THE MUSIC OF MOLECULES: NOVEL APPROACHES FOR STEM

EDUCATIONAlessandro Monno, Giacomo Eramo, Ernesto Mesto, Mario C. De TullioDepartment of Earth and Geoenvironmental Science, University of Bari, (ITALY)

Museum of Earth Sciences, University of Bari (ITALY)

John Newlands (1837 –1898)

The chemistry of music, the music of chemistryThe 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).

Aim of our workDeveloping a reproducible system to translateelements (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

Rows = PeriodsColumns = Groups

Ø Group in the periodic tableØ Spatial disposition (angle)Ø Period in the periodic tableØ Distance from the symmetry axis

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

NaNa: (Group I) 1 electron (quaver) in the outermost orbitalCl: (Group VII) 7 electrons (quavers) in the outermost orbital

Cl

NaClVisualizing the Octet Rule

THE NOTE PITCH IS ASSIGNED ON THE BASIS OF THE POSITION OF EACH ATOM

REFERENCED TO THE AXIS OF SYMMETRY60° 120° 180° 240° 300° 360°0°

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 scannedsequentially 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

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)

Example II: the calcite crystal(CaCO3)

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 offeredby our approach

• Contact us:mario.detullio@uniba.itgiacomo.eramo@uniba.italessandro.monno@uniba.iternesto.mesto@uniba.it

Thanks for your attention!mario.detullio@uniba.itgiacomo.eramo@uniba.italessandro.monno@uniba.iternesto.mesto@uniba.it