Making molecules and lattices from atoms

Interactive

It's time to channel your inner mad scientist. We're going to create some molecules and lattices with our atomic reactor!

How many can you make?

Making molecules and lattices from atoms

Instructions

  1. Drag an atom, any atom, into the reactor.

  2. Keep dragging atoms into the reactor until you make a stable molecule or lattice.

  3. Read about what you've just made.

  4. Start over.

Discussion questions

  1. How many molecules and lattices can you create using the reactor?

  2. If you were given a sample of sulfur (S8) and a sample of sulfur dichloride (SCl2), how could you determine which is which based on their properties?

Details

Curriculum Icon
NGSS
  • DCI | PS1.A: Substances are made from different types of atoms, which combine with one another in various ways. Atoms form molecules that range in size from two to thousands of atoms.
Learning Objectives Icon
Learning Objectives

Understand that the same set of atoms can combine into several stable molecules and lattices that can have wildly different properties.

Conepts Icon
Concepts
  • Atoms

  • Molecules

  • Lattices

  • Chemical bonds