Paper Molecule Activity
DO STEPS 1 AND 2 AS A LAB GROUP
1. Use the scissors to cut out all of the atoms off of the pattern sheet. Be sure that you cut along the lines and that
the outer “electrons” are left complete for bonding.
2. Use the paper atoms to build the following molecules:
a. H20
Water
b. CH4
Methane (natural gas)
c. CF2Cl2
Difluorodichloro Methane
d. NH3
Ammonia
e. HCl
Hydrochloric Acid (stomach acid)
Remember that all atoms seek to have 8 valence electrons (except Helium and Hydrogen which seek to have 2)
DO THE FOLLOWING ON YOUR OWN LINED SHEET OF PAPER:
3. Use different colors to represent each type of atom and their valence electrons. Create a “color key” on your
paper and draw then draw the 5 atoms on your lined paper. Be sure to label them and show which valence
electrons came from which atoms.
4. What are valence electrons and why are they important?
5. How many atoms can attach to the Oxygen atom? Why can’t it bond with more atoms at the same time?
6. Why doesn’t Neon bond with any other atoms?
7. How does the arrangement of the Periodic Table of the elements show us how many valence electrons an atom
has?
Paper Molecule Activity
DO STEPS 1 AND 2 AS A LAB GROUP
1. Use the scissors to cut out all of the atoms off of the pattern sheet. Be sure that you cut along the lines and that
the outer “electrons” are left complete for bonding.
2. Use the paper atoms to build the following molecules:
a. H20
Water
b. CH4
Methane (natural gas)
c. CF2Cl2
Difluorodichloro Methane
d. NH3
Ammonia
e. HCl
Hydrochloric Acid (stomach acid)
Remember that all atoms seek to have 8 valence electrons (except Helium and Hydrogen which seek to have 2)
DO THE FOLLOWING ON YOUR OWN LINED SHEET OF PAPER:
3. Use different colors to represent each type of atom and their valence electrons. Create a “color key” on your
paper and draw then draw the 5 atoms on your lined paper. Be sure to label them and show which valence
electrons came from which atoms.
4. What are valence electrons and why are they important?
5. How many atoms can attach to the Oxygen atom? Why can’t it bond with more atoms at the same time?
6. Why doesn’t Neon bond with any other atoms?
7. How does the arrangement of the Periodic Table of the elements show us how many valence electrons an atom
has?