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Hi Chem gurus! I need a good lab for introducing orbitals to high-schoolers. Some of them already know about electron configurations; others are seeing this for the first time. Typically when I introduce the subject half of the class is yawning and the other half is completely confused. I am looking for a good hands-on lab activity that I can do that will help them visualize orbitals. Something simple and gimmicky, ideally using materials that they can find around the house. Any ideas? Thanks in advance! :) Kalee

I found this site this morning while looking for something for my students to do after their quiz tomorrow - http://www.nclark.net/Atom Find the "Hog Hilton" file. It looks promising.

Here is some info on teaching about orbitals- you may glean ideas from it. The Name's Bond ... Pi Bond By: William C. Robertson, Ph.D. Grade Level: Elementary School, High School, Middle School To begin this chapter, you need to picture electrons in atoms as residing in orbitals—those fuzzy things that can be spherical, dumbbell-shaped, or even ring-shaped. The author addresses orbitals and why they’re fuzzy and then deals with how the shapes of orbitals determine the kinds of bonds that form between atoms. Finally, this chapter covers how the location of orbitals and the electrons in them determine the shapes of molecules. You’ll understand the title of this chapter once you’ve finished it. this resource may have a slight cost or may be free via some memberships

The web offers these visual resources - some with video http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/atomic-orbitals.html A series of free High School Chemistry Video Lessons. In this lesson, we will learn Atomic Orbitals Orbital Diagrams Electron Configuration Exception to Electron Configuration Valence Electrons

http://learningcenter.nsta.org/discuss/default.aspx?tid=t1CN5hNsFKQ_E this information on atomic orbitals comes from the forums within the learning center - starting in September 2012 Electron Orbitals - NSTA Learning Center learningcenter.nsta.org › Home › Chemistry? Sep 14, 2012 - 12 posts - ?6 authors I am looking for a cut & paste S, P, D, F electron orbital activity. ... Science · History and Nature of Science · Personal and Social Issues · Science and Technology · Science as Inquiry ..... An atomic orbital is An atomic orbital

My students used to do something similar to this for the s-orbitals --drop 100 marbles from the same height and location onto a sheet of carbon paper and look at the scatter pattern. This activity, vetted by the ACS, and from the web is similar to that classic inquiry. Modeling Electron Density and Atomic Orbitals Using Marbles and Carbon Paper: An Exercise for High School Students http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed400388b Have fun!