Space-Filling Molecular Models
notes: label: Description
content: From the 1860s, chemists have used three-dimensional models as aids to teaching and research. Many early models resembled Tinkertoys, with balls representing atoms and connectors signifying chemical bonds. From the 1930s, some research chemists and molecular biologists found it more useful to represent atoms by large, space-filling spheres or other shapes, as this better mimicked their physical properties. Such space-filling models were developed by scientists Robert B. Corey, Linus Pauling and Walter Koltun. They sold as CPK models, after the initials of their names.
label: Description
content: Representing chemical bonds appropriately was important to the teaching reform efforts of the 1960s. However, CPK models were too expensive for most classrooms. The Wisconsin firm of Science Related Materials sold these molded polystyrene space-filling molecular models both for research and classroom use.
label: Description
content: A complete version of this kit included 60 color-coded atomic units, a package of connectors, a ruler with dimensions indicated in Angstroms, and an instruction booklet. Schools and colleges that purchased SRM Molecular Fragments could receive matching funds from the U.S. government.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Chemistry
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content: Sputnik
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content: Science & Mathematics
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1994.0019.35
label: accession number
content: 1994.0019
label: catalog number
content: 1994.0019.35
objectType: label: Object Name
content: molecular model kit
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 2 1/4 in x 12 in x 9 in; 5.715 cm x 30.48 cm x 22.86 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 3 1/8 in x 12 1/8 in x 9 3/8 in; 7.9375 cm x 30.7975 cm x 23.8125 cm