Chemistry in a Nanodrop: From H-Bonds to Peptides

Abstract

In this exercise students will replicate interactions in a simulated solvent (water, ethanol, etc.) drop that have diameters of a few nanometers across. Students will construct systems that will allow them to review some fundamental interactions such as hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions and ion-dipole interactions. Students will search for correlations or trends involving molecular interactions and physical parameters. Students will look at ionic, atomic and small molecule interactions in a nanodrop of a common solvent such as water, ethanol and methanol. The diameter of these nanodrops typically ranges from two to six nanometers. Students will examine the interaction of a solvent nanodrop with two enkephalin peptides to better understand molecular folding.

Keywords: Solvents, chemical bonds, molecular interactions, correlations, nanomaterials.

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