Summary

In this activity students will use dice and element cards to name molecular compounds and draw their Lewis dot structures.

Grade Level

High School

Objectives

By the end of this activity, students should be able to

• Name molecular compounds using the binary system.
• Create the correct Lewis Dot Structure from a given molecular compound or formula.

Chemistry Topics

This activity supports students’ understanding of

• Molecules
• Covalent Bonding
• Naming Compounds
• Molecular Formula
• Lewis Structures

Time

Teacher Preparation: 10-30 minutes

Lesson: 30-60 minutes

Materials

• One di per student
• 2 sets of element cards per student (cut and laminated if possible)
• Periodic Table
• Paper to write formulas, names, and structures on

Safety

• No safety concerns

Teacher Notes

• Note that each student needs two sets of the element cards. Cards are available to download and print. I suggest laminating them. Ask students to help cut them out.
• Students will work individually then in pairs.
• Students are given a set of cards that contain nonmetals (they will have 2 cards for each element).
• Each student or group is then given a die. The student draws an element card then rolls the dice to determine how many atoms of that element are present. The student does the same thing for the second element card. The students are responsible for correctly naming each compound using the binary naming system, and writing the molecular formula in their data table.
• After the task is completed (10-20 times) students will pair up and determine which compounds created can actually be drawn/formed using their Lewis dot structures. For more advanced students or block classes (with access to technology) they can research some of their compounds to determine which are used in their everyday lives (cleaning supplies, food, etc.)