Yarn Monsters, a Warm Fuzzy Introduction to Orbital Theory

Orbital Theory, Why it Matters:
Orbital theory helps us understand the interactions of matter that are just to small for us to see. These interaction are very important on a large scale and help explain large visible things like, water finding it's way to the top of the tallest trees, electricity powering your home, or metabolic processes in your body.

What you will need:
Yarn ribbon or strips of fiber.
Measurement device, as long as the units are convertible a finger or stick may be used.
Atomic radius chart.
Protractor.

I recommend an easy to use units 1-2 inches or 3-8cm units are easy to handle...Picometers are just to small to handle, 25 picometers can be represented by a larger unit you can hold in your hand.


Measure loops of yarn with a loop for each pair of electrons:
I recommend starting off with a few common elements, and a few colors of yarn.
H yarn monster gives an electron, The O yarn monster takes it.
Water
Day 1 Hydrogen and Oxygen
Hydrogen, A single string. 25 picometers or 1 unit (make around 10 per person)
Oxygen, 4 loops (1 loop uncut, 1 unit long). Forms up to 6 bonds...has 4 loop 60 picometers or 2 and 2/5 units(make around 5 per person) You may want to use a tie off string of a different color to hold together and stabilize this.

Step 1: Tie 2 Hydrogens together to represent h2 or hydrogen gas.
Step 2: Tie 2 Oxygens together to represent O2 or oxygen gas.
Step 3: Take the uncut loop at the top. of an oxygen Atom. Now chose the 2 electron strings the bottom that are as far apart as possible will being opposite to the paired electron.
Step 4: Repeat step 3, 2 more times with the remaining oxygens.
Step 5: Note angles with protractor: approximately 104.5 degrees between the 2 h strings.
Step 6: Note the 360-104.5=255.5/2 =127.25
Step 7: Talk about how water molecules are polar.

"Water is a polar molecule made of hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen bonds to the hydrogens creating 3 pairs of valance electrons. The pairs are equally spaced, but the hydrogen side has just a little more pull and this gives, that tiny charge that creates the capillary action that helps trees grow large. The charge holds the liquid together more closely than the solid causing ice to float. Surface tension is another amazing thing. You can see waves form a central point on the surface of water, water has more resistance because of the way polarity holds it together."

Step 8: Show water as a liquid by placing polar bonds close together.
Step 9: Show water as a solid by placing the water molecules in a lined up fashion
Step 10: Now you may begin throwing the yarn monsters to simulate gas, or start out with a short lecture on polite throwing, and not waving things in peoples faces.


links to atomic radius charts:
http://crystalmaker.com/support/tutorials/crystalmaker/atomic-radii/resources/VFI_Atomic_Radii.jpg
http://www.chemix-chemistry-software.com/school/periodic_table/atomic-radius-elements.html
http://periodictable.com/Properties/A/AtomicRadius.v.html

Link to printable protractor:
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo146/nzfiend/Junk/protractor.png

Link to water blog:
http://scienceisaprocessnotadeity.blogspot.com/2016/05/water.html

Water

Water is a polar molecule made of hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen bonds to the hydrogens creating 3 pairs of valance electrons. The pairs are equally spaced, but the hydrogen side has just a little more pull and this gives, that tiny charge that creates the capillary action that helps trees grow large. The charge holds the liquid together more closely than the solid causing ice to float. Surface tension is another amazing thing. You can see waves form a central point on the surface of water, water has more resistance because of the way polarity holds it together.

Understanding small things can help us understand big things. A tree can pump gallons of water from top to bottom using a passive process that is so small we can't even see it.

Chemistry Tutorial
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/biochemistry/tutorials/chemistry/page3.html