Name_____________________________________________

Living Environment

Redo

Grade
Grade

/20
/20

Lab # _________
TITLE- Chemical Bonding- CHON
OBJECTIVE- Like everything else, living things are made up of matter. This
means that organisms contain atoms. These atoms have bonded together to
form compounds, and each compound found within living things has a special
function and purpose. While it would be very difficult to talk about every
single compound found within organisms, it is important and necessary to
understand how these compounds are classified. There are two main types
of classification of compounds. Organic Compounds are complex
compounds that contain the element CARBON and HYDROGEN together. More than 90% of all
compounds are organic compounds. Naturally occurring organic compounds come from living or
once living organisms. Inorganic compounds do not contain carbon and hydrogen together.
Water, H2O, which contains 2 hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom, is not an organic
compound.
In this lab you will be given chemical formulas and it will be your task to build models of the
compounds from individual atoms. Remember that atoms of elements will form compounds if by
doing so, they fill or complete their outer energy level and the shells are happy.
PRELAB Question1. Why isnt water considered an organic compound?

VOCABULARY- Organic Compounds, Inorganic Compounds

HYPOTHESIS- ________________________________________________________________________
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MATERIALS- Colored Candy, Toothpicks
PROCEDURE
1. Record the color code and number of bonds corresponding to each element on Data Table
#1.
2. Using the colored candies and toothpicks, build the first compound.
3. Draw a diagram of the molecule in Data Table #2.
4. Count and record the number of atoms in each compound in Data Table #2.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 for each of the remaining compounds and show them to the teacher when
you are finished.

Rules of CHON
1. Atoms of the elements Hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), and carbon (C) are used.
These elements make up about 99% of your body mass.
2. Colored candies will represent the four elements and the toothpicks will represent the bonds
between the atoms as follows:
1= Hydrogen can make one bond (1 toothpick)
2=Oxygen can make two bonds (2 toothpicks)
3= Nitrogen can make three bonds (3 toothpicks)
4=Carbon can make four bonds (4 toothpicks)
3. All toothpicks should have a colored candy at both ends. If not, you do not have a proper
compound.
4. Always check the number of bonds on each atom after completing your models. Sometimes
double or triple bonds may be necessary.

DATA
Element
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen

Data Table #1
# of Bonds

Color of Candy

Name of Compound

Data Table #2
# of Atoms

Structural Diagram of
Molecule

H2O (water)

NH3 (Ammonia)

CO2 (carbon dioxide)

CH4 (methane)

C2H6 (ethane)

C2H2 (ethyne)

NH2CH3 (methylamine)

C6H12O6 (Glucose)

ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
1. What is an organic compound? List the compounds that you build that are organic.

2. List the compounds that are inorganic. Explain your choices.

3. Why do hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon bond with atoms of other elements?

4. What are the two main types of chemical bonding? How do they differ from each other? (Use
your workbook)

*Include a Conclusion Paragraph*

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