Lesson+3

Grade Level:  11

Unit:  Chemistry

Lesson Objectives (include 4 or 5):  Student will understand  Student will be able to  Time Required to complete this lesson:  At least one lab period. Title of lesson:  Molecular structure lab Description of lesson (if you were to describe to a parent what was happening in the classroom for this lesson, what would you say in 3-5 sentences).  Students will learn about the concept of **valence** (the number of bonds that can be formed by a particular atom), the concept of atomic bonding, functional groups, and molecular nomenclature in class before performing the lab exercise. They will use "ball and stick" models of atoms and bonds to reinforce the concepts of three-dimensional molecular structure and valence. The "balls" that represent the atoms are color coded according to their element and have varying numbers of holes for the "sticks" or bonds according to the valence of these atoms. Facilitated by the models, students will sketch bonding diagrams of molecules whose names are given on a worksheet. Assignment (homework or in-class: this is how the learner will practice the learning that has just occurred):  The aforementioned worksheet.
 * How molecule formation and atomic bonding is determined by the valence of atoms that make up a molecule.
 * How the three-dimensional structure and functional groups of a molecule affect its characteristic properties.
 * How the nomenclature for molecules describes the numbers and types of atoms that they contain, the presence of functional groups and multiple bonds, and the location/orientation of multiple bonds and functional groups.
 * Construct molecular models and sketch bonding diagrams of a molecule once given its name.
 * Interpret the information contained on the periodic table of the elements.

Resources/materials needed:  Molecular (ball and stick) model sets made of wood or plastic, paper for worksheets. The three hyperlinks to the chemistry music videos that appear on the Top 11 Science Videos page (accessible by a link on the Science Theater page) also relate to this lesson.

Technology used:  Power Point slides or (even better) interactive videos depicting molecular models may be used. I have recorded a Podcast introducing students to the periodic table of the elements accessible from the Teaching with Technology page on this site.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The technology used in this lesson changes the teaching / learning in this way: Video images of molecular models can be projected onto a screen where the students can see them and the teacher can interpret them easily. The Podcast allows students to access a mini-lecture on the periodic table whereever they may be. The chemistry music videos, likewise, can be accessed from any computer.