Marshmallow Molecules

Names:______

Divide your paper into four sections. Label the sections Elements, Molecules, Compounds, and Mixtures.

In this activity, the different colored marshmallows represent atoms and toothpicks represent bonds between atoms.

Each element will be color coded. Oxygen is orange. Carbon is green. Chlorine is yellow. Hydrogen is pink. Sodium (Na) is also green. These colors should be represented correctly in each section. You will need a total of 8 orange, 13 pink, 5 green, and 2 yellow.

Read and highlight key ideas in the section about Elements on the Notes page.

In the elements section of the paperdraw 5 marshmallow size circles color and label them oxygen (orange), carbon (green), chlorine (yellow), hydrogen (pink), and sodium (light green) atom. Under each circle, label it with its element name.

In the element section, under the circles you just drew, write “Other Examples:”. Look at the Periodic Table, list three other kinds of elements next as your “Other Examples”.

Read the section about Molecules on the Notes page.

In the Molecules section, use marshmallows and toothpicks to create a Hydrogen diatom (H2). A hydrogen diatom occurs when one hydrogen atom bonds to another hydrogen atom. To do this, take a pink marshmallow and connect it to another pink marshmallow with a small toothpick. Draw this molecule in the Molecule section and label it “Hydrogen Diatom”.

Use the marshmallows and toothpicks to create an Oxygen diatom (O2). An oxygen diatom molecule occurs when one oxygen atom bonds to another oxygen atom. Oxygen (O2) is unique because it is formed with a double bond. There are four outer shell electrons being shared. To do this, take an orange marshmallow and connect it to another orange marshmallow with two small toothpicks to show the double bond. Draw this molecule in the Molecule section and label it “Oxygen Diatom”.

Use the marshmallows and toothpicks to create a Water molecule (H20). A water molecule is formed when one oxygen atom bonds with 2 hydrogen atoms. As you read in the notes page, a water molecule is in the shape of a triangle with the oxygen in between the hydrogen molecules. To do this, take an orange marshmallow and stick a pink marshmallow to two sides of the orange molecules with one small toothpick each. Make sure it forms a triangle shape. Important: There should not be a toothpick that connects the two pink marshmallows. Draw the molecule in the Molecule section. Label this molecule Water.

In the Molecule section, under the drawings you just drew, write “Other Examples:”. Using a chromebook, look up some other names of molecules. List three other kinds of molecules next as your “Other Examples”.

Read and highlight key ideas in the section about Compounds on the notes provided.

In the Compound section, draw another Water molecule. Remember, all compounds are also molecules. So, water can be located in the Molecule and the Compound section. In the Compounds section, draw another Water molecule (H20) in the Compound section. Label this compound Water.

Create a carbon dioxide (CO2) molecule. Carbon dioxide is formed when a carbon atom is double bonded to two oxygen atoms. To do this, take a green marshmallow and stick two small toothpicks to connect it to an orange marshmallow. Then, on the opposite side, stick two small toothpicks to connect it to another orange atom. This molecule should have marshmallows all in a straight line. Draw the molecule in the Compound section. Label this compound Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Create a methane (CH4) molecule. Methane is formed when one carbon atom bonds to four hydrogen atoms. The key is that the carbon is connected to each of the hydrogen atoms. To do this, take a green marshmallow and stick four small toothpicks into it (one on each side). It should look like an x or a + sign. Then, stick a pink marshmallow on the end of all of the toothpicks. Draw the molecule in the Compound section. Label this compound Methane (CH4).

In the Compound section, under your drawings, write “Other Examples:”. Using a chromebook, look up some other names of compounds. List three other kinds of elements next as your “Other Examples”.

Read and highlight key ideas in the Mixtures section on the Notes Page.

Create salt water. Salt water occurs when salt dissolves in water. These molecules mix, but to not bond together. To do this, make a salt molecule and a water molecule and simply sit them next to each other. To make a salt molecule (NaCl) take a green marshmallow and connect it with a small toothpick to a yellow marshmallow. Create a water molecule just as you have in the previous sections (Remember, it’s a triangle!). Draw the salt molecule and the water molecule next to each other. Do not add a bond that connects them! Label it Salt Water.

In the Mixture section, under the drawing you just made, write “Heterogeneous Mixtures:” and “Homogeneous Mixtures:”. Using a chromebook look up some other examples of heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures. List three examples of each.

How to make a “cube” of salt molecules. Salt is a compound molecule made up of sodium and chloride. Sometimes atoms can completely lose an electron or gain and electron when they bond (Ionic bonding). This can cause the atom to have a positive or negative charge because your number of protons and electrons are no longer equal. In salt, sodium (Na) loses an electron to chlorine (Cl). This causes the sodium to have a positive charge, and the chlorine to have a negative charge. Atoms with electric charges are called ions. When one ion in acompoundhas a negative charge and the other has a positive charge, the atoms are held close together by attraction between their opposite charges.

Ionic compounds form crystals. Salt forms “cubes” or crystal structures because each atom is held in a specific place due to the electrostatic attraction between the charged ions.

Make a 3x3x3 cube structure of NaCl using marshmallows and toothpicks. Then, on the back of your lab paper, draw and label your salt cube (be sure to identify Na, Cl, and the electric charges). (figure out your marshmallows on your own- just be sure to label on your sheet)

Clean up: Take apart all your molecules. Leave the toothpicks on the paper towel at your table. You may eat your marshmallows if you would like. If not leave them in color coded piles on the paper towel at your desk.

Answer the lab questions.

Marshmallow Molecule Lab Questions

Define the following:

Element –

Molecule –

Compound –

Mixture –

What did the marshmallows represent?

What did the toothpicks represent?

The element section did not have any toothpicks. Why?

What is the difference between a molecule and a compound?

If you were looking at the particles, a drawing, or model of a compound, what are some things you would notice?

If you were looking at the particles, a drawing, or a model of a molecule, what is one thing you could you see that you would not see in a compound?

What does the structure of the water look like? Draw it.

What does the structure of carbon dioxide look like? Draw it.

What does the structure of salt look like? Draw it.

Why did some of them have 2 toothpicks between two marshmallows and some only had one?

In the mixture section, why didn’t you connect the water and the salt with a toothpick?

Look at the particles of the following substances. Determine if it is an element, compound or mixture.

Pure Gold (Au) 6. Nitrogen

Sugar (C6H12O6)7. Ammonia (NH3)

Kool Aid8. Silver (Ag)

Mystery Substance9. Carbonic Acid (H2CO3)

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)10. Air