CHED 1597 |
| By combining the concept of valence electrons and the idea of modeling molecules with toy (LEGO®) building bricks, a modeling system that mimics Lewis structures can be created. The ideas that are central to Lewis structures—paired and unpaired electrons, lone pairs, bonding pairs, the octet rule, single bonds, multiple bonds, formal charge—are all expressed in this modeling system. Further, the actions that the user must perform to make a molecule have a metaphorical meaning in this model. For example, when a stud of one brick is connected to the bottom of a second brick, a chemical bond is formed between two atoms. When two bricks representing the electrons from a given atom are stacked one atop the other, a lone pair is created. These concrete manipulations may help students understand the Lewis model of bonding.
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General Papers
8:00 AM-11:10 AM, Thursday, April 10, 2008 Hilton New Orleans Riverside -- Jefferson Ballroom, Oral
Sci-Mix
Division of Chemical Education |
