Posted on 02/17/2012 3:59:47 AM PST by SunkenCiv
Clara Lazen is the discoverer of tetranitratoxycarbon, a molecule constructed of, obviously, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon. It's got some interesting possible properties, ranging from use as an explosive to energy storage. Lazen is listed as the co-author of a recent paper on the molecule. But that's not what's so interesting and inspiring about this story. What's so unusual here is that Clara Lazen is a ten-year-old fifth-grader in Kansas City, MO.
Kenneth Boehr, Clara's science teacher, handed out the usual ball-and-stick models used to visualize simple molecules to his fifth-grade class. But Clara put the carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms together in a particular complex way and asked Boehr if she'd made a real molecule. Boehr, to his surprise, wasn't sure. So he photographed the model and sent it over to a chemist friend at Humboldt State University who identified it as a wholly new but also wholly viable chemical.
The chemical has the same formula as one other in HSU's database, but the atoms are arranged differently, so it qualifies as a unique molecule. It doesn't exist in nature, so it'd have to be synthesized in a lab, which takes time and effort. So Boehr's friend, Robert Zoellner, wrote a paper on it instead, to be published in Computational and Theoretical Chemistry. Listed as a co-author: Clara Lazen.
Boehr says the discovery and subsequent publication has incited a new interest in science and chemistry at his school--and Clara seems particularly pleased, saying she's now much more interested in biology and medicine.
(Excerpt) Read more at popsci.com ...
As outlined in The Disappearing Spoon - by Sam Kean
Thought you might be interested in this article
Checking this story out a bit — I predict this molecule will never be built, unless this girl or a lover of hers eventually does it. The chemistry and chemical intermediates required would be incredibly difficult to choreograph.
Ping me if it does, and I will find an appropriate thing to do like eat my hat, etc.
The science teacher who handed out models of molecules is named Boehr?
That explains something I saw once while driving — a sign by what I thought was some kind of natural feature, called “Ken Crater”. ;’)
> So she randomly put together some sticks and balls and got lucky?
You know what they (the Darwinists) say? Put enough monkeys at the typewriter and, sooner or later, one of them will write a Shakespeare sonnet.
I should add that, contrary to the Darwinists, I do see intelligent design in what she did. As some have said, the balls she arranged could only fit together certain ways (bond angles, etc.)
Furthermore, 10 year olds are clever. Kudos to her.
Maybe we should check his radius.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.