Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 2:30 PM
Medical Arts Building, Rm M-133 (Queensborough Community College)
37

Anathons in Developing and Solving Ozonolysis Problems

Ray A. Gross Jr., Prince George's Community College, Largo, MD

Anathons are partial structures found in an analyte, the compound being analyzed. It will be shown how certain anathons can be used to construct hydrocarbons that have structures, which students can determine by an analysis of the ozonolysis products. The compounds afford instructors with a diverse set of structure-determination problems. The compounds have from one to four pi bonds and zero to three rings. Molecular formulas of reaction products, and in some cases, the molecular formula of the reactant are the only data provided to students. Solutions require only a basic knowledge of ozonolysis reactions, but many require students to apply the kind of logic and reasoning that instructors desire to foster in students. Instructors can help students improve their reasoning skills by engaging them in these problems.