Using Balloons to Model Pi-Conjugated Systems and to Teach Frontier Molecular Orbital Theory

Daniel J. Swartling^1, , Janet G. Coonce¹ and Derek J. Cashman¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Tennessee Tech University, 55 University Drive, Cookeville, TN 38505 United States

Cite this paper

Daniel J. Swartling, Janet G. Coonce and Derek J. Cashman. Using Balloons to Model Pi-Conjugated Systems and to Teach Frontier Molecular Orbital Theory. World Journal of Chemical Education. 2018; 6(2):102-106. doi: 10.12691/WJCE-6-2-5

Abstract

Large-scale molecular orbital balloon models have been designed and developed for implementation in the general, organic, or physical chemistry classroom. The purposes of the models are to help students visualize and understand concepts of pi-bonding, conjugation, aromaticity, and cycloaddition reactions or symmetry-controlled reactions. Second-semester organic chemistry students have welcomed the models with positive responses, claiming that the 3D models bring 2D textbook and lecture images to life. The balloon models may be constructed and presented by the instructor during a formal lecture, or they may be constructed by students during problem-solving workshops. Short video tutorials have been created to demonstrate the construction of these inexpensive classroom manipulatives.

Keywords

High School / Introductory Chemistry, First-Year Undergraduate / General, Second-Year Undergraduate, Upper-Division Undergraduate, Demonstration, Organic Chemistry, Collaborative/Cooperative learning, Computer-Based Learning, Hands-On Learning/Manipulatives, Alkenes, Alkynes, Aromatic Compounds, MO Theory

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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