Building Molecular Models Using Screw-On Bottle Caps

Siodłak, Dawid

doi:10.1021/ed400126p

Cited by 15 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Cork balls [ 6 ] have also been used for molecular models in organic chemistry but since the broad use of synthetic plastics, plastic spheres connected initially by a metal wire [ 7 ] and subsequently by plastic deformable joints, have been the materials of choice for molecular model kits. There are also several papers that have described the use of various materials for the building of fullerenes, including plastic beads [ 8 ], bottle caps [ 9 ] and origami paper constructs [ 10 ]. Here, we used 1.4-cm transparent glass marbles and a 2-component (resin and hardener) epoxy resin adhesive to bind the marbles.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The sphere-in-contact model of carbon materials

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A sphere-in-contact model is presented that is used to build physical models of carbon materials such as graphite, graphene, carbon nanotubes and fullerene. Unlike other molecular models, these models have correct scale and proportions because the carbon atoms are represented by their atomic radius, in contrast to the more commonly used space-fill models, where carbon atoms are represented by their van der Waals radii. Based on a survey taken among 65 undergraduate chemistry students and 28 PhD/postdoctoral students with a background in molecular modeling, we found misconceptions arising from incorrect visualization of the size and location of the electron density located in carbon materials. Based on analysis of the survey and on a conceptual basis we show that the sphere-in-contact model provides an improved molecular representation of the electron density of carbon materials compared to other molecular models commonly used in science textbooks (i.e., wire-frame, ball-and-stick, space-fill). We therefore suggest that its use in chemistry textbooks along with the ball-and-stick model would significantly enhance the visualization of molecular structures according to their electron density.Graphical AbstractA sphere-in-contact model of C60-fullereneElectronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00894-015-2895-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The sphere-in-contact model of carbon materials

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Carbon fullerenes are one of the most impactful chemical topologies and most commonly modeled systems in chemical and nanoscience education. 11,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] Combination of ILD 6 -(1,3,5) and ILD 6 -(1,4) can lead to an infinite honeycomb network reminiscent of single layer graphene structure (see Figure S3).…”

Section: Modeling Of Discrete "Saturated" Polyhedramentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Carbon fullerenes are one of the most impactful chemical topologies and one of the most commonly modeled systems in chemical and nanoscience education. ,− A combination of ILD 6 -(1,3,5) and ILD 6 -(1,4) can lead to an infinite honeycomb network reminiscent of a single-layer graphene structure (see Figure S4). However, as it is difficult to endlessly combine the building blocks, eventually models of patches of graphene ribbons are constructed that exhibit “unsaturated” ILD 6 -(1,3,5) or ILD 6 -(1,3) termini.…”

Section: Modeling Of Discrete “Saturated” Polyhedramentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Development of alternative modeling approaches based on inexpensive or cost-effective building units such as linearly interlocking “legoidal” building blocks have shown to be useful in the modeling of complex nanoelectronic architectures; at the same time, the “legoidal” building blocks are too robust and inflexible to have any broader application in stereochemistry . Complex polyhedral topologies with relevance to inorganic chemistry have been designed on the basis of inexpensive and commercially accessible materials such as paper, , straws, , beads, and bottle caps; , however, preparing models with these building blocks requires substantial manual effort and time, and at the end, the components used for modeling cannot be reused in a damage-free manner.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Modeling of Nanomolecular and Reticular Architectures with 6-fold Grooved, Programmable Interlocking Disks

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Single-type, 6-fold symmetrically grooved and commercially accessible interlocking disks (ILDs) have been used for modeling of sp 2 hybridized carbon-based nanoarchitectures, complex polyhedral and reticular material models. In the case of carbon-based nanoarchitectures we showcase that the primary ILDs can be directly used for representing individual atoms and bonds. Further on, the spatial connectivity of the primary ILDs can be extended by assembly of symmetrical secondary building units (SBUs). The constructed (deci)meter scale models are robust, light, scalable and suitable for classroom demonstrations. The ILDs technique is also suitable for use in workshop for facile discovery-based learning of nanomolecular structure, showing promise in wider use in the broader chemistry curriculum.

show abstract

“…o Ping-pong balls [ 3 ], rubber balloons [ 4 ], bottle caps [ 5 , 6 ], whiteboard markers [ 7 ] or other materials [ 8 – 14 ] (Repurposing available materials)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A virtual alternative to molecular model sets: a beginners’ guide to constructing and visualizing molecules in open-source molecular graphics software

Phankingthongkum

Limpanuparb

2021

BMC Res Notes

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective The application of molecular graphics software as a simple and free alternative to molecular model sets for introductory-level chemistry learners is presented. Results Based on either Avogadro or IQmol, we proposed four sets of tasks for students, building basic molecular geometries, visualizing orbitals and densities, predicting polarity of molecules and matching 3D structures with bond-line structures. These topics are typically covered in general chemistry for first-year undergraduate students. Detailed step-by-step procedures are provided for all tasks for both programs so that instructors and students can adopt one of the two programs in their teaching and learning as an alternative to molecular model sets.

show abstract

Building Molecular Models Using Screw-On Bottle Caps

Cited by 15 publications

References 9 publications

The sphere-in-contact model of carbon materials

The sphere-in-contact model of carbon materials

Modeling of Nanomolecular and Reticular Architectures with 6-fold Grooved, Programmable Interlocking Disks

A virtual alternative to molecular model sets: a beginners’ guide to constructing and visualizing molecules in open-source molecular graphics software

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About