Chemical explanation of equilibrium/resonance

[itcomesinpints]

Organic Chemistry, 3rd Ed, copyright 2005 Maitland Jones, Jr (what a name!):

"Here's an analogy. Frankenstein was always Frankenstein. One might describe that poor contstructed creature as part monster and part human, but he was always that combination - he did not oscillate between the two. In chemical terms, one would say that Frankenstein was a

Comments

[adrunkwithclass]

Hehe if only all things taught to us could be related to things like this ;-)

However, not to be a nitpicker but technically he is wrong. Frankenstein was the doctor not the monster. In fact, I don't believe his creation ever accepted a name before his death.

[itcomesinpints]

I've decided that in fact a better chemical description of Frankenstein's monster would be a racemic mixture of human and monster. But seeing as Frankenstein wasn't the monster as you pointed out, Frankenstein would in fact be enantiomerically pure!

I think we may have to write to Mr Maitland (Jr) and tell him he has made a monstrous (ha! ha!) mistake.

[anagrammatical]

LOL this is fantastic!

I like this little gem from pharmacology:

'receptors, like cats, prefer the inactive state.'

[pagan_gerbil]

Grip on reality loosening.... and you must know that both Frankenstein and Jekyll were chemists driven mad by their chemistry abilities ;)