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Molecule Models

In this chapter, you learned about atoms and the bonds that form between them. To illustrate bonding, chemists use ball –and-stick modeling kits. These kits usually contain balls that represent the atoms, and sticks that represent the chemical bonds between the atoms. The balls are usually color-coded with different colors representing different elements. Different stick types are usually included so that different types of chemical bonds (single, double, or triple) can be modeled.

In this project, you will create your own modeling kit. Your kit will contain several different atoms. They will also contain chemical bonds that you will use to join the atoms together. You will use these kits to create compounds that contain ionic and covalent bonds.

Project Rules:

• You should create at least six models of compounds – three with ionic bonds, and three with covalent bonds.

• Your models should be displayed together in some fashion (attached to a board, in a diorama-style box). The ionic compounds should be grouped together and titled “Ionic Compounds”. The molecular compounds should be grouped together and titled “Molecular Compounds.” Each model should be labeled with the name of the compound and its formula.

• In addition to your models, you must have a chart that gives an overview of all your models. This chart will act as a key, explaining how you have illustrated different elements and types of bonds.

• The following is a list of molecular compounds. Select any 3 of them to model:

o Water

o Carbon Dioxide

o Hydrogen Peroxide

o Nitrogen

o Sugar (glucose)

o Sulfur dioxide

o sulfur hexafluoride

o carbon tetrachloride

o nitrogen triiodide

• The following is a list of ionic compounds. Select any 3 of them to model:

o Potassium Oxide

o Aluminum Fluoride

o Lithium Sulfide

o Calcium Chloride

o Magnesium Oxide

o Sodium Chloride

o Beryllium Iodide

o Iron Oxide

o Aluminum Oxide

Suggested Materials

• Be creative when selecting the materials for building your models. Some suggestions include raisins, gumdrops, jellied fruit candies, marshmallows, jellybeans, and clay

• Different elements should be represented by different substances (for example, you cannot use marshmallows to represent all of your different elements, only one element).

• Chemical bonds can be modeled by using items such as toothpicks, pipe cleaners, or paper clips (remember that different types of bonds need to be made of different materials).

• When selecting your materials for making atoms, think about how you will join your atoms together. Softer materials (marshmallows) may work better than harder items (hard candies) because you can join them with toothpicks or paper clips.

• If you plan on using materials that are perishable, make sure you construct your models close to the date the project is due so that the models do not spoil.

• When making your atom models, make sure that you make multiples of each element because you will need several when creating your models of compounds.

• Make sure you use the same type of substance for each element (For example, if you use a pink jellybean to represent Oxygen, then it should represent Oxygen in every compound you make that contains Oxygen).

• Compounds containing ionic bonds form crystals of indefinite size. Each ion is held in place by the attractive force between it and neighboring ions with opposite electric charges. Such compounds can be modeled as patterns of alternating ions with no two ions of the same element next to each other. You can model these by showing only one part of the crystal that repeats.

• Some of your models may include elements that exist as molecules made of one kind of atoms.

This project will count as a test/project grade and is due on Thursday May 30, 2013

Molecule Models

Agreement for Projects Done by Two Students

I am requesting permission to work with one or two other students, of my own choice, to complete the Molecule Models project.

I fully understand and agree to the following:

✓ It is my responsibility, along with that of my project partner(s), to appropriately meet to plan and finish the project.

✓ Once approved, this is an irrevocable commitment. I cannot back out, and I must see the project through.

✓ My partner’s involvement will affect my grade, because all project partners will receive the same grade on all components of the project.

My partner’s name is: ________________________________________________________________________

______________________________ ______________________

My Signature Date

Parental Agreement:

Having discussed the above requirements with my child, I support his/her decision to complete the Molecule Models project in partnership with the classmate named above.

________________________________________ ______________________

My Parent’s Signature Date

***This is due back no later than Tuesday, May 21, 2013***

Rubric for grading

|Follows Project Rules |Student follows all Project |Student follows most of the |Student follows some of the |Student did not follow many of |

| |Rules; completes 3 ionic |Project Rules, completes 3 |Project Rules, completes less |the Project Rules, completes |

| |compounds and 3 molecular |ionic compounds and 3 |than 3 ionic compounds and/or |less than 3 ionic compounds and |

| |compounds, and a key that |molecular compounds, and a key|less than 3 molecular compounds,|less than 3 molecular compounds,|

| |lists all of the atoms and |that lists all of the atoms |and a key that lists all of the |and a key that lists all of the |

| |bonds used |used |atoms used |atoms used |

| |25 pts |19 pts |13 pts |7 pts |

|Appearance/ Creativity |Models look very neat and |Models look neat and |Models look somewhat neat and |Models do not look neat or |

| |professional; student use of |professional; student use of |professional. |professional; student use of |

| |materials is extraordinarily |materials is creative. |13 pts |materials is not very creative. |

| |creative. 25 pts |19 pts | |7 pts |

|Models |All models accurately depict |Most models accurately depict |Some models accurately depict |Most models do not accurately |

| |the correct compound (correct |the correct compound (correct |the correct compound (correct |depict the correct compound |

| |atoms, number of atoms, and |atoms, number of atoms, and |atoms, number of atoms, and type|(correct atoms, number of atoms,|

| |type of bond). Models are |type of bond). Models are |of bond) OR models are not |and type of bond) AND/OR models|

| |correctly labeled with their |correctly labeled with their |correctly labeled with their |are not correctly labeled with |

| |name and formula, and in the |name and formula, and in the |name and formula, and in the |their name and formula, and in |

| |correct grouping as ionic or |correct grouping as ionic or |correct grouping as ionic or |the correct grouping as ionic or|

| |molecular. |molecular |molecular |molecular |

| |50 pts |34 pts |18 pts |7 pts |

Final Grade_____________________________

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