Determine the organic compound that you want to make a model of. Making the molecular models will help you to better understand their three-dimensional structures. For example, you may choose to make a model of cyclohexane.
Know which atoms are present. Each color ball of the molecular models represents a different atom. For example, cyclohexane consists of the atoms carbon and hydrogen. In the molecular model kit, the black balls may represent the carbon, and the yellow balls may represent the hydrogen.
Know which types of bonds connect each atom. In the ball-and-stick models, different size pegs represent different types of bonds. Cyclohexane consists of all single bonds. Therefore, you will use the long pegs, rather than the short pegs, to connect each atom.
Draw the structural formula of the compound. Writing the structural formula will help you to construct the molecular model. In the structural formula, the atoms are represented by their abbreviations on the periodic table, and the bonds are represented by lines. For example, cyclohexane has six carbon atoms, and twelve hydrogen atoms. The carbon is represented by the letter C, and the hydrogen is represented by the letter H. The six carbons are connected in a ring, and each carbon is bound to two hydrogen atoms. All of the lines are single lines, which represent the single bonds.
Make the molecular model. Use the structural formula as a guide. For example, when constructing cyclohexane, you will connect each of the black balls in a ring with long pegs. Then, you will attach two yellow balls with long pegs to each of the black balls. If you are using a space-filling model, then connect the balls to one another without the use of the pegs.
Compare the molecular model to the structural formula. Make sure that the molecular model has the same number of atoms and the same types of bonds as the structural formula.