Activity 3: Common Molecules, Structures and Names

Activity 3 explores how elements come together to make molecules.

In brief, the electrons that surround elements interact in a good way with electrons around other elements to create chemical bonds. These chemical bonds are what hold atoms together to form molecules. Molecules are the most common form of chemical substances that we experience everyday in our lives.

If you go to Tylenol on wikipedia there is a good example of information on the molecule and the chemical structure of Tylenol. In the upper right of the page there is a structure called a Ball and Stick model. This model represents atoms that are held together by chemical bonds. In this model (which is quite common for chemistry) the black balls represent carbon atoms, the white balls represent hydrogen atoms, the blue balls represent nitrogen atoms, and the red balls represent oxygen atoms.

Notice that it is possible to have 1 or even 2 bonds between some of the atoms. The other image is called a Kekule Diagram. This is the short-hand method that scientists use to draw molecules. It is very common for scientists to not indicate the carbon and hydrogen atoms since these are so common in molecules it becomes quite tedious! So it becomes necessary to understand that the Kekule structures are short-hand notation for the more accurate Ball and Stick model.

The other common information needed for molecules is the molecular formula (this is the count of each type of atom in the molecule) and the formal chemical name. While in wikipedia on Tylenol, if you click on acetominophen or paracetamol you come to a page that has the detailed chemical information on this common drug. On the upper right is the same images. Under the images you will notice the systematic or IUPAC name. This is the name that scientists call this molecule. Also on the right you will notice the detailed chemical properties for this molecule, one of which is the formula, C₈H₉NO₂. So, in Tylenol there are 8 carbon atoms, 9 hydrogen atoms, 1 nitrogen atom and 2 oxygen atoms.

Hydrogen Peroxide: IUPAC= dihydrogen dioxide

Aluminium Bromide: IUPAC= Aluminum Bromide 

 

Ethanol: IUPAC= Ethanol

2. Post an image from the web, the chemical systematic (IUPAC) name, common name, and the molecule formula for 20 chemicals that you use or eat. Explore the ingredients of things like cosmetics and foods.

Calccium phosphate: IUPAC=Calcium dihydrogenphosphate

 

 

Rubbing Alchohol: IUPAC= Isopropal alcohol

 

High Fructose Corn Syrup:  IUPAC= Sucralose

 

 

Baking soda: IUPAC= Sodium hydrogen carbonate

 

 

Glycerol/Soap:  IUPAC= Propane-1,2,3-triol; glycerin 

 

Ferrous gluconate:  IUPAC= iron; (2R,3R,4S,5S)-2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexanoic acid

 

Cetyl Palmitate/Palmitic acid:  IUPAC=  hexadecanoic acid

   

cetyl 

palmitic acid

Citric acid:  IUPAC= 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid

                          

 

 

Propylene Glycol: IUPAC= propane-1,2-diol

 

Sodium Floride:  IUPAC= Sodium fluoride

Bleach:  IUPAC= sodium clorate(l)

 

  

Salt: IUPAC= sodium

 

 Acetone: IUPAC= 2-Propanone

Vitamin D: IUPAC= Cholecalciferol (D₃)



Thiamine:  IUPAC= 2-[3-[(4-Amino-2-methyl-pyrimidin-5-yl)methyl]-4-methyl-thiazol-5-yl] ethanol

Phosphoric Acid (Lecithin): IUPAC= rihydroxidooxidophosphorus
phosphoric acid

Caffiene: IUPAC=1,3,7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2,6(3H,7H)-dione
3,7-dihydro-1,3,7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione

Folic Acid: IUPAC= (2S)-2-[(4-{[(2-amino-4-hydroxypteridin-6-yl)methyl]amino}phenyl)formamido]pentanedioic acid

Niacin: IUPAC= pyridine-3-carboxylic acid^[1]

Hemp:  IUPAC= Cannibis sativa

 

  3. Look over your molecules and the bonding characteristics, how many bonds does each of the following elements typically have? Carbon=black? Hydrogen=white? Oxygen=red? Nitrogen=Blue?  The above molecules typically have hydrogen and oxygen; some carbon.

4. What does IUPAC stand for?  International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

5. As you explore ingredients, notice how everything around us is made up of chemicals consisting of atoms bound together into molecules. But what about companies that claim their products are chemical free! How can this be? Here is an example:

http://www.naturalhealthcareproducts.com/Cleaning-Products.php

Do a little web searching and propose what chemicals are actually in this product. Keep in mind, that everything at the molecular level is a chemical, whether it be made in nature or in a lab.

However, there is not enough information on the health effects of the chemicals used in green products to know whether they are truly better for the health of humans, Natan said.

"I think as a general rule, people who are avoiding these very toxic chemicals are going to be healthier," he said.

And Dow is currently working toward making safety assessments of its products publicly available by 2015, and it has begun making some resins from ethanol instead of petroleum in Brazil, where ethanol is widely used.

http://www.livescience.com/1737-truth-green-cleaning-products.html