Need help with making a 3D model of an atom

[Zytek_Fan]

I have to construct a 3D model of an atom from the third or fourth row of the periodic table.

It has to show all the orbitals from 1s up through the 4s orbital, including all of the 2p and 3p orbitals, whether or not they are occupied by an electron.

It need not have a nucleus, but it must show the correct assignment of electrons, including spin in the atom's ground state. The orbitals must have a 3-dimensional shape.


I was thinking making it with styrofoam craft balls or the popular pipe cleaners.



I just need help on how I should construct it.

[#1 Mustang Fan]

Polystyrene might come in handy...

[Bob]

google sketchup.

[wwgkd]

Yeah, I was thinking you were doing a model of an Ariel Atom in sketchup or something.

Just because it's easy I'd probably use the pipe cleaner and styrofoam balls. I am so freaking glad I'm not doing that stuff any more.

[Bleeding Heart]

How about making a model something that looks like this...

[f6fhellcat13]

That's really not very helpful.

[Turbo.Jenkens]

Too bad Hydrogen isn't allowed

[Zytek_Fan]

How about making a model something that looks like this...

That's pretty much what it will be, it's just the energy levels are a pain in the ass

[johnnynumfiv]

Make them out of these:


For the electrons use clay or something to make a little ball around the tube. Use fishing string between them so they will be in their proper places and then you can hang it from something.

Like:

[my porsche]

Dots with toothpicks is a simple and cheap way, but foam balls and maybe wood skewers would be pretty cheap as well.

[f6fhellcat13]

Dots with toothpicks is a simple and cheap way, but foam balls and maybe wood skewers would be pretty cheap as well.

Dots are waaaay too good to waste like that.
Pipe cleaners and foam balls would be best, imo.

[my porsche]

Dots are waaaay too good to waste like that.
Pipe cleaners and foam balls would be best, imo.

Pipe cleaners aren't strong enough to support the weight I don't think, it would lose form.

Plus no one said you can't eat the dots afterwards.

[Cyco]

Guys, he is talking about modelling probability spaces, not simplistic ring type orbits.

Nasty, nasty assignment. Why are they asking you to do this?

[Sledgehammer]

There are kits with the balls usually being made from wood with a variety of number of holes in each ball. Connecting them are wooden pegs or metal springs depending on what molecule you are trying to reproduce. I remember using them in H.S. Chem. Dont know if they are still around though.

[f6fhellcat13]

Guys, he is talking about modelling probability spaces, not simplistic ring type orbits.

In that case, he could carve them out of faom.