Anyways, two days of hardcore chemistry revision has helped me to realise something quite irrelevant to my syllabus. Ironically, this was done through reading Geoffrey Neuss' Chemistry Course Companion, which was specifically written for the IBDP. Apart from Iron Man's notes, Neuss' book is one of the most comprehensive texts that I've ever read in my life. But that's not all.
It is an understatement to say that the way in which the book has written epitomises the inter-disciplinary nature of the IBDP. No, it is the very embodiment of the IB ideology. And yes, that I noticed with a great sense of comedy, but not without appreciation. So how is this the case? Well, let's just say that the book is littered with...riveting anecdotes that I'm sure would placate any IB student who is on the brink of getting 3 points for HL Chemistry. Here are three examples.
First, on page 87, Neuss discusses the molecular orbital theory of hybridisation from a 'biological perspective'. Have you ever heard of what a dzo is? Well, what better place to find out than in an IB chemistry textbook! Neuss writes "By crossing a yak with a cow a new hybrid animal called a dzo is produced, which combines the docility of a cow with the load-carrying capacity of a yak." And then he goes on to make the link, "this concept of hybridisation has been extended to atomic orbitals..." Oh, but male dzos, unfortunately, can't mate. They're sterile. It's a result of heterosis. Poor animals. Now I wonder how that might extended into orbital theory.
Second, on page 223, Neuss talks about condensation polymerisation with the example of nylon, whose repeating unit is formed by alternating diamine and dioyl dichloride monomers. He then discusses the economic importance of condensation reactions. And as if to add the final touch, he includes an epic black and white picture of two mountain climbers against a snowy backdrop, one of whom is holding on to a dark, thin and taut rope, both of whom are smiling blissfully at the camera. The caption says "Two IB teachers roped together with nylon climbing rope on the summit of the Wilde Spritze in the Austrian Alps (photo by Geoff Neuss)." I nod my head in agreement.
The third one is actually pretty cool. On page 27, Neuss talks about C-14 dating. He raises a historical example, namely, the "Shroud of Turin". He wrote "People have claimed that this shroud, kept in Turin cathedral in Italy, was used to wrap the body of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion in the first century CE, and shows an imprint of his face. Carbon dating has dated the shroud as no earlier than 1260 CE." The picture is quite compelling, actually. And Neuss was clearly trying to maintain a neutral stand.
Well, I can conclude at least one thing from this. If the IB system does in fact manage to inculcate all of its values into an arbitrary student, that student should grow up and write textbooks to proliferate the influence. *grin*
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