There are many high-tech depictions of atomic orbitals available in text books and online. However, nothing beats actual models you can hold in your hands. Below we describe how to make physical models of atomic orbitals using craft store supplies. We think they are an eggscellent approximation of three-dimensional boundary surface diagrams.
Materials
Six styrofoam eggs (3 1/16 in. x 2 5/16 in.)
Seven lengths of 1/8 in. dowel rods (one 16 in., four 7 in, two 3 in.)
One 16 in. length of 1x4 board
Kite string and glue
Drill and 1/8 in. bit
Drill three holes, four inches apart in the center of the 1x4 board. Three of the 7 in. dowels will be inserted in the holes.
Sharpen one end of a 7 in. dowel and carefully push it lengthwise through the center of an egg. (Try inserting it about 1/4 inch and then rotate the dowel between your thumb and fingers. If the egg wobbles, the stick isn't centered. Adjust the placement of the stick until the egg doesn't wobble much.) Impale a second egg in a similar manner. Be sure the small ends of the eggs point toward the center of the stick. These two eggs form the Pz orbital.
Glue the Pz orbital in the center hole. Glue a 7 in. dowel in each of the outer holes. Do your best to get all three dowels vertical.
Insert the 16 in. dowel through two eggs to form the Px orbital. You will want this orbital centered 4 in. from one end.
Attach the 16 in. dowel and Px orbital to the three vertical dowels. (Slide the top egg of the vertical Pz orbital up slightly to make room for the horizontal dowel. Then push it down again to help hold the horizontal axis. Also, separate the eggs of the Px orbital slightly to make room for the vertical dowel on that end.) Adjust the 16 in. dowel until it is parallel to the 1x4 base. Secure the intersections of the dowels with kite string and add a drop of glue. Snip off the excess string.
Insert the last 7 in. dowel through two eggs to make the Py orbital.
Drill two holes in the base in line with the y-axis and glue the two 3 in. dowels in place as shown. These dowels will support the Py orbital.
Separate the eggs of the Py orbital slightly and position it above the supports with the dowels touching. Align the orbital perpendicular to the x-axis and z-axis and push the orbital down onto the supports until the dowels touch. Secure the intersection of the dowels with kite string and add a drop of glue.
If you like, label the orbitals. Your styrofoam egg atomic p orbitals are ready for display.
You may want to make a model showing a full p subshell surrounding the same nucleus.
Materials
Six styrofoam eggs (3 1/16 in. x 2 5/16 in.)
Seven lengths of 1/8 in. dowel rods (two 7 in, five 3 in.)
One 4 1/2 in. length of 1x4 board
Drill with 1/8 in. bit and glue
Assembly
Drill five holes in the 1x4 base. One in the center and one 1 3/4 in. toward each side.
Insert one of the 3 in. dowel pegs into the big end of an egg. Leave about 1/4 inch exposed.
Remove the peg from the egg and glue the peg in the center hole. Glue the other four pegs in the outer holes. Add a drop of glue to the hole in the egg and slide the egg on the peg until it touches the base.
Insert a 7 in. dowel into two eggs with their small ends toward the center. Leave about 1/2 inch of space. Repeat this process with the last two eggs.
Fine tune the distance between the lobes of each orbital and place them perpendicular to each other on the table. Make sure the dowels touch and gently push the eggs toward the center to help hold them all in place. Apply a drop or two of glue where the eggs touch. When dry, apply glue to the other side.
Apply a drop of glue to the tops of the four pegs on the base. Center the px and py orbitals perpendicular to the base and gently push them down onto the pegs until the lobes touch the bottom vertical egg.
Insert a short piece of dowel into the large end of the last egg. Apply glue to the px and py eggs where the top lobe will rest. Place the top lobe in place keeping it as centered and vertical as possible.
Glue on a label and your styrofoam egg p subshell is ready for display.
©2006 W.C. Deese. All Rights Reserved.