Ball and Stick Model – A Convention

By Hamzah K.

Molecular models are physical models that represent molecules and the processes that occur
with them. There are models based on ball and stick that reveal the complete insight of
structures, bonding, and interactions of formula units or molecules. They have helped in
understanding chemistry i.e. The physical properties and chemical reactivities to generate and
test hypotheses.

It is because atoms and molecules are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye,
we employ physical models to visualize the 3-Dimensional structure of molecules.

Outline
Ball and Stick Model
Ball and stick models are 3D models, with colored “balls” (spheres) representing specific atoms.
The “sticks” are rods that connect the atoms and represent the chemical bonds. Two and three
curved rods represent double and triple bonds respectively. These models display the relative
bond lengths and bond angles, showing clearly the molecular geometry of most structures with
relative ease.

An example is the representation of a carbon atom as a ball with 4 holes at tetrahedral angles
(an angle of 109.5° apart) where the sticks fit into.

In addition to tetrahedral holes, there are balls with trigonal, octahedral, and 24 holes that allow
rotation about the single bonds. However, the 24 holes type ball shows molecular flexibility but
makes the model slack.
Furthermore, in the ball and stick model, the length (diameter) of spheres is much smaller than
the length of rods so that the atoms and bonds can be seen clearly. Consequently, it fails to
demonstrate the actual space occupied by the molecule.

The sticks can also be made flexible since rigid bonds and holes fail to show systems with
inconsistent angles. So is the case especially with double and triple bonds which are longer and
more flexible as compared to single bonds. They can restrict rotation and support geometric
isomerism (cis-trans).

There are other models such as skeletal models, spherical (space-filling) models, polyhedral
models, composite models, and computer-based models, in addition to the ball and stick model.

Ball and stick models can also be virtual computer models, which serve to illustrate several
properties including shape, flexibility, and relative size.

This model, above all, helps in exhibiting accurate bond angles as compared to other models.

Color codes for elements

In the ball and stick model, atoms (balls) are usually represented in specific colors. These colors
are conventionally used.
Comparison with Space-filling Mode
Quite often, the ball and stick model is compared to the space-filling model, which displays
molecules using spheres only, to represent atoms. The advantage of this model is that the radii
of spheres are made proportional to the radii of actual atoms, which gives a clearer perspective
on the size of the molecule. In addition, the distance between the center of spheres is also
proportional to the distance between atomic nuclei. These spheres are also given different
colors to represent specific atoms.

The main difference between the two is the way chemical bonds are depicted. The space-filling
model utilizes full spheres without any rods whereas the ball and stick model employs spheres
as well as rods.

Moreover, bond angles, double bonds, and triple bonds can be shown using flexible rods in the
ball and stick model while the space-filling model helps more clearly show the relative
dimensions of the molecules.

What is the difference between structural and ball and stick models?

A structural model, like a ball and stick model, shows atoms and the bonds between them. The
difference is that the ball and stick model utilizes certain colored “balls” to represent particular
atoms whereas, in structural models, there are no spheres and the atoms are considered to be
at the intersection of the rods (bonds) used.

What are the limitations of a ball and stick model?

The major disadvantage of a ball and stick model is that it cannot accurately show the space
occupied by a molecule considering the spheres are purposely made smaller in length as
compared to the rods used. This causes the atoms to be placed farther apart in the model than
they actually are (the real distance between atoms in a molecule is much shorter).
In case of all-purpose spheres with 24 holes, the models often become floppy.
Another limitation is that the ball and stick model fails to show the movement of electrons in
ionic compounds.
What are the types of molecular models?

The types of molecular models are skeletal models, spherical models, space-filling models,
crystal-lattice models, polyhedral models, composite models, and computer-based models.

Why isn’t the ball and stick model a true representation?

Mostly because a true representation should have accurate relative dimensions of the
molecules; the space they occupy and the distance between the atoms. This is where the ball
and stick model falls short, as the bond lengths are made longer compared to the radii of the
atoms (the real distance between atoms is much shorter).

Why is the ball and stick model accurate?

The ball and stick model’s accuracy lies in correctly representing the bond angles. Being an
“open” model, unlike the space-filling model, the atoms and bonds can be seen clearly to
understand the geometry of a molecule.

What are the four types of bonding?

The four main types of bonds are ionic bond, covalent bond, co-ordinate/dative covalent bond,
and metallic bond.

What do the sticks represent in a ball and stick model?

In a ball and stick model, the sticks (rods) represent the bonds between atoms in a molecule.
Furthermore, two and three more flexible and longer (curved) sticks are used to represent the
double and triple bonds respectively.

Why are bonds more like springs than sticks?

Bonds can stretch, bend and rotate without breaking. They can be assumed to be more like
flexible springs than rigid sticks. This is also the principle for infrared (IR) spectroscopy, which
works on vibrational level changes in a molecule.

There are vibrational modes that include stretching, bending, scissoring, rocking, twisting, and
wagging.

What are the two limitations of a 3D model?

One limitation of a 3D model is that all geometrical details cannot be included in a single model
i.e. The ball and stick model can accurately represent the bond angles but it fails to show the
relative space occupied by the molecule. On the other hand, the space-filling model focuses on
the dimensions of a molecule but cannot show the bonds, or the angles between them.

Another limitation is that the models can be made to show more accurate information but this
comes at the cost of simplicity i.e. the model becomes complex. Simpler models, such as the
ball and stick model, are preferred because these can help in easily visualizing the geometry of
molecules.

What are the advantages of a space-filling model?

A space-filling model can show, quite accurately, the relative space an atom or a molecule
occupies. The model is simple as well. It can also show the overlapping of molecular orbitals in
the molecules.

Space-filling model vs ball and stick model.

The notable difference between the two is the way chemical bonds are shown. The ball and
stick model uses rods as “sticks” to show the bonds while the space-filling model works with
Van der Waals spheres only and the bonds are not shown.

Being an “open” system, the ball and stick model can show the geometry of the molecule more
clearly. On the contrary, the space-filling model, a “closed” system, can show the relative size of
the molecule better.

How is a methane ball and stick model made?

In a methane ball and stick model, the central carbon atom is represented by a sphere with
tetrahedral holes, which corresponds to the geometry of the molecule. Four rods attached to
hydrogen atom spheres fit into these tetrahedral holes. The rods are 109.5° apart. The bonds
and atoms can thus be seen clearly.

Do molecules actually look like the ball and stick models we represent them with?

While the ball and stick model can clearly display the geometry of a molecule, it is unable to
show the relative sizes of the atoms and the bonds in a molecule.

Why are ball and stick models useful in organic chemistry?

The ball and stick models can help in visualizing and understanding the geometry of large and
complex organic molecules that are otherwise hard to imagine. Among other things, the
delocalization of electrons requires a certain arrangement of atoms in the molecule, which
influences several other factors that determine the progress and mechanism of a reaction.

What does the ball and stick model of NaCl look like?

In the ball and stick model of sodium chloride, NaCl, each Na+ ion is surrounded by 6 Cl– ions
and vice versa. This arrangement is known as the ionic lattice of NaCl, which is face-centered
cubic (fcc).

The oppositely charged ions are held together by the electrostatic forces of attraction between
them (ionic bonds). The ratio of Na+ to Cl– ions remains 1:1 in the lattice and so the formula of
the compound is NaCl.