Atoms and Angles Kit

You won’t be repulsed by this active exploration of the forces within and among molecules that determine structure and chemical behavior.

Your student will make paper molecule models, attract and repel with tape, dissolve polar and nonpolar substances, separate dye with chromatography, and build molecules with ball-and-stick models.

This Launch level kit (grades 8-12) includes a full-color student workbook and a detailed teacher guide, with step-by-step instructions for both hands-on and reading-based activities designed to engage students in molecular shape, polarity, and organic chemistry.

Both teacher and student will be able to open the box and start within minutes, and the kit will provide over 15 hours of engaging learning.

In this kit, the student will engage in these hands-on learning experiences:

1. Look closely at the surprising shapes of molecules and make paper models of them, too.
2. Investigate the attraction and repulsion behind molecular structure using tape and balloons.
3. Do some unusual dissolving to find out how polarity affects the properties of molecules.
4. Experience an introduction to identifying and naming organic compounds using chromatography.
5. Use molecular models to test your knowledge and skills related to atoms and their angles.

Use Atoms and Angles kit to answer questions such as:

• Why do different molecules have different shapes?
• How do the atoms in molecules stay together?
• Why do some compounds dissolve in water but others do not?
• How do organic compounds compare to inorganic compounds?
• How are the shapes of molecules modeled?

Your student is ready for this kit when:

1. They know what an atom is and what its structure is like.
2. They have some experience with the concept of "opposites attract" at a particle level.
3. They understand the importance of carbon in making larger molecules.

The following are Science Unlocked kits we suggest your student has completed prior to doing this kit:

• Water: Weird & Wonderful
• Contain Your Excitement
• Mega Molecules

Our Atoms and Angles kit is a part of the Science Unlocked Launch series and is recommended for middle and high school students in grades 8-12.

Interested in learning more? Check out our Student Workbook Sample and Teacher Guide Sample!

More Information

• Safety Information (SDS)

This kit contains:

• 12 Balloons
• 2 Binder clips
• 1 Box of Toothpicks
• 4 Color tablets
• 10 Filter Paper
• 1 Foil
• 4 Graduated Cups
• 1 Marker
• 6 Modeling Doughs
• 1 Periodic Table
• 1 Petroleum Jelly
• 1 Piece of Paper
• 3 Pipets
• 1 Protractor
• 10 Splints
• 2 Sugar Packets
• 1 Tape
• 1 Vegetable Oil
• 1 Wool

Other items needed:

• Pencil
• Scissors
• Water

• Learning outcome: You won’t be repulsed by this active exploration of the forces within and among molecules that determine structure and chemical behavior.
• NGSS science standards alignment
• HS-PS1-3 Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles.