Modeling Chemical reactions
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Bernard Nebel.
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There is no better way give kids understanding of organic molecules (carbon containing molecules of living systems) than to have them work with physical items to model the chemical reactions they undergo. Homeschool groups will find it worthwhile to purchase kits that may be shared. I recommend the “OLD NOBBY organic chemistry molecular model kit”. Just be sure to keep track of all the pieces.
Note: Chemists have discovered that atoms of organic molecules always form a set number of covalent bonds (C = 4; H = 1; O = 2; and N = 3). Be sure to follow these and other rules described in the instructional guide that comes with kits.
Reemphasize that actual atoms and molecules are much too small to be seen even with the most powerful microscopes. Our ability to model reactions comes from over 500 hundred years of experimental evidence. In modeling a given reaction, remind kids that the actual reaction involves many millions to atoms acting in the same way.
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