Organic Chemistry App Game Makes Learning Fun and Accessible

Introducing Backside Attack: Chemistry Learning Through Gameplay

Neil Garg of UCLA and his former undergraduate students have developed Backside Attack, an innovative organic chemistry app designed to teach the S_N2 reaction to incoming college students. Released for free on iOS, this app transforms the learning process by adopting a game-play style reminiscent of Angry Birds, making the complex subject of organic chemistry approachable and engaging.

How the App Teaches the S_N2 Reaction

The app’s name, Backside Attack, references the core concept of the S_N2 reaction: a molecule approaches another from behind, causing a substitution reaction. Players progress through multiple levels, each introducing increasingly challenging concepts related to the reaction:

• Level 1: Players use a "syringe" to shoot a molecule into a flask containing a target molecule, initiating the reaction.
• Progressive Difficulty: As levels advance, the flask’s opening becomes smaller, demanding more precise aiming.
• Mechanism Drawing: Later levels require players to draw molecular mechanisms correctly.
• Educational Support: Each stage offers concise explanations and quizzes that reinforce the underlying chemistry concepts.

Future Plans and Impact

If well-received, Neil Garg intends to expand Backside Attack to other platforms and develop additional apps covering various chemical reactions. This initiative highlights the potential for gamified learning tools to reduce apprehension around organic chemistry and enhance student engagement.

Source: ChemistryViews.org, January 17, 2018
For those interested in organic chemistry education and interactive tools, Backside Attack offers a promising, accessible resource.

Keywords: Organic Chemistry, S_N2 Reaction, Education App, Backside Attack, Neil Garg, Chemistry Learning, Gamification, Sustainable Education Tools

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