How Do You Make A Model Of A Salt Crystal?
Salt crystals are easy to observe under a hand lens. They are cubes, a shape determined by the way the sodium and chlorine atoms bond to each other. You can make a model of a salt crystal to show how the atoms bond, using a few simple materials. Observe salt crystals so that you understand the shape you will be making. Look at the salt crystals with a magnifying lens or microscope. You will see the cubic shape of each crystal. What you see is a cube made of millions of smaller cubes that are even cubes at the atomic level. Take twelve toothpicks to represent the chemical bonds in one cube. Take eight peas, candies or marshmallows to represent atoms of Sodium or Chlorine. If you are using candies or marshmallows, choose four of one color and four of another color. If you are using dried peas to represent the atoms, push toothpicks far enough into each pea to hold the ends in a joint, forming two squares and then joining them with vertical pieces to form a cube. The peas will dry again o
