Aromatic Bagels: An Edible Resonance Analogy

Shirley Lin
Department of Chemistry , United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD 21402
J. Chem. Educ., 2007, 84 (5), p 779
DOI: 10.1021/ed084p779
Publication Date (Web): May 1, 2007

Abstract

A classroom demonstration involving the use of a bagel and cream cheese as an analogy for the two resonance contributors of benzene is described. This method emphasizes the deficiencies of using a single Lewis structure to describe the structure of benzene. Students are also reminded that benzene is a single entity and not a species that oscillates between two resonance contributors.

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Laboratory Instruction

Keywords (Feature):

Applications and Analogies

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Analogies / Transfer

Keywords (Subject):

Aromatic Compounds
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History

  • Received: August 03, 2009

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