A three-dimensional model for water

A three-dimensional model of the water molecule was developed for the purpose of simulating some of the properties of water and ice. Four cylindrical dipole magnets were inserted and secured into small spheres at angles of 109.5° from each other. The north poles of the magnets represent the hydrogen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical education 2002-09, Vol.79 (9), p.1088
Main Authors: Johnson, J. L. H, Yalkowsky, S. H, Ed Vitz
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemistry
Demonstrations (Science)
Higher Education
Hydrology
Science education
Science Equipment
Science Instruction
Three dimensional models
Two dimensional models
Water
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Summary:A three-dimensional model of the water molecule was developed for the purpose of simulating some of the properties of water and ice. Four cylindrical dipole magnets were inserted and secured into small spheres at angles of 109.5° from each other. The north poles of the magnets represent the hydrogen atoms and the south poles represent the lone electron pairs of oxygen. The models can be used to demonstrate some of the properties of water, such as the formation of the ice lattice, melting under pressure, the squeezing out of nonpolar molecules in mixtures, and the flickering clusters proposed by Frank and Wen in 1957. These self-assembling models (SAMs) can be used for classroom demonstrations, which will enable students to visualize and appreciate the unique attributes of water.See Letter re: this article.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/ed079p1088