Can some plants make their own animal repellents? Science sleuths examine the properties of cinnamamide in pear trees using an case study about computational chemistry. The resource discusses how vital computers are to research, how scientists isolate and test new compounds, and how they determined the effectiveness of cinnamamide in lab trials.

Concepts

computers, chemical compounds, organic chemistry, birds, human impact on the environment, repelling, scientific research, fruit

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Pair the resource with one or more of the studies that scientists have conducted to learn more about cinnamamide's bird-repelling properties
• Use the study to launch an inquiry lesson about the environmental impacts of animal and insect repellents
  

Classroom Considerations

• Class members should be proficient in organic chemistry, molecular geometry, and chemical reactions
  

Pros

• The topic is very engaging and presented in an interesting manner
• Resource works well as a stand-alone lesson and as a supplement to an organic or environmental chemistry lesson
  

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.11-12.2