Benzene Back

Benzene Back (What is it with me blogging about Justin Timberlake? Seriously.) I feel like I should write something fantastically profound and meaningful about change and how Ive grown and other such profound things, since Im actually officially no longer a freshman (woo!). The amount of things I have to say, though, is inversely proportional to the amount of energy I have left after finals. So, Ill put my feeling-like-a-post-finals-limp-noodle lethargy aside with a song. Not just any song a chemistry song. On the last day of 5.12 (organic chemistry) our professor offered a free t-shirt to anyone who could come up with the best demonstration of chemical wit. My study partner and fellow organic chemistry enthusiast Javi took this as a challenge. I found him the next morning shacked up in the Athena cluster. What are you doing?! We have to study for our final!! QUIET. IM WRITING A HIT SINGLE. After much deliberating over whether it was more chemically and lyrically acceptable to say get your H on or get your benzene on (and a little editing on my part) Javi finally wrote his hit single and is now well on his way to fame and fortune. And by fame and fortune, I mean he won a t-shirt. Youll be hearing it on radio stations everywhere, so Ill give you a preview. BENZENE BACK (inspired by Sexy Back, performed by Justin Timberlake) [Verse 1] Im bringing benzene back These benzenes really know how to react Bond lengths are equal, yeah thats a fact Being aromatic is where its at.. Take it to the bridge! [Bridge] Nitrate Adding NO2 is so damn great I get a plus charge when I misbehave but then a base will take an H away Take it to the chorus! [Chorus] Come here base Go ahead, be gone with it Take that H Go ahead, be gone with it Stabilize me Go ahead, be gone with it Double bond on me Go ahead, be gone with it Let me see what youre working with Go ahead, be gone with it Look at that charge Go ahead, be gone with it You make me aromatic Go ahead, be gone with it Make benzene smile Go ahead be gone with it And get your H on Go ahead, be gone with it Get your H on Go ahead, be gone with it [X6] Get your H on [Verse 2] Im bringing benzene back Through N. A. Substitution nucs attack Electron withdrawing groups make it fast Leaving group needed for it to react Add that nucleophile! [Bridge] Leaving group This benzene no longer needs you So when the nucleophile comes around Youll end up getting kicked outta Benzene town Take it to the lab! [Chorus] Come here nuc, Go ahead, attack me Leaving groups Go ahead, be gone with it EWG Go ahead, be gone with it Ortho/Para on on me Go ahead, be gone with it Let me see what youre working with Go ahead, be gone with it Look at those charges Go ahead, be gone with it You make charged Go ahead, be done with it Go ahead child Go ahead, be gone with it Get your benzene on Go ahead, be done with it Get your benzene on Go ahead, be done with it [X6] Get your benzene on Im bringing benzene back Make me a Grignard so Ill attack Epoxides turn me on in no time flat My Grignards burning up and thats a fact Attack that electrocarbon! [Bridge] Dirty babe That polar bond Makes me your slave It makes me wanna misbehave epoxides make me act this way.. Take em to the chorus! [Chorus]Brilliant, right? You should see us perform it live. (At least if MIT doesnt work out, I can make it as a backup singer.) Anyway, chemistry jokes aside, therell be a really profound update of profoundity (is that a word?) about the end of the year coming shortly. In the mean time, heres a picture of me wearing really ugly pants. I wont pretend like I have time to do laundry before finals. I mean, what? Heres a lovely group picture of some 5.12 students and our professor, and Javi and his shirt. Who said anything about pants?