|
|
| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
2000
>
September
> |
|
In the Classroom
|
|
Computer Bulletin Board
|
|
An Introductory Polymer Chemistry Course for Plastics Technology Students
|
|
Mary G. Chisholm
School of Science, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, Erie, PA 16563
Paul E. Koch
School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, Erie, PA 16563
|
|
September 2000
Vol. 77 No. 9
p. 1147
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Abstract |
|
Penn State-Erie offers one of three undergraduate degree programs in plastics engineering technology in the country, which has seen considerable growth since its inception in 1989. A decision was made recently to increase the chemistry component of the program by adding a course in introductory polymer chemistry. The students have superior practical skills and experience in the handling of plastics, but are poorly equipped to deal with the properties of plastics at the molecular level. A traditional course in polymer chemistry was inappropriate for their needs, so a more visual approach was chosen, based on teaching the fundamentals of organic chemistry using a molecular drawing and modeling software package interfaced with a polymer database, which can predict polymer properties based on their structure. SciPolymer/Alchemy 2000 is a database of 630 compounds, any of which can be drawn in Alchemy, a molecular modeling and discovery program, by a click of the mouse. Students can design a new polymer in Alchemy, import it to SciPolymer, and examine its properties. The graphics are striking, so students are able to see real molecules, both big and small, and learn about their chemistry using Alchemy instead of a textbook.
|
|
| More Information |
 Citation |
Chisholm, Mary G.; Koch, Paul E. J. Chem. Educ. 2000 77 1147.
|
Keywords |
Curriculum; Molecular Properties / Structure; Plastics; Polymer Chemistry
|
History |
Created:
Last Updated: |
August 29, 2000
June 22, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
2000
>
September
> Page
1147
|
|
|
| JCE HS CLIC |
|
Our Secondary School editors work hard to distill all the JCE materials to produce a fraction of particular interest to high school teachers. We call it CLIC.
|
| Contributions Welcome |
| JCE welcomes your submission |
| Advertisers |
| In recent years we have worked hard to better match our advertisers with our readers. When shopping for chemistry education materials, visit our advertisers' WWW sites first. |
| Be An Ambassador |
| Take JCE along on your outreach missions. Copies of the Journal, guest access to JCE Online, our publications catalog, and more are available for your participants. |
|
