The concepts of chemistry can often be more difficult to understand than the concepts of other sciences due to the fact that much of what is happening occurs at the atomic and molecular level and cannot be seen by the naked eye. When attempting to describe the properties of substances using the interaction of invisible atoms and ions to form chemical bonds the challenges increase. An understanding of the differences and similarities between these structures and connecting differences in these invisible structures to the resulting physical properties can be difficult challenge for chemistry students. This study attempts to use case studies paired with labs and a variety of models of atoms, ions, and compounds to increase student understanding of the concepts and processes involved in chemical bonding.
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