CONSTRUCTION OF A MAGNETIC MOLECULAR MODEL: A PROPOSAL FOR THE TEACHING OF COVALENT CHEMICAL BONDS.
Magnetic Molecular Model; 3D Printers; Prototype; The Using of Models and Analogies
In this work, a prototype called “Molecular Magnetic Model” was developed, made from a 3D printer to form plastic spheres with magnets inserted internally inside each sphere to simulate the attractive forces that exist between atoms in the formation of a covalent bond. The material was designed in order to minimize learning difficulties related to understanding the formation of covalent bonds between atoms where normally students do not understand that there are attractive and repulsive forces in bond formation. In order to think about the production, an investigation was carried out in different chemistry textbooks, whether of the higher or medium level that were approved by the National Textbook Plan, to identify the highest frequency of examples of molecules that form covalent bonds, such as, hydrochloric acid, water and carbon dioxide that appear in books quite often. After production, the educational product was applied to chemistry teachers in initial and continued training in the form of a short course. As a first result, it was possible to perceive high acceptance of the use of the model by the participants who stated that from the model it is possible to work on concepts related to chemical bonds, such as molecular geometry, electronegativity and the different bonds that occur between atoms. Still as the main result, the participants raised that the sensory perception of the attractive and repulsive forces existing between chemical species not presented in other chemical models present in the current commercial market is a prominent factor for the use of this resource in the classroom of basic education.