Download the music of molecules: novel approaches for stem education

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!