Studying the nomenclature of dioxins using a structure model kit based on electronic components linked with plastic tubes

Abstract

Commercially available molecular models are elaborately made but generally expensive, which hinders their distribution to all classroom students. Aiming at developing an affordable molecular model, we developed a structure model kit consisting of inexpensive electronic components including transistors and colored light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a total cost of ca. 2 USD. The structure model kit was designed for building a family of environmental pollutant molecules known as dioxins, in which transistor, white LED, red LED, and yellow LED components are used to represent sp2 carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and chlorine atoms, respectively. Herein, we report an activity directed to nonchemistry majors studying environmental science and electronic engineering to help them gain insight into the molecular structure of dioxins using the newly developed structure model kit. The activity was well received by many students, some of whom came to understand the relationship between the structure and nomenclature of dioxins, mainly 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) and its isomers.

Keywords

• dioxins
• isomer
• molecular model
• nomenclature