Offered here for your enjoyment are four short organic chemistry plays that illustrate reaction mechanisms. These were performed in an actual organic chemistry class. ~ Electrons were drawn on posterboard and exchanged where appropriate. Bonding was illustrated by having the participants hold onto the electrons being shared. ~ but be warned! I had to discontinue the plays because a student complained to the Dean that the plays were sexually offensive, even though: (1) the students were repeatedly reminded that atoms and molecules don’t have gender and (2) students never touched each other and (3) these plays aren’t nearly as raunchy as Shakespeare!
Sample:
Electrophilic Addition
(A Molecular Drama)Characters: Secondary carbon (Sec) is sharing four electrons with Primary Carbon (Prim) to form a propene molecule. Along comes a hungry electrophilic Hydrogen (Hyd) who is bonded to an electron-hogging Chlorine (Chlor).
Hyd: Oh, look at all those electrons on that propene!
Chlor: What’s with you? Aren’t my electrons good enough for you?
Hyd: (disgusted) Your electrons. That’s the whole trouble with you. They’re our electrons, you pig!
Prim: Hi, Hydrogen! Nice nucleus!
Chlor: You keep your electrons away from my Hydrogen’s nucleus!
Hyd: (to Propene) Would you share your electrons with little old me?
The four plays:
Electrophilic Addition
(A Molecular Drama)
Becoming an Alcohol
(A Sad Tale of a Good Oxygen Gone Bad)
A Blind Date With the Bromine Twins
Adorable Borane
(How Three Propenes Were Led Into Ruin by a Handsome Nucleus)