Activity Sheet for Introduction to Molecular Modeling

Print out this activity sheet. Each group (two students) must complete and hand in the sheet at the end of the class.

Name___________________
Class __________

How are molecular models similar to other types of models (for example weather models)? _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
How are molecular models different from other models?
____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Why does molecular modeling give more information than molecules shown in textbooks?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

What is a chemical formula? _______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

What is the chemical formula for water? __________

What is the chemical formula for ethane? ____________ ethanol? ____________

What are the four ways molecules can be displayed using molecular modeling software? Give an advantage and
disadvantage for each display type. ____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Name two hydrocarbons. Tell what is they have in common and what makes them different.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

How many atom types does aspirin have? How would you write the chemical formula for aspirin.

_______________________________________________________________

Why does ice float?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

What is the reason that ice is less dense than water?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Both diamond and graphite are made only from carbon. Why then is graphite slippery and diamond so hard?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Explain why salt and calcite are crystal lattices? Describe the pattern in salt. Describe the pattern in calcite.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________