Like any other day at SSP, the day started with lab. The participants performed characterization of their compounds by doing infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. These techniques give information about the types of functional groups and atoms present on their molecules, and they will help determine whether participants have made their intended product.
After a break for lunch, participants listened to lectures of scientific ethics, safety, and organic chemistry. Dr Ellis assigned a problem set on organic nomenclatures, and participants spent the evening debating the proper order for functional groups on the molecules. Our site director Ms Dunn and TA Jocelyn gave them a challenge: each research team of three had to name their group after a mythical creature and then paint a picture of their newly-formed creature. The participants went to work coming up with the most creative names and pictures they could. Here are the final names: