Chemistry/Making Molecules

Science 8 Experiment

MAKING MOLECULES

PURPOSE:
 * To learn how atoms join together, to learn how to make molecules and learn how to write a simple chemical formula.

BACKGROUND: When two hydrogen atoms join to make a molecule, the FORMULA  for the molecule is written as H2. The “2”is called a SUBSCRIPT

When two nitrogen atoms join to make a molecule, the FORMULA for the molecule is written as N2.When two oxygen atoms join to a nitrogen atom to make a molecule, the FORMULA for the molecule iswritten as N1O2 or O2N1. Chemists usually omit a subscript if it is a “1”.Hence, the molecule made by joining one nitrogen and two oxygens is usually written as NO2 or O2N.

When ten hydrogen atoms join to four carbon atoms to make a molecule, the FORMULA for the molecule is written as C4H10 or H10C4.

MATERIAL
 * 3 – Carbon atoms (BLACK). One atom has a black mushroom cap.
 * 8-Hydrogen atoms (WHITE)
 * 2 – Oxygen atoms (RED). One atom has a red mushroom cap.
 * 1 – Nitrogen atom (BLUE). The atom has a blue mushroom cap.