LACSSP Hands-on Activity – Chemical Bonding
10 Dec 2011
Goals: The objective of today’s activity is to get hands-on experience building molecules with your modeling kits. Using the information
from today’s lecture and demonstrations by the instructors, you will build several simple molecules. After you complete each model, briefly
study the structure of the molecule you have built and make an educated guess as to its polarity, functional groups, and any other notes you
may wish to take and record them in the handout. If time allows, move on to the more complicated “challenge” molecules later in the exercise.
You are encouraged to use scratch paper (or room in this handout) to draw the Lewis dot structures and bonds for each of the molecules
you model! As you complete your models, be careful to keep the modeling kits intact (try not to mix your pieces with your neighbors’).
Name of molecule Molecular formula Structural formula
Water
H2O
H-O-H
Carbon dioxide
CO2
O=C=O
Nitrogen gas
N2
NN
Oxygen gas
O2
O=O
Polarity? Functional groups? Other notes?
Carbonic acid
H2CO3
Phosphate
H3PO4
Propane (natural gas)
C3H8
Acetic acid (vinegar)
CH3COOH
Formaldehyde
CH2O
Acetone (nail polish remover)
C3H6O
Glycine (an amino acid)
C2H5NO2
Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
C3H8O
“Challenge” molecules
Isoamyl acetate (banana oil)
C7H14O2
Isooctane (octane in gas)
C8H18
Glucose (sugar)
C6H12O6
Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C)
C6H8O6