Where’s Ester? A Game That Seeks the Structures Hiding Behind the Trivial Names

“Where’s Ester?” is a game that helps students to learn structures and trivial names of chemical compounds. In the game, two players are challenged to correctly guess which compound the other player has drawn randomly from a deck of 24 selected compounds. Each player has a board displaying all molecules. The players are then allowed to alternately ask “yes-or-no” questions regarding the selected structure. In this way, they narrow down the possibilities to later attempt to make a direct guess. The first player that correctly guesses the other player’s compound wins the game. The game provides a fun and stimulating way for students to learn to recognize molecules, their trivial names, and structural similarities. It avoids the use of “plug-and-chug” exercises and promotes a deeper way of learning.