A. Sizes and shapes of molecules

Like many things, molecules come in various sizes and shapes. Here are two different molecules, one small and the other a bit larger. With your mouse, you can both rotate these molecules and change their size. If you need help, check the directions provided.

The atoms in these molecules use a color code similar to that of most molecular model sets. Using the chart below, determine the chemical formulas of each. Rotate the molecules so that you don't miss any of their atoms. Can you give the chemical name as well?

Do you recognize these next two molecules? They are the same as the ones above, only now are shown using "space-filling" representations. Switch them back to a ball & stick view using the directions provided.

Space-filling model kits are available for purchase. However, the model kit you are using in lab contains balls and sticks. Usually, ball and stick kits are are less expensive and easier to manipulate.

You have studied molecules that are linear, bent, triangular, pyramidal or tetrahedal. Here are 5 molecules. Can you recognize which molecule has which shape? Hint: it may help you to switch either to the wireframe or ball & sick view in order to more easily recognize the geometry.

Here are the nine molecules, the ones you constructed if you did Experiment 5, "Chemical Bonds, Molecular Models, and Molecular Shapes". Use the color code to identify them. Examine each one, rotating it and shifting to another view if this helps. You should be able to identify the geometry of each molecule. Also, you should be able to draw the Lewis structure of each and "see" the non-bonded pairs of electrons that help determine the shapes of these molecules.

E. Other molecules

Here are some additional molecules that you may be able to recognize. For each, provide the chemical formula. Give the chemical name as well, if you know it. Note that some of them may have double or triple bonds, but these will not appear as a double or a triple line. Rather, in a "real" molecule, a double or triple bond is indicated by how close the atoms are to each other.