Styrofoam Molecule Model for a School Project?

Question

Hi, I have to make a scale model of a molecule of Prozac for my AP Chemistry class project, and I don't know what would be the best way of putting the Styrofoam balls together. I painted all of the balls (except for the 18 Hydrogen atoms, they stay white). I have toothpicks and glue, but is this the best way? It also has to be hung, so is there a sturdier solution? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

If the size of your foam balls is not pretty small, you may want to use sturdier connectors than toothpicks... for example, short lengths of dowel or wooden skewers or chopsticks, etc.

As for what glue would be best, a glue gun (using low-temp glue sticks, not hi-temp** glue sticks) would work fine, as would plain white glue --or tacky glue which is thicker.
Actually you could use both of those for an immediate hold plus a stronger hold... just make a hole, then put the "hot" glue and the white glue in slightly different areas before inserting... let set and dry for at least 30 min or so before moving it around too much.

That setup should be pretty sturdy whether you hang it, sit it down, or mount it on a pole/dowel in a base, etc.... I guess you'd just want to balance the whole molecule when you did any of those things so there'd be no added pull on any one area though, or else you could connect it in more than one place when you hang or mount. Sounds fine though!

**if you have only hi-temp sticks on hand, just let the glue cool a bit before touching it to the polystyrene foam... otherwise, the glue will melt the foam where it touches (low-temp sticks won't do that)

Diane B.