Webinar: Using the CSD to Teach Chemistry: From High School to PhD
Learn practical ways to teach crystallography and molecular structures using data from the Cambridge Structural Database.
Thursday, 23rd July, 16:00 (BST) – Live on GoToWebinar
Some concepts in chemistry, such as symmetry elements in crystal structures, can be challenging for students to engage with. To support learning, many teachers and educators use the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) to help students visualise and analyse molecules and crystal structures. The CSD is also widely used in outreach activities to introduce crystallography to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to explore crystal structures.
In this webinar, two educators from our community will share how they use the CSD portfolio to teach chemistry across a wide range of levels, from high school students to PhD researchers.
Guest-speakers:
Dr Erhard Irmer, Lecturer for Chemistry at Georg August-University of Göttingen, XLAB – Göttingen experimental laboratory for young people, Germany
Abstract:
Exploring the world of organic molecules
Dr. Erhard Irmer, Georg-August-University of Göttingen,
XLAB – Göttingen experimental laboratory for young people, Göttingen / Germany
An understanding that molecules have a three-dimensional structure is essential for understanding fundamental concepts in chemistry. In addition to ‘hands-on’ molecular models, 3D models on a computer or mobile phone offer valuable opportunities to develop and enhance this understanding.
The Teaching Subset of the Cambridge Structural Database (Battle et al., 2010) offers free access to a wide range of experimentally derived structures that can be used in school and undergraduate university chemistry teaching. The subset is easily accessible via WebCSD and Mercury.
The webinar will explore the question of what prior knowledge of X-ray crystallography theory is required to work with these ‘real’ crystal structures. Then, potential applications in school chemistry lessons will be presented. These include the VSEPR model, aromaticity and intermolecular forces, especially H bonds (Irmer, 2025). Furthermore, Mercury can be used to ‘discover’ symmetry elements in crystal structures. Finally, we will demonstrate how the Teaching Subset can be used as a ‘reference book’ for organic molecular structures.
References:
Battle, G. M., Ferrence, G. M. & Allen, F. H. (2010). J. Appl. Cryst. 43, 1208–1223.
Irmer, E. (2025). J. Appl. Cryst. 58, 1802–1809.
Professor Natalia Alvarez, Adjunct Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the Universidad de la República in Uruguay.
Abstract (coming soon)
Who should attend:
- Educators and Teachers in Chemistry and in Crystallography.
- Teaching assistants and teaching fellows.
- Lecturers and professors.
- Head of Education/ Director of Teaching and Learning or Director of Studies.