<br/>Students struggle to determine the three-dimensional shape of molecules from their chemical formula. Molecular models are routinely used in the organic chemistry curriculum to aid the students in their visualization of molecules. This research investigates the use of molecular model sets to enhance students’ ability to visualize molecules and assign molecular shape in the general chemistry course. In this study, students in a first semester general chemistry laboratory investigate molecular structure employing hands on molecular model sets. Students make models from the chemical formula and answer questions on valance electrons, electron pair geometry and molecular shape. Prior to the laboratory, the students are given a special recognition test to measure their visualization capacity and a pretest on the concepts. After completion of the laboratory exercise, a posttest on electron pair geometry and molecular shapes assess their growth in ability to recognize and visualize molecules from the chemical formula. Both concept assessments use scaffold questions to assess the level of student understanding. The efficacy of utilizing physical hands-on models in teaching science lessons as a pedagogically sound method to educate students on molecular shape is determined.

Educational study on the use of models to teach molecular shape

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.