AN ATOMIC ORBITAL BOARD FOR STUDENT STUDY MANYteachers of general chemistry now utilize the concept of atomic orbit& in discussing atmnic structure and bonding. Mare and more general chemistry texts are devoting a. section to a discussion of the build-up of electrons in atomic orbitals. Such a discussion, involving a. qualitative introduction to subenergy level, their shape, distribution in space and siee, leads naturally to 8. more fundamental understanding of bond energies and angles. For several years an enlarged farm of the board suggested by Crtmphell' was used. I t was found that stadents still missed the significance of the "Aufbau Prinzip" until they had the opportunity to work out atomic and ionic configurations on the board for themselves. With the help of Robert Barnard, stookroom manager, a simple 81/r X 11 cork board was designed which each student carries in his notebook. While the instructor discusses atomic structure and shows orbital configurations on the large demonstration board, the students can do the same construction on their own hoard by inserting small map pins into the proper orbitals in the proper order. Two colors of map pin8 represent the opposed spins which two electrons assume when occupying a single orbital. When not in use, the pins are pushed into the side of the cork board which is in. thick. On the front of the board is a concise outline of rules for the build-up of electrons in the orbitals. On the reverse side is a Fisher expanded form periodic chart. At the present time these boards are available only a t the Associated Student Store of Montana. State College a t $0.95 a piece. I n the near future, Fisher Scientific Company will market a modified notebook size atomic orbital board b m d on the "magic slate" principle. 1
J. CHEM.EDUC., 24447 (1949). WILLIAM B. COOK
M o m n m STATEC o m ~ a BOZEMAN ~,
JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
