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The Use of Cut-Out Molecular Models on the Overhead Projector To Illustrate Stoichiometry and Limiting Reactants

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Richard J. Kashmar

Department of Chemistry and Physics, Wesley College, 120 North State Street, Dover, DE 19901

J. Chem. Educ., 1997, 74 (7), p 791

DOI: 10.1021/ed074p791

Publication Date (Web): July 1, 1997

Abstract

One problem that some chemistry students seem to have is the inability to conceptualize about and understand the particulate nature of matter. This has led to many misconceptions, including the failure to realize that chemical reactions actually do involve the rearrangement of reactant molecules to form product molecules, and that the process involves the breaking and reforming of chemical bonds. This paper illustrates a method of demonstrating reaction stoichiometry for simple reactions on the overhead projector, using easily constructed plastic circles to represent reacting atoms. The circles are used to form molecules on the overhead. The atoms are then physically rearranged on the overhead to form product molecules. This method is especially useful for visually illustrating the idea of the limiting reactant as the reactant that is consumed first in a reaction, therefore limiting the further formation of products.

Keywords (Audience):

High School / Introductory Chemistry

Keywords (Domain):

Demonstrations

Keywords (Feature):

Overhead Projector Demonstrations

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Misconceptions / Discrepant Events

Keywords (Subject):

Stoichiometry

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This article has been cited by 1 ACS Journal articles (1 most recent appear below).

A Laboratory Experiment Using Molecular Models for an Introductory Chemistry Class
Shahrokh Ghaffari
Journal of Chemical Education2006 83 (8), 1182
- A Laboratory Experiment Using Molecular Models for an Introductory Chemistry Class
  Shahrokh Ghaffari
  Journal of Chemical Education2006 83 (8), 1182
  A new approach to using molecular models in teaching general chemistry concepts is presented. This has been designed for the first-time chemistry or nonmajor students and only applies to simple molecules and formulas. This approach can be used both as a ...
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