modeling

Egg-lectrons and McLewis Structures

Dean Campbell | Fri, 02/28/2025 - 22:13

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Egg cartons and beverage holders can be used as models of atoms, with their dimples representing orbitals. Each dimple can hold up to two objects such as milk jug caps, plastic eggs, and cup pieces to represent electrons in the orbitals. Partially overlapping the trays by stacking the dimples represents chemical bonding and produces molecular models resembling Lewis structures. The models can be easily made from materials that can be readily found grocery stores and fast-food restaurants.

Models of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons and Dipoles

Dean Campbell | Fri, 01/10/2025 - 21:51

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Explore chlorinated hydrocarbons and dipoles with paper and toy models like LEGO, K’Nex, and Lux Blox! Paper models reinforce molecule polarity lessons, with templates and assignments included in the Supporting Information.

Fluorescence Rocks! Exploring Glowing Sodalite

Dean Campbell | Wed, 08/21/2024 - 12:41

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Syenite rocks containing sodalite that fluoresce yellow have been found on Lake Superior beaches in recent years and are of interest to collectors. The fluorescence of this mineral, which can be found in other localities, can be shown in classrooms and studied spectroscopically. Its structure can also be modeled with LEGO bricks, enabling further classroom connections.

Using LEGO bricks and paper springs to illustrate helical chemical structures

Dean Campbell | Sat, 06/29/2024 - 13:56

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Helical structures can be built from media such as LEGO bricks and paper. These structures can be used to model helical structures in chemistry. These include circularly polarized light and various helical biomolecules.

I Lava Particulate Models

Melissa Hemling | Tue, 05/21/2024 - 14:59

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Use the classic Lava Lamp Lab to make the concept of intermolecular forces more accessible!

Demo A Day IV

Dean Campbell | Fri, 02/02/2024 - 15:14

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Dean Campbell uses demonstrations and props to illustrate concepts while teaching his collegiate Materials Chemistry course. Many of the examples described are also suitable for use in high school and collegiate General Chemistry courses.

Unit Cells and Layer Sequences using Dimpled Packaging

Dean Campbell | Sun, 10/01/2023 - 09:07

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Regularly dimpled trays such as those used in food packaging can be used to represent layers of atoms in solid structures. For example, the square array of dimples in transparent plastic mini quiche trays can be used to depict layers within cubic or tetragonal unit cells. Multiple solid structures and ways to represent those structures are described.

Plastic Beverage Bottles and More as Orbital Models

Dean Campbell | Fri, 06/02/2023 - 07:58

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The shapes of plastic bottles can be used to represent orbitals. Using various connectors, a bit of packing tape, and a few other more specialized touches can produce large scale molecular models that feature orbitals, sigma bonds, and pi bonds.

Paper Snowflakes to Model Flat Symmetrical Molecules

Dean Campbell | Wed, 04/06/2022 - 13:39

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Flat, symmetrical molecules can be modeled by folding a sheet of paper, cutting patterns into the folded structure, and unfolding to produce the flat paper models. The finished models resemble paper snowflakes, but have a variety of rotational symmetries. Template patterns for several molecules are available for download in the Supporting Information.

A Polystyrene Model of Polystyrene Tacticity

Dean Campbell | Sun, 11/21/2021 - 10:55

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Thin sheets of polystyrene can be patterned with permanent markers to represent repeating units of the polymer and then shrunk down in size using heat. The shrunken models of the repeating units can be connected with a string and then flipped into positions to demonstrate different types of polymer tacticity.