Commonly Used Painkillers

Two versions of a case study were developed and used to engage undergraduate organic chemistry students. The cases are in the format of stories that students can relate to; they connect the concepts in the chemistry of carboxylic acids and their derivatives to biomedicalapplications. One version can be used to complement the laboratory exercise on the synthesis of aspirin; another version can be used in the classroom as a supplement to lectures. The cases also provide students with experience in conducting a literature search and assessing original research articles to determine if the scientific evidence supports a particular belief. In addition, the cases facilitate open discussions of the copying of labs/homework, ethics in the classroom, and the fact that a common student perception is that many of the organic laboratory and classroom exercises are often neither engaging nor relevant to their lives.