Using Models to Increase Understanding in Chemistry
Included in this packet are links to Google documents of the following:
1. Directions for use
2. Modeling Ionic Formulas
Students drag and drop various “puzzle pieces” of different ionic charges to determine a
charge balanced formula for a few ionic compounds.
3. Modeling atoms (protons, neutrons, and electrons in atoms)
Students move appropriate numbers of protons, neutrons, and electrons into the correct
location on the model of an atom.
**Note: teachers will need to assign specific atoms for students to build with the models.
No specific problems were given. This is a great activity for students to do in class while
the teacher monitors student work by walking around the room and looking at computer
screens.
4. Building energy diagrams and electron configurations
In this model, students move electrons into orbitals of lowest to increasing energy levels.
The energy levels are labeled to determine the ground-state electron configuration of an
atom. This can also be used to teach excited state and how electrons are able to give off
light.
**Note: teachers will need to assign specific atoms for students to build with the models.
No specific problems were given. This is a great activity for students to do in class while
the teacher monitors student work by walking around the room and looking at computer
screens.
5. Modeling a sugar solution
Students use concepts of polarity and attraction between particles to model how water
molecules and sugar molecules interact when sugar is dissolved.
6. Building simple Lewis Structures
By moving appropriate atoms and valence electrons, students build Lewis structures of
simple covalent compounds (one polyatomic ion is included).