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How to Make Models for Chemical Bonds

An ideal project for students in science classes is to illustrate the chemical bonds that form atoms into molecules. Molecular models can be constructed from simple materials such as marshmallows and toothpicks, which can be found in any household cupboard. Using various-sized marshmallows to represent atoms and toothpicks to represent their chemical bonds, these models offer children a fun and tasty experiment that can also serve as a valuable scientific lesson.

Things You'll Need

Large marshmallows
Selection of small, multicolored marshmallows
Toothpicks
Paper plate (optional)
Push pin (optional)
String (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Choose the correct size of marshmallow to represent the atoms in you molecular model. For example, a water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. As an oxygen atom is much larger than a hydrogen atom, you would need one large marshmallow and two of the smaller marshmallows.
- 2
  Place two toothpicks into the larger marshmallow. One should stick out from the top of the marshmallow, and the other should stick out of the bottom left of the marshmallow at an angle.
- 3
  Connect the two smaller marshmallows to the toothpicks so that the toothpick is clearly visible. In the molecular model, the toothpick represents the chemical bond.
- 4
  Use these items to form other molecules and then connect the molecules via the "chemical bond" toothpicks to form compounds. You may also arrange the molecules on a simple paper plate or attach a string to one of the marshmallows using a push pin to display them and make them more visible. Set out in the open, marshmallows will keep for a few weeks.

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