Molecule Project (Major Grade!!!)
Purpose: To demonstrate understanding of how atoms bond into molecules, the types of bonds used, the chemical formulas used to describe these
molecules, and the properties of molecules.
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Pick one of the following approved compounds. If you have a compound you would like to work on that is not listed on here, ask whether
it’s appropriate to use before getting started on this project.
-Sodium Bicarbonate
-Sodium Sulfate
-Sodium Hydroxide
-Calcium Carbonate
-Sodium Fluoride
-Sodium Chloride
-Acetic Acid
-Isopropyl alcohol
-Sucrose
-Acetyl Salicylic Acid
-Hydrogen Peroxide
-Dichlorobenzene
-Sodium carbonate
-Fructose
-Caffeine (difficult)
-Sodium hypochlorite
Create a 3 dimensional model of your molecule that shows all of the atoms and bond associated with it. Use whatever materials you like,
but atoms should be spherical and bonds should be stick – like.
You must use the following colors for each atom. This helps everybody be able to tell the composition of your compound just by looking at
it.
Hydrogen = white
Carbon = black
Oxygen = red
Sulfur = yellow
Phosphorous = orange
Nitrogen = blue
Halogens = green
Metals = silver/grey
Alkali metals = pink
Alkaline metals = purple
Make a poster or other visual aid introducing your compound to the class that includes the following:
o What is your compound’s name and formula?
o Lewis dot structure for your compound
o What kinds of bonds does it have? (ionic, covalent, or both)
o Describe how those bond’s work (how many electrons are shared/given, polar, nonpolar, etc)
o What properties does this compound have?
o What do we use this compound for by most people?
o What kind of reactions does this compound participate in? (synthesis, decomposition, combustion, single replacement, double
replacement)
o Show an example of one balanced chemical equation that this compound will be involved in.
Rubric
0 – 1 points
2 – 4 points
5 – 6 points
7 – 8 points
9 – 10 points
Model was not made
at all
Model made but falls
apart quickly
Model made, stays together
Model made, stays together, easy to
see which molecule was made
Model’s
accuracy
Model was not made
at all
Model was completely
inaccurate
Model’s
aesthetic
appeal
Model was not made
at all
Model was not made
well, impossible to tell
which molecule was
made
Model has two things
wrong (number of atoms for
each element, color of
atoms, shape of atoms and
shape of molecule)
Model was made pretty well,
possible to tell which
molecule it was made
Poster
Poster was not made
at all
Poster was made but
not legibly
Compound’s
Name and
Formula
Lewis Dot
Structure
Compound’s name
and formula are
never mentioned
Only the name given
when picking out which
compound is listed
Model made, stays together,
possible to see which
molecule was made
Model has one thing wrong
(number of atoms for each
element, color of atoms,
shape of atoms and shape of
molecule)
Model was made well,
possible to see which
molecule was made and
where the bonds were, and it
looks nice and neat.
Poster made, legible, and it’s
possible to find all necessary
information.
Compound’s name and
formula are visibly displayed
on the poster.
Lewis Dot structure
isn’t given at all
Inaccurate Lewis Dot
Structure
Lewis Dot Structure
Accurate Lewis dot structure
with obvious ionic and/or
covalent bonds
Description of
bonds
No description of
bonds given
Bonds are just listed as
ionic and/or covalent
Bonds are listed as ionic
and/or covalent and
polar/nonpolar
Bonds are listed as ionic
and/or covalent,
polar/nonpolar, and shared/
gained/lost electrons
Properties and
Everyday Use
No properties of the
compounds are
given.
One property or
everyday use is given
One property and one
everyday use is given
At least two properties and/or
every day uses are given
Chemical
reaction
No reactions are
given
Just the type of
chemical reaction is
given
Type of chemical reaction
and an example unbalanced
equation is given
Type of chemical reaction and
an example balanced
equation is given
Creativity
Nothing creative was
made
Things were made but
creativity is not visible
Colorful, attractive project,
but only bare minimum was
done
Colorful, attractive project,
there is something unique
about it.
Criteria
Model
Poster was made and is
legible, but you can’t find all
information
Poster has compound’s
name and formula, but
they’re hard to find
Model has everything correct
(number of atoms for each element,
color of atoms, shape of atoms and
shape of molecule)
Model was made extremely well,
possible to see every detail about
the molecule and it looks neat,
creative. It is a model that should be
on display in a science room.
Poster made, legible, and it’s easy to
find all necessary information.
Compound’s name and formula are
visibly displayed on the poster and
common names are given as well.
Accurate Lewis dot structure with
obvious ionic and/or covalent bonds
and all nonbonded electrons
accounted for
Bonds are listed as ionic and/or
covalent, polar/nonpolar, and
shared/gained/lost electrons. It’s
clearly shown which atoms the
bonds are between.
Multiple properties and everyday
uses are given and anybody would
be able to recognize the molecule in
their cabinet based on the
information
Type of chemical reaction, an
example balanced equation, and
extra information about that
chemical reaction is given.
Colorful, attractive project, unique,
and visible extra work went into
making it
Example Poster
Lewis Dot Structure:
Properties:
Water is a transparent,
polar, liquid. It is wet and
has the ability to dissolve a
lot of things.
Bonds:
Water has covalent bonds
between the hydrogen and
the oxygen atoms. The
bonds are polar, b/c even
though they share their
electrons oxygen hogs the
electrons, so oxygen is
partially negative.
Everyday uses:
Most people drink water,
put it in their food, bathe
in it, water their animals
and plants, and use it for
fun, like swimming.
Reactions
Water can be in many chemical reactions. The most common two types of reactions that water is a
participate in are combustion and double replacement reactions. The following reaction is an example
of a combustion reaction where methane burns and water is a product.
CH4 + 2O2  2H2O + CO2