Contextualization

Theoretical Introduction

Nitriles and isonitriles are important compounds in Organic Chemistry that have the -C≡N functional group in their structure, known as the cyano group. Nitriles are compounds in which the carbon atom of the cyano group is directly bonded to another carbon atom in the chain. Isonitriles differ from nitriles by having their carbon atom directly bonded to a hydrogen atom.

Nitriles and isonitriles are functional isomers, meaning that they have the same molecular formula, but have different functions. The nomenclature of these substances follows specific rules described by IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry), which will be addressed during the development of the project.

Understanding the nomenclature of these compounds is essential, as it facilitates the communication and understanding of chemical reactions, synthesis processes, and the behavior of compounds in the environment.

Contextualization of the theme and its importance

Nitriles are relevant in the industrial sector and are used in the manufacture of plastics, resins, rubbers, among other materials. These compounds are also used in the production of medicines and in the textile industry. Isonitriles, although not as widely used industrially as nitriles, are of interest to scientific research, mainly due to their reactivity and applications in organic synthesis.

Furthermore, the knowledge about nitriles and isonitriles is not restricted to Organic Chemistry alone. These compounds also appear in other fields of Chemistry and Science, such as Astrochemistry - which studies the chemical composition of the universe - where nitriles are detected in nebulae.

Practical Activity

Title of the activity: Nitrile and Isonitrile - A game of nomenclature

Project Objective: The main objectives of this project are the understanding of the structures and nomenclatures of nitriles and isonitriles and the practice of these concepts through the creation of a didactic card game. The work should be carried out in groups of 3 to 5 students and should last up to a month.

Detailed Project Description: Each group of students will create a deck with at least 30 cards with nitrile and isonitrile structures. The deck should be divided into two types of cards: "Question" and "Answer" cards. The "Question" cards should show the structural formula of a nitrile or isonitrile and the question "What is the name of this compound?" The "Answer" cards should show the correct answer to the corresponding question card.

After creating the game, the students will play it and exchange the deck with other teams to also play the decks created by the other teams.

In parallel with the creation and playing of the game, the students will also write a report on the work carried out.

Materials Required:

• Card stock or cardboard for making the cards;
• Colored pens, color pencils, markers or any other material for decoration;
• Ruler for standardizing the size of the cards;
• Computer with internet access for research and writing the report.

Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions for Carrying out the Activity:

1. Study the theory behind nitriles and isonitriles, focusing on the structure and nomenclature of these compounds.
2. Divide the project tasks among the group members, so as to ensure that everyone participates actively throughout all stages.
3. Create the question and answer cards, remembering to include a diversity of compounds of different sizes and complexities. Use creativity to make the cards attractive and interesting.
4. After creating the game, play it with your group members to test the gameplay and the knowledge acquired. Make any necessary changes.
5. Exchange the deck created by your group with the deck of another team and play their game. After playing, provide constructive feedback to the team whose game you played, and receive their feedback on the game created by your team.
6. Throughout the development process, document the steps and challenges encountered. Use this documentation for writing the final report.

The groups must submit the deck produced and a report containing:

• Introduction: Contextualizing the theme, the relevance of nitriles and isonitriles, and the objective of the project.
• Development: Theory behind nitriles and isonitriles, details of the activity, and the methodology used.
• Conclusions: What was learned during the project, the lessons learned, and the conclusions drawn about the project.
• Bibliography: The sources used for the knowledge acquired during the project.

The idea is that the writing of the report be done in parallel with the development of the game. As soon as a mechanic is decided, a compound is studied, a challenge is overcome, students should take notes and, whenever possible, transcribe them to the report. Thus, the large volume of writing will be diluted throughout the project, making this task more feasible.