Nanocos: The Card Game of Nanotechnology Concepts

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DESCRIPTION:

Nanocos is a highly interactive card game that encourages students to learn important science concepts and their role at the nanoscale. Combining both the entertainment of popular card games with the educational value of nano-concepts, Nanocos will appeal to both students and educators alike. Contained within each attractively-decorated card is a scientific concept that forms the basis of modern nanotechnology. Because of the varying levels of complexity that unfold during each game, students will never get bored looking for the perfect strategy.

An important aspect of nanoscale objects is their large surface area to volume ratio (SA/V). As a result, nanomaterials have physical and chemical properties that can be quite different from their macroscopic counterparts. Through the card game, students become aware of how the SA/V changes from macroscopic to nanoscopic objects, as it is key to winning the game. The game also requires students to recompute the SA/V whenever surface area or volume changes due to an Action card. Objects ranging from the astronomical (Andromeda Galaxy) to the nanoscopic (DNA Molecule) are encountered. Several different types of microscopes, including the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), and the Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM), are introduced. Throughout the course of the game, students will become familiar with the size of objects each microscope is capable of viewing.

Specific cards, through their effects, symbolically represent major scientific concepts in nanotechnology. For example, an important scientific concept is that as an object's surface area to volume ratio increases, the overall reaction will complete in a shorter amount of time due to a greater number of reaction sites (sugar cubes versus powdered sugar in hot tea). The Gold Nanoparticles card allows object cards to attack twice in a turn. This represents the use of gold nanoparticles as catalysts in chemical reactions. While macroscopic gold particles are inert, gold nanoparticles have a much greater SA/V and therefore different chemical properties. Another example is the card Zinc Oxide, which removes all cards on the field. Currently, zinc oxide nanoparticles have applications in antimicrobial coatings. These concepts are great topics for discussion in a middle school classroom.

Brief summary of the game:
Nanocos is a two player card game, with each player having a deck consisting of Object cards, Action cards, Microscope cards, and Carbon cards. Taking turns, each player selects an Object card to engage with the opponent's Object card; the player with the larger SA/V prevails, and he or she gains a Carbon card. The complexity of the game is multiplied by the use of Action and Microscope cards. Some Object cards require the use of Microscope cards in order to be seen. The first player to collect all five Carbon cards, representing the five allotropes of carbon, wins the game.

LEVEL: Middle school and above

LEARNING GOALS:

• To relate volume and surface area for different objects that students have already learned in chemistry, biology, and astronomy and extend this concept to the nanoscale
• To understand size scales
• To make calculations with powers of ten
• To realize that smaller objects have larger surface area to volume ratios, which can result in drastic physical or chemical property changes at the nanoscale
• To know different types of microscopes and what size objects they are designed to view
• To use the scientific method (hypothesizing, observing, drawing conclusions)
• To employ strategic play

USEFUL MATERIALS :

Introduction to Nanometer Scale Science and Technology
Prof. Mark C. Hersam, Northwestern University, USA

Introduction to Scanning Probe Microscopy
Prof. Lincoln J. Lauhon, Northwestern University, USA

DEVELOPMENT TEAM:

Creator and Principal Designer: Siu-Hin Wan
Contributing Designers: Joey Hsu, Lee Lamers, Stephen Wylie
Online Developer: John Brundage
Advisors: Professor R.P.H. Chang, Dr. Penny Hirsch, Dr. Emma Tevaarwerk