Much of the matter around us is macromolecular. When we ask students to make a list of things in a room that are made of macromolecules, they often are surprised when the �macromolecules� side of the list ends up longer than the �small molecule� (typical low molecular weight) side. They also are usually surprised to learn that some synthetic polymers were first prepared in an effort to expand on the polymers that already existed in nature, such as wool and silk and other polyamides. While a case can be made for the inclusion of macromolecular topics because they are relevant, including them also helps students appreciate that our modern understanding of chemistry includes both small and large molecules. Importantly, including straightforward macromolecular topics in undergraduate organic chemistry courses helps students prepare for the much more complex macromolecules they will encounter in biochemistry courses, which many of them will take. This presentation will focus on specific examples that take only a few minutes of class time interspersed throughout a semester and help students understand key features of macromolecules such as helices, branching and crosslinking, and glass transition temperatures.

Integrating macromolecules into undergraduate organic chemistry courses - it's important and there is room

244th National Meeting (2012)

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