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DemonstrationsAtoms › 3.0

Lecture Demonstrations

Atoms, Molecules, Ions, Compound Formulas

3.0 Various Props for Demonstrating Atoms, Molecules, Bonding, Mole, Chemical Formulas

Description: Use of objects to visualize concepts of the mole, atomic structure, counting by weighing.

Materials:

  • Mole box (on top shelf of alcove)
  • 2” red ball
  • Mole of sulfur and mole of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) in Erlenmeyer flasks
  • Coffee and aspirin containers
  • Jar of rice
  • Beakers, different sized balls for count by weighing exercise

Procedure:

  1. The mole box is a visual aid that represents a volume of one mole of air.
  2. The moles of sulfur and sodium bicarbonate give an idea of the relative amounts of different materials in a mole.
  3. The jar of rice and beakers containing different size balls is an exercise that demonstrates why chemists count by weight. It is impractical to count individual rice grains in a jar – there are too many. It is better to weigh the total amount.

Discussion: None

Safety: None

Disposal: None

References: 1. Bee Botch


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