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The sound of chemistry: Translating infrared wavenumbers into musical notes

Garrido, N.
; 
Pitto-Barry, Anaïs
; 
Soldevila-Barreda, Joan J.
; 
Lupan, A.
; 
Comerford Boyes, Louise
; 
Martin, William H.C.
; 
Barry, Nicolas P.E.
Publication Date
2020-02
End of Embargo
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Keywords
High School chemistry, Introductory chemistry, Public outreach, Public understanding, Multimedia-based learning, Physical chemistry, IR spectroscopy
Rights
© 2020 ACS. This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of Chemical Education, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00775
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Peer-Reviewed
Yes
Open Access status
openAccess
Accepted for publication
2020-01-29
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Department
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Life Sciences Publications
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Abstract
The abstract nature of physical chemistry and spectroscopy makes the subject difficult to comprehend for many students. However, bridging arts and science has the potential to provide innovative learning methods and to facilitate the understanding of abstract concepts. Herein, we present a high-school project based on the conversion of selected infrared absorbances of well-known molecules into audible frequencies. This process offered students a unique insight into the way molecules and chemical bonds vibrate, as well as an opportunity to develop their creativity by producing musical pieces related to the molecules they synthesized. We believe that experiencing chemistry from an alternative viewpoint opens up new perspectives not only for student learning but also for the decompartmentalization of scientific and artistic disciplines.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/17729
Version
Accepted manuscript
Citation
Garrido N, Pitto-Barry A, Soldevila-Barreda JJ et al (2020) The sound of chemistry: Translating infrared wavenumbers into musical notes. Journal of Chemical Education. 97(3): 703-709.
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Link to published version
Link to Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00775
Type
Article
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