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THE MUSIC OF MOLECULES: NOVEL APPROACHES FOR STEM EDUCATION Alessandro Monno, Giacomo Eramo, Ernesto Mesto, Mario C. De Tullio Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Science, University of Bari, (ITALY) Museum of Earth Sciences, University of Bari (ITALY) The chemistry of music, the music of chemistry The British chemist John Newlands observed that the recurrent properties of elements with a periodicity of eight resembled musical scales (Law of octaves). His theories were discarded by his contemporaries. Four years later, the Russian chemist Mendeleev ordered all known elements within the periodic table. Later on, the successions of elements in the rows (periods) within the periodic table was explained with the presence of an increasing number of electrons (1 to 8) in the outermost orbitals of the atoms of a given element (The Octet Rule). John Newlands (1837 –1898) Aim of our work Developing a reproducible system to translate elements (and their spatial disposition) into music Expected results • Easing the understanding of complex concepts and structures in chemistry, mineralogy, material sciences, biology • Developing a proper musical environment for the display of minerals in museum exhibitions Musical parameters • • • • Note duration (longer/shorter) Note pitch (higher/lower) Timbre (sound) Dynamics (louder/softer) Element parameters Ø Ø Ø Ø Group in the periodic table Spatial disposition (angle) Period in the periodic table Distance from the symmetry axis Rows = Periods Columns = Groups Musical parameters applied to elements Duration: multiples of the quaver (according to the group) Timbre: instrument families (according to the period) Duration: transition metals QUAVERS REPRESENTING ELECTRONS Na Cl Na: (Group I) 1 electron (quaver) in the outermost orbital Cl: (Group VII) 7 electrons (quavers) in the outermost orbital Visualizing the Octet Rule NaCl THE NOTE PITCH IS ASSIGNED ON THE BASIS OF THE POSITION OF EACH ATOM REFERENCED TO THE AXIS OF SYMMETRY 0° 60° 120° 180° 240° 300° 360° For angles below 30°, the two closer notes are played together (cluster) e.g. 20° = C + C# Example I: the halite crystal (NaCl) Plans are scanned sequentially alternating clockwise and counterclockwise scans Na (Sodium) Timbre: Period 3 - Percussion (vibraphone) Note duration: Group I - One quaver Cl (Chlorine) Timbre: Period 3 - Percussion (marimba) Note duration: Group VII - Seven quavers Example II: the calcite crystal (CaCO3) Ca (Calcium) Timbre: Period 4 - Brass (French horn) Note duration: Group II – Two quavers (one crotchet) C (Carbon) Timbre: Period 2 – Human voices (tenor) Note duration: Group IV - Four quavers (minim) O (Oxygen) Timbre: Period 2 – Human voices (soprano) Note duration: triplets in the carbonate group (CO3) Conclusions and future perspectives • The sound of crystals appears a promising way to strike the imagination of learners involved in different STEM disciplines • We are interested in developing collaborative projects to extend the range of possibilities offered by our approach • Contact us: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Thanks for your attention!