The treatment of alkene chemistry comes early in the first organic chemistry course. The most important societal/commercial reaction of alkenes is polymerization. Discussion of vinyl polymerization provides an opportunity to emphasize the importance of organic chemistry in the daily lives of students. Polymers are important in most of the items that students (and anyone else) encounter daily from food to clothing to home construction to transportation to personal care products- they (and we) simply could not enjoy the standard of living that they are accustomed to were it not for the presence of polymeric materials. Early discussion of the formation and utilization of polymeric materials facilitates student interest and enthusiasm throughout the course.

Incorporation of polymeric materials to enhance interest and learning in the foundational organic chemistry course

244th National Meeting (2012)

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