Being able to model atoms is an important skill for students to acquire at the beginning of a unit. The elements that make up a chemical, the bonds between the atoms, and the way the atoms are arranged can give us an insight into the properties of the substance. Using ball and stick models can also allow students to ‘see’ the chemicals and give them a better understanding of its composition.
In this activity, students will create a chart that models different types of substances. Students will need to understand the terms atoms and bonds in order to complete this activity. They should create three models each for elements, compounds, and mixtures.
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Student Instructions
Create models of different substances using the ball-and-stick-model symbol from Science > Symbols.