Which Molecular Model Kit should I buy?

[jkm111]

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Hey guys, I need to buy a molecular model kit for O-chem. Which are the best ones that you recommend?

 

[mauberley]

Hey guys, I need to buy a molecular model kit for O-chem. Which are the best ones that you recommend?

I used this one.

 

[FattySlug]

Unless it is a requirement. Don't need to buy it just use your head. You will be much faster on test days.

 

[bucks2010]

unless it is a requirement. Don't need to buy it just use your head. You will be much faster on test days.

qft

 

[tabascosauce]

dont buy any u probably wont use it

 

[two thirty]

I would get one for sure. I didn't touch it second semester but it was really helpful when trying to learn chair conformations and basic stereochemistry.

Be able to go through tests without having to rely on it as fooling around with a kit will eat up a lot of precious time on exams, but I don't think I would have learned some concepts efficiently without it.

Doesn't really matter what you buy though, your professor will probably have one he recommends.

 

[Eric01]

I'm taking Ochem II this summer so I can't comment on that.

I didn't use any model kit for Ochem I, I can see how it might be useful for some stereochemistry, especially when you're doing mental rotations of things in your head, but I got along without it.

 

[raltima07]

dont buy any u probably wont use it

That what I would suggest, but some people visualize better with the real things.

 

[orthomyxo]

I used this one.

Same. Works good, other than being damn near impossible to jam all the pieces back into the box correctly so it closes all the way.

Unless it is a requirement. Don't need to buy it just use your head. You will be much faster on test days.

I disagree. Some people just can't visualize and manipulate 3D structures in their head, and it's sometimes quicker to just slap a model together and actually look at what you're trying to do.

 

[mishaS]

The only time I ever busted mine out was two years after O-chem 1, to make an ATP molecule and a THC molecule on a cold, boring, winter day.

 

[tartrate]

I still have the kit that came along with my textbook in its original wrapping. Maybe I'll give it to someone as a sadistic Christmas gift 😀.

 

[KTownGT]

Spent $40 on one and used it a total of 2 times. One of those times was directly after buying it for fun. The other was during the first test, where it was more effective to say, "eff it" and guess.

If you want practice, invest in a *big* dry erase board with multiple colors. Much better learning aide.

 

[Chelslen]

I used this one.

pretty sure i have the same one.

personally i hardly used it, though i haven't taken organic II yet, so we'll see if that changes.

 

[Chelslen]

If you want practice, invest in a *big* dry erase board with multiple colors. Much better learning aide.

exactly what i started using!
i was tired of wasting so much paper on all those stupid practice problems where i couldn't even fit it all on the page.

 

[mauberley]

I would get one for sure. I didn't touch it second semester but it was really helpful when trying to learn chair conformations and basic stereochemistry.

This was my experience as well. I think the models are useful for learning and reinforcement, but I wouldn't rely on them during exams. (If you do plan on using them for exams, it behooves you to pre-construct your carbon atoms.)

 

[Buttermellow]

I never used a model kit. Learning to do it on paper or in your head will make everything much easier and faster.

 

[raltima07]

Spent $40 on one and used it a total of 2 times. One of those times was directly after buying it for fun. The other was during the first test, where it was more effective to say, "eff it" and guess.

If you want practice, invest in a *big* dry erase board with multiple colors. Much better learning aide.

Thats better than me. I spent $50 and never used it...

 

[BJJ]

Spent $40 on one and used it a total of 2 times. One of those times was directly after buying it for fun. The other was during the first test, where it was more effective to say, "eff it" and guess.

If you want practice, invest in a *big* dry erase board with multiple colors. Much better learning aide.

Absolutely do this. I got tired of wasting paper in gen chem 2 just doing rote problems so I got a white board. You'll use it again in orgo 1 and 2 and then again in physics. This was a great investment on my part; I use it frequently. It also makes doing problems a little more fun

 

[DAPI]

I used one from HGS and thought it was much simpler to use than the previously posted kit as it goes together easier... The over one takes two pieces per bond and is directional. This one takes one piece per bond and is non-directional in terms of which way the bond piece has to go in order to connect to the atom.

http://www.hgs-model.com/model/index.html

I would just go with the 1000 unless you want something more complex

 

[Godric]

to be honest i just made my own, took a Popsicle stick, some tape, tooth picks, a few pieces of crumpled paper (colored them for each side), and some more tape, and VIOLA ! But I only made this for the final, lol I failed my first exam bc I thought I could cram a whole 5 chapters into 1 week (didnt exactly work out when I got less than a 50% on the first exam)

 

[MeowMeowCAT]

I still have this one,

Got it for like ~$10-15. Was useful for the first semester, for a handful topics. Barely even touched it during the second semester as that was mostly reactions and stuff.

Get something cheap. I don't remember having to build anything complicated nor complex. During the exams I would just double check stuff at the end with them, they weren't really helpful unless you already understand the stuff ahead of time.

 

[Blown Away]

I used this one.

The best. They are flexible