Napoleon Buttons Ch 1, 8, 16

Napoleon’s Buttons – Introduction

1 What chemical compound and what role did that chemical compound play in the transfer of ownership of Manhattan from the Dutch to the English?

Isoeugenol is the compound that nutmeg gets its smell from. It is also a natural pest repellant which prevents fleas which carried the plague.
The Dutch had a monopoly on the nutmeg trade and only needed the island of Run to have a complete monopoly. They were angry that the English had not only received Run but also that they had also been forced to surrender Manhattan. So the Dutch and English were at war for many years until they decided to sign the Treaty of Breda. With this treaty the English would keep Manhattan and the Dutch would receive Run.   

2. Explain the history of organic chemistry. What is the difference in meaning of the term for a gardener, a 19th century chemist and a 21st century chemist?

Early 19th century the importance of organic compounds were beginning to be realized with the discovery of sugar and cotton.
Late 19th century the Germans discover that coal tar can be used to create dyes. They were also able to make the first man made antibiotic which consisted of molecules which were similar to the dye. Phenol was also derived from coal tar and was used to create the first artificial plastic.
The term organic to a gardener would mean that no artificial pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers were used in growing of the crop.
A 19th century chemist would take organic to mean that the compounds were derived from a living organism.
A chemist of the 21st century would say that organic refers to a compound that contains carbon.

3. Why are chemical structures so important? What is the difference in the structure of the two honeybee pheromones? What is the difference in their function?

Chemical structure is important because it shows the connection and arrangement which will give the compound its chemical properties.
One pheromone is produced by the queen bee and the other is released by the worker bees. The pheromone released by the queen attracts the worker bees.  

4. How and why do we simplify chemical structures?

It can be difficult to draw structures and they can become cluttered. The most common shortcut is leaving out many of the H atoms. Line angle allows us to leave off the H atoms and represent the C at a point where two lines meet.

Napoleon’s Buttons– Chapter 1 - Pepper, Nutmeg and Cloves

1. Are black pepper, green pepper, and white pepper all the same “stuff”? Justify your answer.

Yes they are the same. They all come from the same berry or the fermented seed of the berry.

2. a.Give structures and names of the compounds associated with the following spices.

  b. Convert structural formulas to molecular formulas for each.

  c. Identify the ones that are structural isomers.

        Eugenol and Isogenol

  d. Circle and identify all functional groups.
See attached

Black pepper- Piperine- C17H19O3N
[pic 1]

Chili peppers- Capsaicin- C18H27O3N 
[pic 2]

Ginger- Zingerone- C11H14O3
[pic 3]

Cloves- Eugenol- C10H12O2
[pic 4]

Nutmeg- Isoeugenol- C10H12O2
[pic 5]

Oil of sassafras- Safrole- C20H19CIN4
[pic 6]

Napoleon’s Buttons– Chapter 16 – Chlorocarbon Compounds

1. What do we mean by chlorinated compounds?
The presence of chlorine in a compounds which makes them difficult to beakdown by natural agents. They remain in the environment long after they are released.

2. What is the dark side of freons?
CFC’s released into the lower atomosphere remain there for many years. Eventually they will rupture in the stratosphere where they increase the rate that the ozone is broken down.

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