Science: CHEMICAL BALLET

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Last week some Maryland chemists (the Maryland section of the American Chemical Society) stuck their collective neck out. To entertain fellow chemists, meeting in Baltimore, they staged a show the like of which no chemist or choreographer had ever seen—a "chemical ballet." The theory was that the formation, movement and dissociation of molecules, the nuclear spins of electrons, etc., could be represented by appropriate music and dancing. The music was written by Dr. Donald Hatch Andrews, a musically inclined chemistry professor at Johns Hopkins, in collaboration with one of his students. The choreography was arranged by Carol Lynn Fetser, a Baltimore dancing teacher.

"Who would ever fail," inquired the program notes, "to understand the vibrations of hydrogen, if he had felt them while dancing with a beautiful living atom in his arms? Who would ever forget the position of the bonds in benzene if he had played the part of a carbon atom whirling around with lovely hands holding him on either side? . . ."

Written by 72-year-old Pharmaceutical Chemist Alfred Robert Louis Dohme, longtime (1911-29) president of Sharpe & Dohme (drugs), the ballet scenario tells of a scientist who tries to synthesize radioactive benzene from acetylene with the aid of an atom-smasher. Something goes wrong; "there is a series of blinding flashes and he staggers back." After another failure, he sits down, sinks into discouraged sleep, dreams:

"First the hydrogens, clothed in brilliant red, appear and trip through a gay waltz expressive of their joy at the escape from the harsh gas laws that usually confine them. Then two atoms in black, carbons, emerge and grab four hydrogens each. Their kinetic freedom lost, the hydrogens now execute vibrations around the carbon atoms (methane). . . .

"Then four more carbons enter and join the groups. The molecules are suddenly aware of their gaseous nature and the atoms execute nuclear spins as the fast throbbing chords of the ethylene and acetylene dance are heard. . . .

"Suddenly a swift leaping form darts across the stage, trailing flames. It is fire. . . . Following fire, the oxygen atoms clothed in blue enter, and seize the hydrogens and carbons. First there is the dance of the water molecules thus formed. . . .

"There is a momentary pause while water and carbon monoxide combine to form methyl alcohol. As the synthesis proceeds the music turns into a syncopated Cakewalk, the dance of ethyl alcohol. . . . The atoms hesitate, swaying and staggering about, intoxicated by the motions they have discovered. . . . The chemist awakens and rushes to the centre of the stage. . . ."