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.

Procedure: 1. Connect the oxygen atoms together. Draw the resulting molecule and write its formula. 2. Connect as many hydrogen atoms as possible to an oxygen atom having a mushroom cap. Draw the resulting molecule and write its formula. 3. Connect as many hydrogen atoms as possible to a nitrogen atom having a mushroom cap. Draw the resulting molecule and write its formula. 4. Connect as many hydrogen atoms as possible to a carbon atom having a mushroom cap. Draw the resulting molecule and write its formula. 5. Connect a carbon atom without a mushroom cap to the carbon atom with the mushroom cap. Connect as many hydrogen atoms as possible to the pair of carbons. Draw the resulting molecule and write its formula. 6. Remove all the hydrogen atoms from the pair of carbon atoms you assembled in step 5. Now add an extra carbon atom to the pair of carbon atoms and again connect as many hydrogen atoms as possible to the three connected carbons. Draw the resulting molecule and write its formula. 7. Start again and connect a single carbon atom without a mushroom cap to the carbon atom with the mushroom cap. Next carefully remove the mushroom cap from the nitrogen atom, connect the atom to one carbon atom and connect as many hydrogen atoms as possible to the three connected atoms. Draw the resulting molecule and write its formula. 8. Remove all the hydrogen atoms from the molecule you created in step 7. Add as many oxygen atoms as possible to THE NITROGEN ATOM ONLY. Connect as many hydrogen atoms as possible TO THE CARBON ATOMS. Draw the resulting molecule and write its formula.