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Compounds containing carbon are often referred to as organic compounds. This is because carbon is the basis of all known forms of life and all major and minor biological molecules have carbon backbones.

In order to understand a little about why molecular shapes are important in figuring out how molecules work it is useful to know a little about how to build models. Models of molecules allow you to picture things which are too small to see.

The most basic kinds of organic molecules are made with just two elements: Carbon and Hydrogen. Take an hour to look through Chapter 19: The Chemistry of Carbon Compounds. Write a short document called a B.A.D.: Book Awareness Document. In the document you should write down key words and define them. You should make a bulleted list of key concepts. Use your artistic skills to illustrate your B.A.D. in a way that makes your written words easier to understand. The focus of your work on this chapter must be organic chemicals and their structures. If you come across information that you think may not have anything to do with the structure of molecules then ask me and I will tell you if you can skip it.

One important topic not covered in the book is isomers. Isomers occur when molecules are made up of exactly the same number and kind of atoms but the atoms are connected together differently. For example, C₈H₁₈:

Later this week you will build models of molecules and try to find as many isomers as you can. Right now you need to learn the background necessary to build good models. Keep your notes on this page using both the front and the back.

Next week we will spend some time in the library looking up information about organic molecules.

Your assignment now is to build all of the molecules on the back of the document (not available online) showing how to use the model kit. If you build all eight you earn a 70%. For each additional model you find in the book and build you can earn an additional 5 points up to a total of 100%.