Context

Introduction

Amides are organic compounds that have a functional group characterized by the presence of a nitrogen atom (N) bonded to a carbon (C) of the carbonyl group (C=O). Amides are classified as primary, secondary, and tertiary, according to the number of hydrogens in the ammonia molecule that are replaced by hydrocarbon groups.

The study of amides is fundamental because they are present in many compounds of biological and industrial relevance. For example, proteins - essential molecules for life - are formed by the union of amino acids, which are amides. In the industrial scope, amides are used in the manufacture of plastics, resins, adhesives, fibers, among others.

The nomenclature of amides follows rules established by IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry), which is the body responsible for establishing international standards for chemical nomenclature.

Context

Amides have a wide application in the real world. They are present, for example, in polymers such as Nylon, which is used in the manufacture of fabrics, ropes, toothbrushes, etc. In addition, certain medications and some products used in hair treatments, such as straighteners, are also based on amides.

Studying the nomenclature of amides is relevant to understand the composition of these and many other products in our daily lives. Furthermore, it facilitates the understanding of other disciplines, such as biology, where the comprehension of the structure of proteins and amino acids is fundamental.

Finally, studying the nomenclature of amides contributes to the development of critical and structured thinking, as it requires the understanding and application of rules, which is a fundamental skill not only in studies but also in professional and personal life.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "The Fantastic World of Amides: Exploring Nomenclatures"

Project Objective

This project aims at understanding the nomenclature of amides and applying such knowledge in practice. The project also intends to stimulate collaboration among students and enhance skills such as communication, time management, and problem-solving.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 people. Each group will receive a list of different classes of amides (primary, secondary, and tertiary) and should, using the IUPAC rules, provide the correct nomenclature for each of them.

In addition, the groups should also research and present practical examples of where these amides are applied in our daily lives, whether in the industry or in nature.

Each group should also create a creative presentation (it can be a video, a slide presentation, an infographic, etc.) that explains how the nomenclature of amides works and presents the examples they researched.

The project duration is one week, and it is estimated that each student will invest between two to four hours in total.

Required Materials

• Internet access for research
• Material for creating the presentation (computer, editing software, graphics, etc.)

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

1. Divide students into groups of 3 to 5 people.
2. Provide each group with a list of amides for which they should provide the correct nomenclature.
3. The groups must research and understand the nomenclature rules of amides established by IUPAC.
4. Students should then apply this understanding to name the amides from the list provided to them.
5. Each group should research and present practical examples of where these amides can be found in daily life.
6. Based on the researched information and the named amides, each group should create a creative presentation explaining the nomenclature of amides and presenting the practical examples they found.
7. Each group will present their work to the class at the end of the project.

Project Deliverables

Students must deliver the list of named amides, the researched practical examples, and the presentation they created.

They should also write a document in the form of a report, containing:

1. Introduction: Contextualization of the theme, its relevance and application in the real world as well as the objective of this project.
2. Development: Explanation of the theory behind the nomenclature of amides, detailed description of the activity, the methodology used, and the presentation and discussion of the results obtained. Here, students should insert the named amides, the researched examples, and describe how they created the presentation.
3. Conclusion: The main points of the project, the learnings acquired, and the conclusions about the project.
4. Bibliography: Indication of the sources used to work on the project such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

This project will allow students to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired in practice, enhancing their research, synthesis, communication, and teamwork skills.