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Contributor: Aly Sicat

Pre-lab

When you’re trying to figure out ideas for your core classes, but your brain seems to just be focused on compounds and bonding, what might help? While a natural link doesn’t seem obvious between chemistry and writing, you can use some of the things you’re learning in those intense chemistry courses as a guide for your writing. In fact, doing so might even lead to a more organized paper.

One of the most basic skills in organic chemistry is the ability to name alkanes. These simple, non-reactive molecules may not seem like much in the lab, but they may come in handy when outlining papers.

In the following lab example, we’ll be looking at 2, 4, 6-trichloro-3, 5-dibromoheptane. That molecule name seems complex, but it helps us identify which groups are placed on which carbons. We can think of each of the branching groups as elements of your paper. The chlorines (Cl) and Bromines (Br), can be understood as your claims/arguments, counterarguments, and examples. So when we see the following molecule chain, we can instead think of the structure as represent a paper:  1, 7-thesis-2, 3, 4, 5, 6- claim support heptane.

Step 1: Identifying the carbon chain

In a carbon chain, recall that each apex and end of a line (unless otherwise labeled) means that there is a carbon there. Think of these as the parts of your paper.

The parent chain is the longest string of carbons in a molecule and tells you how to begin naming your molecule. This carbon chain acts as a map, displaying where double bonds lay and where groups hang off. As a result of this chain’s central usefulness, it’s important when drawing and identifying the parent chain that it is as clear and distinguishable as possible.

This is also true of writing—it is important for your paper (and later for your audience) that you identify what claims you are making, where you will be making those claims, and, finally, to make those claims within your paragraphs. Without identifying your parent chain, chemists don’t know where to find the double bonds or groups in a molecule, and without a main argument or a point, your audience can’t find or understand your subclaims and arguments.

If we look at our molecule and flip it so it’s standing, we can think of it as a base for your outline.

Because there are seven carbons on our parent chain, we can assume that we have seven separate claims in our paper. You can adjust this to your needs; if you need eight paragraphs to prove your thesis, then make your molecule an octane.

Step 2: Identifying groups

Groups are molecules that are not part of the parent chain. If we think about this like a paper outline, we can understand these groups as claims and evidence. So, we can think of Chlorine and Bromine as representing assertions and sources.

While it is important to know your parent chain (aka your main argument), it is similarly important to understand where your paragraphs should be. If we know where each group is in the molecule, we can both identify the molecule and fully understand its chemistry; likewise, if we understand where each of our paragraphs is in a paper, we can better understand the writer’s argument as a whole, as the paper will be organized in a logical, order.

Step 3: Look for hydrogens

Notice that Carbon 1 and 7 do not have extra groups like the ones we discussed above.  Think of these two carbons as special carbons. In order to make our molecule (and our paper) stable, we must attach something else to these carbons. Carbons are “happiest” when they have 4 points, or bonds, connected.

Therefore, these special carbons need 3 more bonds to make them complete. In order to do this, as chemists, we think of hydrogen to attach to these carbons. Hydrogen only needs one other bond, making it an ideal candidate to attach to each of the lone carbons at either end of the molecule.

To put this explanation into a paper perspective, think about a paper that only has body paragraphs full of arguments and subpoints. Doesn’t this paper seem to be missing something? Isn’t there some way that we could introduce the paper’s argument to bring our reader in, and later make the reader understand what the paper sets out to accomplish?

Following these questions, the “hydrogens” that make a “happy” and stable shell are your thesis and your argumentative purpose. The top (carbon 1) and the end (carbon 7) should have the most focused and clear statements of your argument (hydrogens).

Also note that the carbons connected to groups only need one hydrogen. This indicates that while carbon 1 and carbon 7 should be the most direct statements of your thesis, the hydrogens (argument and argumentative purpose) needed to fill the end carbons should still be apparent. In other words, all of your claims (or groups) should always relate back to and support your main idea.

Post-lab:

The final molecule is a result of taking 2, 4, 6-trichloro-3, 5-dibromoheptane and making it 1, 7-thesis-2, 3, 4, 5, 6-claim support heptane.

With this data we’ve collected, hopefully you can take draw your own essay molecules to catalyze your way to a more organized paper.