X-ers, is the number of women scientists Kean Lyle Sadavoy highlights, who contributed significantly to the development of Toronto ON the structure of DNA. Biographies include Nobel-winning Barbara McClintock plus her predecessors Lynn Margulis and

Sam Kean has written a deliciously fascinating book in The Sister Miriam Michael Stimson. Kean devotes considerable time Violinist’s Thumb. The fascination comes from the fact that it is a to their outstanding work. book about us, or at least our DNA, the deliciousness because of Kean’s easy writing style and fantastic sense of humour. The Violinist’s Thumb is a joy to read because it is so closely Don’t skip the introduction or forget the epilogue. The linked to each of us: who we are now, where we came from and introduction will explain the title and provide direction for the rest where we are heading. Kean challenges us to decide if we would of the book; the epilogue can offer some introspection and be like Watson, who blocked some of the information about DNA interesting questions for one’s self. that worried him, or like Venter, who placed no restriction on his approach to DNA. Should we attempt to find out what makes us Whether or not your background is in biology, Kean’s writing is tick? Should we take our clock to a jeweller only to find out when mesmerizing. The depth of research is riveting because he has and how it is likely to break down? Do we want to know? successfully pulled together both the historical and scientific stories about the discovery of DNA and eventually the Read The Violinist’s Thumb. If nothing else, you will learn the assembling of the human genome. Those with a biology comparative percentages of your DNA that are viral and human; background will have the pleasure of marveling at this you will read about how we evolved our meat-eating gene; and

achievement with greater depth and insight. But regardless of you will learn about how the parasite, toxo, hijacked into our DNA, your science strength The Violinist’s Thumb will give you a which can explain some people’s quirky behaviour around cats. greater level of understanding of the Human Genome and leave Besides the sheer enjoyment, you will marvel at the resilience of you in awe of the molecular gymnastics that DNA and the the scientific mind and the brilliance of biologists. You will be

numerous other molecules undergo in performing replication. better for the knowledge, insight and the historical past of DNA.

The Violinist’s Thumb is divided into four broad sections with [Sam Kean will be a featured plenary speaker at the numerous chapters. Each chapter has a historical or scientific ChemEd 2013 conference. Many chemistry teachers will

hook to draw you in. Kean writes these vignettes so cleverly you know his first science book, The Disappearing Spoon.]  might not realize you are reading a science-related book. For example, the book presents the historical backgrounds to Clifford’s class wins Elimination puzzle Mendel, Darwin and Meischer: a description of the fascinating race between Venter and the National Institute of Health and the Yvonne Clifford sent in thirteen correct Elimination puzzle NIH’s Genome Project. As well, Kean tells the stories behind solutions from her class at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School, Einstein’s brain and the failed “Humanzee” Project. Numerous Cambridge ON. For winning the December 2012/January2013 case histories are highlighted, such as the Japanese man who contest, Yvonne will receive a Poly Density Bottle Kit from survived both atomic bomb blasts, the intrepid explorers who Educational Innovations. Go to www.teachersource.com to find died from eating polar bear liver and the case of a baby born out more about this prize. with a form of blood cancer inherited from the mother. All of these stories and those of historical figures are fully painted and 1. chlorine, ethane 14. Co, Cr superbly expressed. 2. methanol, paraffin 15. lemon, kiwi 3. green, orange 16. hydrogen, nitrogen The chemist will find particularly fascinating how the simple 4. copper, gold 17. red phosphorus methyl or acetyl attachments to DNA can turn genes on or off and play a role in heredity. Kean also has a humorous 5. white, platelets 18. sheep, bacteria description of the creation of hydrogen bonds in the DNA 6. skunk, H2S 19. ethanol, caffeine molecule. As well, there is no end of well-documented 7. NaCl, MgO 20. oxidation, reduction Larry Flinn of Flinn Scientific regarding the 17th ChemEd Conference in Auburn biochemical reactions. 8. ⅝, third 21. Hg, Br If you want to attend a top-notch, knock-your-socks-off chemistry conference, I urge you to consider attending the ChemEd chemistry 9. limewater, CO2 22. rust, ore teacher conference. ChemEd is chemistry education's premier conference. ChemEd is a five-day conference where the best chemistry For those with a double dose of X, you can take heart in the 10. density, solubility 23. quick silver educators from around the world will gather and exchange ideas. You can expect that about 200 chemistry workshops will be offered; book on several levels. First, the X is the significantly more all of them high school chemistry related. If you are looking for chemistry content and want to learn and share ideas with other dominant chromosome compared with the puny Y, which seems 11. crystals, hair 24. quarter, nickel teachers, ChemEd is a "must attend" conference. 12. wool, polyacrylonitrile 25. half reaction  to have shrunk during evolution. But more important for the 13. Ar, Ne 14 Chem 13 News/May 2013 May 2013/Chem 13 News 15

numerous other molecules undergo in performing replication. better for the knowledge, insight and the historical past of DNA.

A “light-hearted” crostic B With answers D, E, I W Diffuse effect during a and L, names that 2 43 363 92 37 168 13 26 105 366 370 thunderstorm in the 7 347 119 130 100 Gerry Toogood could appear in front of distance (2) Department of Chemistry ‘spectrum’ 181 251 98 294 108 77 369 103 136 University of Waterloo C As a darkroom should – X Party of convicts linked Waterloo ON be 1 23 383 31 348 220 86 145 53 362 together for outside 291 298 183 191 68 187 234 253 210 D See clue B work (2) 4 235 288 135 42 131 364 75 We’ll send a book prize to the person whose name we draw left to right, with black squares separating the words. (Words Y Instruments for 287 158 194 205 106 61 341 257 21 from among those who submit the correct solution (including the may spill over to the next row; punctuation marks are not E See clue B (2) measuring O2 44 255 224 230 20 322 121 376 51 342 saturation in blood clue answers) to this puzzle on or before September 30, 2013. included.) As you proceed, words and phrases begin forming in Z One dealing with Fax: 519-888-9168. E-mail: [email protected]. Post: the quotation; working back and forth between the grid and the F Close to zero (3) 266 280 115 248 268 63 changes brought about 297 151 260 59 325 246 356 96 331 197 162 82 Chem 13 News, A “light-hearted” crostic, Department of clue words, you can complete the puzzle. in chemicals by light Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON N2L 3G1, 308 81 333 126 29 375 128 AA Colour of the skin of Canada. To aid you further, note that the first letters of the clue answers 377 104 208 264 295 147 167 G Board game, with a people with jaundice spell out the source of the quotation. Three letters are given, in different geometry! (2) 66 262 245 46 30 83 279 60 156 BB Begin a quarrel or Start by answering as many clues as possible. (Even if you can answers A, Q and KK. fight; intrude 274 258 267 300 94 160 184 11 129 276 334 360 answer only a quarter of the clues, your chances of completing CC Born as - - - the crostic are very good.) Semi-colons in some clues are used Clues (numbers in parentheses indicate number of words) H These make up all the – (no accent!) 380 67 114 254 165 271 73 241 144 101 to separate alternative clues for the same answer. Next, transfer branches of answer LL A These lights may be DD Kind of oven or treat J – – (2) 190 173 52 233 226 these letters to the correspondingly numbered squares in the 35 8 176 24 made from pumpkins 3 69 346 343 338 237 41 57 grid. This begins the spelling out of the quotation, reading from EE The Northern Lights 28 125 198 372 256 47 223 304 278 222 359 299 311 284 65 87 261 244 326

I See clue B 33 307 340 55 303 275 247 138 1 C 2 B 3 H 4 D 5 II 6 LL 7 W 8 A 9 KK 10 HH 11 G 12 JJ 13 B 14 U 15 LL 16 T 17 II 18 HH 19 L 20 E 21 Y So, top brain (anag) 102 335 277 110 40 313 118 58 124 318 FF Instrument used in J Child’s toy; 72 48 312 306 137 215 269 290 270 22 LL 23 C 24 A 25 II 26 B 27 GG 28 A 29 F 30 G 31 C 32 HH 33 EE 34 II 35 A 36 R 37 B 38 II 39 KK 40 I – some eye surgery (2) 193 231 309 212 330 97 5T + 4E + 2R + O (anag) 283 317 120 91 324 41 H 42 D 43 B 44 E 45 JJ 46 G 47 A 48 FF 49 HH 50 Q 51 E 52 DD 53 C 54 P 55 EE 56 P 57 H 58 I 59 Z 250 203 199 385 240 109 GG Even supposing that 60 G 61 Y 62 L 63 F 64 HH 65 H 66 G 67 CC 68 X 69 H 70 HH 71 M 72 FF 73 H 74 N 75 D 76 JJ 77 W 78 HH 79 T K Donkey brays (2) 353 89 314 27 148 132 159 292 140 228 296 HH The ‘candela’ is the SI 80 O 81 F 82 Z 83 G 84 V 85 II 86 C 87 H 88 U 89 GG 90 O 91 FF 92 B 93 HH 94 BB 95 S 96 Z 97 J 98 W 99 HH 100 W L See clue B unit of this (2) 336 310 219 373 10 350 337 49 142 19 62 286 301 112 206 196 MI noises (anag) 101 H 102 I 103 W 104 AA 105 B 106 Y 107 M 108 W 109 J 110 I 111 R 112 L 113 O 114 CC 115 F 116 N 117 M 118 I 119 W 120 FF M With ans P. This can 327 64 32 18 70 93 332 78 99 320 71 202 207 170 157 107 153 117 195 186 be used for chemical II What “YAG’ stands for 121 E 122 O 123 O 124 I 125 A 126 F 127 O 128 F 129 G 130 W 131 D 132 K 133 N 134 O 135 D 136 W 137 FF 138 EE structure determinations in some lasers (3) 34 38 85 365 345 315 329 N Small distance; move 139 O 140 K 141 II 142 L 143 O 144 H 145 C 146 V 147 AA 148 K 149 Q 150 O 151 Z 152 R 153 M 154 P 155 O 156 G 157 M 158 Y cautiously 74 133 116 384 361 344 379 352 209 5 328 316 O Who will judge the 159 K 160 BB 161 R 162 Z 163 S 164 O 165 H 166 T 167 AA 168 B 169 Q 170 M 171 LL 172 Q 173 DD 174 U 175 R 176 A 177 T 178 Q 339 371 351 25 17 141 cheddar and brie at a 122 80 134 285 155 90 127 143 123 355 large competition? JJ Observe; the office of 179 S 180 O 181 W 182 Q 183 X 184 BB 185 V 186 M 187 X 188 O 189 P 190 DD 191 X 192 U 193 J 194 Y 195 M 196 L 197 Z 198 A 199 J (They will!) (4) 150 200 180 216 378 243 a bishop 45 12 76 KK Institute of Electrical 200 O 201 R 202 M 203 J 204 LL 205 Y 206 L 207 M 208 AA 209 II 210 X 211 R 212 J 213 LL 214 P 215 FF 216 O 217 T 218 Q 113 164 272 139 305 188 289 I Engineers 9 39 219 HH 220 C 221 U 222 EE 223 A 224 E 225 R 226 DD 227 T 228 K 229 S 230 E 231 J 232 U 233 DD 234 X 235 D 236 P 237 H 238 T 239 Q P See clue M (2) – LL Copy Process “T” 214 54 56 154 189 321 236 (anag); important 22 323 6 282 15 204 357 213 368 374 293 171 240 J 241 H 242 T 243 O 244 H 245 G 246 Z 247 EE 248 F 249 Q 250 J 251 W 252 V 253 X 254 H 255 E 256 A 257 Y 258 BB 259 T Q RF R analytical technique  249 319 149 218 260 Z 261 H 262 G 263 T 264 AA 265 V 266 F 267 BB 268 F 269 FF 270 FF 271 H 272 O 273 Q 274 BB 275 EE 276 G 277 I 278 EE 349 239 169 172 50 182 354 273 178 New CIC chemistry teacher award 279 G 280 F 281 U 282 LL 283 FF 284 EE 285 O 286 L 287 Y 288 D 289 O 290 FF 291 X 292 K 293 LL 294 W 295 AA 296 K 297 Z 298 X R Snacks 36 161 111 175 211 152 201 225 This relatively new Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) award is 299 EE 300 BB 301 L 302 U 303 EE 304 A 305 O 306 FF 307 EE 308 F 309 J 310 HH 311 EE 312 FF 313 I 314 GG 315 II 316 II 317 FF 318 I S Habituate or harden to recognize excellence in teaching chemistry and to encourage 382 95 163 179 229 319 Q 320 M 321 P 322 E 323 LL 324 FF 325 Z 326 H 327 HH 328 II 329 II 330 J 331 Z 332 HH 333 F 334 G 335 I 336 HH 337 HH 338 H and promote chemistry at the high school and Cégep level in T Essential compound in Canada. The award is a one-year high school teacher photosynthesis 217 16 177 227 263 238 79 242 259 381 166 339 II 340 EE 341 Y 342 E 343 H 344 II 345 II 346 H 347 W 348 C 349 Q 350 HH 351 II 352 II 353 GG 354 Q 355 O 356 Z 357 LL 358 V membership to the CIC, a plaque and $1,000 educational grant U Colour arches to use towards chemical supplies, equipment, books or other 232 192 174 88 302 221 281 14 359 EE 360 G 361 II 362 C 363 B 364 D 365 II 366 B 367 V 368 LL 369 W 370 B 371 II 372 A 373 HH 374 LL 375 F 376 E 377 AA 378 O material to enhance the teacher’s classroom. Last year’s winner + V H3O , is the simplest will be announced shortly. This year’s deadline is October 15. 379 II 380 CC 381 T 382 S 383 C 384 N 385 J example to which this 252 367 265 84 185 358 146 The sponsor of the award is Beaumier Churcott Foundation. name applies Find information at www.cheminst.ca/awards.

16 Chem 13 News/May 2013 May 2013/Chem 13 News 17

Chem dates

Chem dates is a listing of events that are likely to interest chemistry teachers. To have your program for chemistry teachers listed, phone 519-888-4567, extension 32505, or fax 519-888-9168. Email: [email protected]

May 26 – 30, 2013 (Sunday – Thursday): 96th Canadian October 15, 2013 (Tuesday): Application deadline for Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Quebec City QC. Chemistry Teacher Award. www.cheminst.ca/awards www.csc2013.ca October 19 – 26, 2013 (Saturday – Saturday): National June 6 – 8, 2013 (Thursday – Saturday): College Chemistry Chemistry Week (Canada). www.chemistry.ca/

Canada Conference (C3), Grenfell Campus, Memorial October 21 – 27, 2013 (Monday – Sunday): National Chemistry University, Corner Brook NL. www.collegechemistrycanada.ca Week (USA). www.acs.org

June 17 – 21, 2013 (Monday – Friday): ASM Materials Camp, October 23, 2013 (Wednesday): Mole Day. More information at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary AB. the National Mole Day Foundation website, www.moleday.org/

July 8 – 12, 2013 (Monday – Friday): ASM Materials Camp, July 13 – 18, 2014 (Sunday – Friday): International Conference Ashbury College, Ottawa ON. on Chemistry Education, University of Toronto, Toronto ON. July 28 – August 1, 2013 (Sunday – Thursday): ChemEd 2013 www.icce2014.org

University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON. See pages 12-14 and 20. August 3 – 7, 2014 (Sunday – Thursday): BCCE 2014, www.uwaterloo.ca/chemed2013 Grand Valley State University, Allendale MI. www.bcce2014.com

What is the report owner doing now? Answer from page 9.

Susan Kelso University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON

John Gurdon is now Sir John Gurdon. He and Shinya controversial. Through Yamanaka’s method, fully developed Yamanaka were jointly awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize in cells can be reverse engineered to make undifferentiated cells Physiology or Medicine for their contributions to stem cell by the addition of only a few genes.These cells, known as research.1 As evident in his 1949 report card (page 9),2 Sir John induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), can be used for research Gurdon was not always highly regarded as a scientist. During purposes with less ethical conflict, allowing for research into his time at Eton College he scored the lowest grade for his year diseases where tissues are damaged irreparably.4 in biology (see his 15/15 rank on the report card), and was advised by his teacher to not pursue science as a career. His This serves as a great example to educators on every level that teacher describes his work as “far from satisfactory”, saying, “if we must be careful not to discourage students from innovative he can’t learn simple biological facts he would have no chance thinking. As teachers we should not be focusing on “learning the of doing the work of a specialist”. facts of science” but the “process of science”. Sir John Gurdon’s ability to insist on “doing his work in his own way” probably Sir John Gurdon’s work laid the foundation for the development helped him win his Nobel prize. Sir John Gurdon has his report of Yamanaka’s research. In 2006, Yamanaka successfully card framed in his office at the Gurdon Institute, less of a reprogrammed a skin cell from a mouse into a pluripotent or discouragement and more of a challenge. He noted it was the undifferentiated cell, and in 2007 the results where reproduced only item he ever had framed.5 in humans.3 These findings are based on the fundamental idea that the nucleus of a differentiated cell still contains the DNA References (all accessed April 2013) necessary to develop into any mature cell.4 This concept was first verified by Sir John Gurdon in 1962 when he successfully 1. www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2012/ cloned a frog using an intestinal cell. By taking the nucleus from 2. www.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/jbg-report.html the donor cell and transplanting into an enucleated egg cell of a 3. www.ucsf.edu/news/2012/10/12915/shinya-yamanakas- different frog, Sir John Gurdon produced a clone of the donor road-2012-nobel-prize-medicine frog.4 This demonstrated that the genetic information contained 4. www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2012/121008.html in the nucleus of a mature cell could be used to produce any 5. www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9594351/Sir- mature cell found within the organism. In medicine today, the John-Gurdon-Nobel-Prize-winner-was-too-stupid-for- demand for pluripotent cells is high and the use of stem cells is science-at-school.html 

18 Chem 13 News/May 2013 May 2013/Chem 13 News 19

Chem dates Educational Innovations, Inc.® Chem dates is a listing of events that are likely to interest chemistry teachers. To have your program for chemistry teachers listed, phone 519-888-4567, extension 32505, or fax 519-888-9168. Email: [email protected] Shower Your Students With Knowledge!

May 26 – 30, 2013 (Sunday – Thursday): 96th Canadian October 15, 2013 (Tuesday): Application deadline for Canadian You can win a Periodic Table Shower Curtain! Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Quebec City QC. Chemistry Teacher Award. www.cheminst.ca/awards See this month’s puzzle for details. www.csc2013.ca October 19 – 26, 2013 (Saturday – Saturday): National June 6 – 8, 2013 (Thursday – Saturday): College Chemistry Chemistry Week (Canada). www.chemistry.ca/

Canada Conference (C3), Grenfell Campus, Memorial October 21 – 27, 2013 (Monday – Sunday): National Chemistry University, Corner Brook NL. www.collegechemistrycanada.ca Week (USA). www.acs.org Periodic Table Shower Curtain

June 17 – 21, 2013 (Monday – Friday): ASM Materials Camp, Start the day by singing Tom Lehrer’s Element song while showering October 23, 2013 (Wednesday): Mole Day. More information at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary AB. in front of a periodic table: the National Mole Day Foundation website, www.moleday.org/ “There’s antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium, July 8 – 12, 2013 (Monday – Friday): ASM Materials Camp, And hydrogen and oxygen and nitrogen and rhenium, … July 13 – 18, 2014 (Sunday – Friday): International Conference Ashbury College, Ottawa ON. And chlorine, carbon, cobalt, copper, tungsten, tin, and sodium. on Chemistry Education, University of Toronto, Toronto ON. These are the only ones of which the news has come to Ha’vard, July 28 – August 1, 2013 (Sunday – Thursday): ChemEd 2013 www.icce2014.org And there may be many others but they haven’t been discarvard.”

University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON. See pages 12-14 and 20. This accurate periodic table contains all the elements up to #111, August 3 – 7, 2014 (Sunday – Thursday): BCCE 2014, www.uwaterloo.ca/chemed2013 roentgenium. Each element includes: its symbol, atomic number, Grand Valley State University, Allendale MI. www.bcce2014.com atomic mass, and name. 1.8 m2 (6 ft2) Environmental friendly: 70% EVA & 30% PE What is the report owner doing now? Answer from page 9. PER-350 $29.95 In the classroom, tape it to a flat surface and Susan Kelso write on it with water-soluble markers! Wash off University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON after each use, and it can be used again and again!

John Gurdon is now Sir John Gurdon. He and Shinya controversial. Through Yamanaka’s method, fully developed Yamanaka were jointly awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize in cells can be reverse engineered to make undifferentiated cells Physiology or Medicine for their contributions to stem cell by the addition of only a few genes.These cells, known as research.1 As evident in his 1949 report card (page 9),2 Sir John induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), can be used for research Gurdon was not always highly regarded as a scientist. During purposes with less ethical conflict, allowing for research into his time at Eton College he scored the lowest grade for his year diseases where tissues are damaged irreparably.4 in biology (see his 15/15 rank on the report card), and was Chem Time Clock advised by his teacher to not pursue science as a career. His This serves as a great example to educators on every level that Our Chem Time Clock replaces the usual 24 numbers found on the teacher describes his work as “far from satisfactory”, saying, “if we must be careful not to discourage students from innovative face of a clock with symbols of elements having corresponding atomic he can’t learn simple biological facts he would have no chance thinking. As teachers we should not be focusing on “learning the numbers. “H” replaces “1”, “He” replaces “2”, etc. The idea for of doing the work of a specialist”. facts of science” but the “process of science”. Sir John Gurdon’s this clock came from Prof. Bassam Shakhashiri at the University of ability to insist on “doing his work in his own way” probably Wisconsin, who asked Ron Perkins to make one in the summer of 1983. Sir John Gurdon’s work laid the foundation for the development helped him win his Nobel prize. Sir John Gurdon has his report It is the perfect addition to a science classroom. (Requires 1 AA Battery - not included.) of Yamanaka’s research. In 2006, Yamanaka successfully card framed in his office at the Gurdon Institute, less of a reprogrammed a skin cell from a mouse into a pluripotent or discouragement and more of a challenge. He noted it was the TIM-510 $34.95 undifferentiated cell, and in 2007 the results where reproduced only item he ever had framed.5 in humans.3 These findings are based on the fundamental idea that the nucleus of a differentiated cell still contains the DNA References (all accessed April 2013) necessary to develop into any mature cell.4 This concept was Educational Innovations, Inc. first verified by Sir John Gurdon in 1962 when he successfully 1. www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2012/ Order toll free 1-888-912-7474 cloned a frog using an intestinal cell. By taking the nucleus from 2. www.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/jbg-report.html the donor cell and transplanting into an enucleated egg cell of a 3. www.ucsf.edu/news/2012/10/12915/shinya-yamanakas- different frog, Sir John Gurdon produced a clone of the donor road-2012-nobel-prize-medicine Visit www.TeacherSource.com and shop online! 4 frog. This demonstrated that the genetic information contained 4. www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2012/121008.html Individuals: Please enclose check, money order or credit card information, payable in US funds. Organizations/Schools: Purchase orders welcome. in the nucleus of a mature cell could be used to produce any 5. www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9594351/Sir- Shipping & Handling: Flat rates (for prepaid orders): Minimum $7.95 or 8.5% Continental U.S. orders, Minimum $12.95 or 12% AK, HI, U.S. Territories. mature cell found within the organism. In medicine today, the John-Gurdon-Nobel-Prize-winner-was-too-stupid-for- All other orders shipped FOB destination with freight added. demand for pluripotent cells is high and the use of stem cells is science-at-school.html  (Other countries call or fax for accurate shipping costs. See our website for sales tax rates.) Please make checks payable and mail to: Educational Innovations, Inc. Prices subject to change without notice. All prices in U.S. funds.

18 Chem 13 News/May 2013 CHEM13 05.13 EI Ad.indd 1 May 2013/Chem 133/20/13 News 2:09 PM19 73007_chem13Masthead_cmyk.qxd:44929_chem13Masthead.qxd 8/12/10 10:21 AM Page 2

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