1.15: Molecular Models

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Objective

After completing this section, you should be able to

use ball-and-stick molecular models to make models of simple organic compounds (e.g., ethane, ethylene, acetylene, ethanol, formaldehyde, acetone, acetic acid), given their Kekulé structures or molecular formulas.

Study Notes

You will have noticed that we have given two names for most of the compounds discussed up to this point. In general we shall be using systematic (i.e., IUPAC—International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) names throughout the course. However, simple compounds are often known by their common names, which may be more familiar than their IUPAC counterparts. We shall address the subject of nomenclature (naming) in Chapter 3.

ethanol, ethanol

formaldehyde (methanal),

acetone (propanone),

acetic (ethanoic) acid,

Exercises

Construct a molecular model of each of the compounds listed below.
1. $\ce{\sf{CH3-CN}}$
2. $\ce{\sf{CH3-N=C=O}}$
3. $\ce{\sf{CH3-CH2-O-CH3}}$
Hint: Use the curved sticks to form the multiple bonds and the straight sticks for single bonds.

Answers:

Contributors

Dr. Dietmar Kennepohl FCIC (Professor of Chemistry, Athabasca University)