Posted on 09/10/2002 3:58:30 AM PDT by TxBec
Was continuing to tidy up my old files and though someone might be interested in this gem of a chemistry activity: just for fun or to accompany a science activity of your design.
Download a .pdb viewer such as Chime. Some viewers are stand-alones (like my favorite MacMolecule/PCMolecule from Molvent.com which now seems to be defunct) others, like Chime, are plug-ins for a browser. These apps allow you to download and view .pdb files which are interactive, 3-d models of molecules. Very VERY cool.
Search through the house reading the labels on everything: food, toiletries, cleaning supplies...everything!
Then look up the compounds on the internet (try to find .pdb files) to see what these molecules look like. Some good places to start searching is: Chemfinder and Okanagan University College's Molecular Models
Introductory chemical structures/molecules can be found at Visualizing Molecules. To find more complex molecules (the biggies like proteins) you may wish to poke around World Index of Molecular Visualization Resources.
Anyway, there is a science internet newletter that is available by subscribing through this source: myrna@smt-net.com. It is christian based, and is sent out once a month. Oh, and it is FREE, a favorite word of a homeschooler! They do have different science kits and other wonderful stuff that is available for sale, but it is not necessary to purchase their "stuff" to do the experiments. The newsletter is geared for ages elementary through junior high.
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