drawings from a 5-year old:

This exciting new giant-screen filmbrings audiences into amazingly small places and introduces them to incredibly big ideas.

The Molecularium® Project has produced an entertaining, animated science film for young people, families, and school groups. It’s a magical, musical adventure into the nanoscale world of atoms and molecules.

Catch a ride with Oxy and her atom friends aboard Molecularium® – the most fantastic ship in the Universe – as they explore the secret worlds within everyday objects.Blast through the far reaches of space, discover the elements of the Earth’s atmosphere, fly through the molecular structure of a snowflake, escape the polymer tangle of chewing gum, get lost in the metallic maze of a penny, and explore the inner workings of a human cell.

To the delight of school teachers and parents alike, it has been clearly demonstrated that kids of all ages genuinely learn and retain an amazing amount of the educational content and thoroughly enjoy this entertaining experience.

before the show after the show

300 nm

visible lightwavelengths

800 nm

100 nmvirus

The average snowflake has over 4,800,000,000,000,000,000 atoms.

(4.8 quintillion)

10 nmproteins

2 nmdiameter of DNA helix

3,000,000 nmaverage snowflake

190,000,000nanometers (nm)

1 nmdiameter of a nanotube

0.1 -0.5 nmdiameter of atoms

1000 nmbacteria

150,000 nmpaper’s thickness

6000 nmhuman red blood cell

nucleus

proton

electron

neutronAnatomy of an Atom

So just how small is small ?• There are 1 million nanometers (nm) in 1 millimeter (mm).• An average sheet of paper is over 1.5 million atoms thick.• A penny has over 2 x 1022 atoms of copper and zinc. • A stack of 2 x 1022 pennies would be over 1 trillion kilometers high.

EVERY THING IS MADE OF ATOMS !Anything that takes up space and can be weighed is made of atoms.Atoms are the incredibly small, basic building units of matter. Every thing in the Universe - this page, every book, person, planet and star, even the air - is made of trillions and trillions of atoms!

Even atoms have parts, called subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.At an atom’s center is the nucleus, a dense core that contains 99.9 % of it’s mass.

The nucleus is made of positively charged protons and neutrons with no charge.

Much smaller negatively charged particles, electrons, are attracted to the positively charged nucleic mass and orbit it in a “cloud” at nearly the speed of light.

This illustration is NOT to scale. Atoms are 99.9% empty space.Protons and neutrons are about 2000 times larger than electrons and the distance between them is vast.

If an atom’s nucleus were the size shown here, the closest electrons would be over 100 meters away.

Try This:Cut a sheet of paper in half. Cut it in half again.Do this 29 more times and it will be as small as an atom !

Hierarchy ofLength Scales

The average snowflake has over 4,800,000,000,000,000,000 atoms.

(4.8 quintillion)

anet and star,

300 nm

visible lightwavelengths

800 nm

100 nmvirus

The average snowflake has over 4,800,000,000,000,000,000 atoms.

(4.8 quintillion)

10 nmproteins

2 nmdiameter of DNA helix

3,000,000 nmaverage snowflake

1 nmdiameter of a nanotube

10 nm10 nm10 nmproteinsproteinsproteins

2 nm2 nm2 nmdiameter of DNA helixdiameter of DNA helixdiameter of DNA helix

190,000,000nanometers (nm)

1 nmdiameter of a nanotube

0.1 -0.5 nmdiameter of atoms

1000 nmbacteria

150,000 nmpaper’s thickness

6000 nmhuman red blood cell

nucleus

proton

electron

neutronAnatomy of an Atom

So just how small is small ?• There are 1 million nanometers (nm) in 1 millimeter (mm).• An average sheet of paper is over 1.5 million atoms thick.• A penny has over 2 x 1022 atoms of copper and zinc. • A stack of 2 x 1022 pennies would be over 1 trillion kilometers high.

EVERY THING IS MADE OF ATOMS !Anything that takes up space and can be weighed is made of atoms.Atoms are the incredibly small, basic building units of matter. Every thing in the Universe - this page, every book, person, planet and star, even the air - is made of trillions and trillions of atoms!

Even atoms have parts, called subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.At an atom’s center is the nucleus, a dense core that contains 99.9 % of it’s mass.

The nucleus is made of positively charged protons and neutrons with no charge.

Much smaller negatively charged particles, electrons, are attracted to the positively charged nucleic mass and orbit it in a “cloud” at nearly the speed of light.

This illustration is NOT to scale. Atoms are 99.9% empty space.Protons and neutrons are about 2000 times larger than electrons and the distance between them is vast.

If an atom’s nucleus were the size shown here, the closest electrons would be over 100 meters away.

Try This:Cut a sheet of paper in half. Cut it in half again.Do this 29 more times and it will be as small as an atom !

3,000,000 nm3,000,000 nm3,000,000 nmaverage snowflakeaverage snowflakeaverage snowflake

190,000,000190,000,000190,000,000nanometers (nm)nanometers (nm)nanometers (nm)

Hierarchy ofLength ScalesHierarchy of

Length ScalesHierarchy of

190,000,000190,000,000190,000,000190,000,000190,000,000190,000,000

Hierarchy ofLength Scales

100 nm100 nm100 nmvirusvirusvirus

10 nm10 nm10 nm10 nm10 nm10 nmproteinsproteinsproteins

The Hydrologic CycleH2O on Earth is continually circulating between the oceans,

the atmosphere, and the land as part of the Hydrologic Cycle, also called the Water Cycle. The total amount of H2O in this continuous cycle doesn’t change, it only changes its physical state and location.

Liquid Atoms and molecules in the liquid state are not locked in place and move around. Liquids have a definite volume but change shape based on their container.

Condensation When air begins to cool, it loses the ability to hold as much water vapor, which condenses back into aliquid, forming very small droplets that make up clouds.

GasIn a gas, atoms and molecules are spread out and moving very fast,randomly colliding with each other and with walls of any container. The volume and shape they occupy can easily change. A gas has a very low density compared to a solid.

SolidAtoms and molecules in a solid are tightly packed, often in a regular pattern.While the atoms vibrate, they don’t change their average position in relation to other atoms. Solids have a definite shape and volume. Solids usually have the highest density.

STATES OF MATTERMatter has different physical states at different temperatures. Generally, as temperature rises, atoms move faster. There are three main states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

Precipitation As the air gets more moist, the droplets of condensed water vapor in clouds grow larger and larger until they become so heavy they fall back to earth as rain, snow, sleet or hail, depending on the conditions, mainly temperature and pressure.

Evaporation The sun’s energy heats liquid water on the surface

of oceans, lakes, rivers, and even puddles, changing it into water vapor, a gas. Most of the water that evaporates

into the atmosphere comes from the oceans (86%), changing it from salt water to fresh water and keeping the oceans from over-heating.

What do you know about H2O?H2O is the molecular formula for water.

H2O is the most common molecule on Earth.What do you know about this molecule?

How many atoms does it have?What are they?

in clouds grow larger and larger until they become so heav in clouds grow larger and larger until they become so heav fall back to earth as rain, snow, sleet or hail, depend the conditions, mainly temperature and pressure.

Liquid

the conditions, mainly temperature and pressure.

Liquid Atoms and molecules in the liquid state are not locked in place and move around. Liquids have a definite volume but change shape based on their container.

Condensation Condensation Condensation When air begins to cool, it loses the ability to hold When air begins to cool, it loses the ability to hold as much liquid, forming very small droplets that make up clouds.liquid, forming very small droplets that make up clouds.

easily change. A gas has a very low density

SolidAtoms and molecules in a solid are tightly packed, often in a r

O2

CH4Methane

2 H2O 2 H2 + O2A Chemical Reaction (electrolysis of water)

Some Common Molecules

WATER...is the only natural substance that is found in all three states – solid (ice), liquid (water) and gas (vapor) - at the temperatures normally found on Earth.

Where’s the water ?70% of Earth’s surface is covered by water.97 % of Earth’s surface water is in the oceans.2.4 % is in ice caps and glaciers.0.6 % is in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.

When atoms in a solid arrange themselves in orderly repeating patterns, they form crystals, like ice and diamond.

PREDICT and OBSERVE: Take a picture of a dry glass. Fill it with ice water.

Predict what will happen to the outside surface of the glass.

In 10 minutes, take another picture of the surface of the glass.

Compare the photos.

C6H8O6Vitamin C

MOLECULESAtoms bond with other atoms to form more complex structures called molecules. An example is 02. Bonds between atoms are formed when they share, or give other atoms, their outermost electrons (valence electrons).

Molecules made of different kinds of atoms are called compounds. Though there are a limited number of chemical elements, there are an unlimited number of molecules that can bemade from them. Chemical formulas are used to easily identify the atoms that make up molecules and to representhow the relationships between those atoms change during chemical reactions.

Grow your own Crystals: You will need:

4 oz of alum (in the spice section of your grocery store) Heat 2 cups of water until almost boiling. Dissolve the alum in the water.

Pour into a small clear cup and cool. After an hour... check for crystals!

Explain what happened and why.

Transformation of Matter Alert !

The Celsius Scale of temperature is based on the different physical states of H2O.

Boiling/Condensation point

Freezing/Melting point

C

100

75

50

0

-50

-75

-100

F

212200150100500

-50-100-150-200

energy

POLYMERS: Plastics, Paper, Cotton, and ProteinsPolymers are large molecules (macromolecules) made of small molecules, monomers (or just mers), repeatedly joined together end-to-end into very long chains. Poly- means “many” and -mers means “parts”.

Plastics are polymers. Plastic bags are made from polyethylene, the simplest polymer structure.A chain of carbon atoms forms a “spine” with hydrogen atoms along the sides.Over 60 million tons of polyethylene is produced worldwide every year. Although it can be recycled, most of it ends up in landfills and the ocean, which is of great environmental concern since it takes many centuries for most plastics to breakdown.

Cotton fiber is nearly pure cellulose, a natural polymer.It’s the structural component of green plants’ cell walls

and the most common organic compound on earth (33% of all plant matter). Paper made from

trees and plants is also mostly cellulose.

Proteins are natural polymers made of amino acids linked end-to-end. They are essential for plants and animals to grow. Most plants andmicroorganisms can make the 20 “standard” amino acids, but animals must get some essential amino acids from the proteins in the food they eat.

Did you know ? Chewing gums contain polymers that make them chewy.

The polymers used in gums are often the same polymers that are used in tires and sneakers.

Here’s how you can find out how much polymer is in a piece of gum: 1) Weigh a piece of gum. 2) Chew until it loses its flavor. 3) Weigh it again.

This is the amount of polymer in the gum. The difference in weight is the amount of sugar and flavoring. You can calculate the percent of polymer by dividing the weight

after chewing by the weight before and multiplying by 100.

ng the sides.y year.

d the ocean,

a natural polymer.It’s the structural component of green plants’ cell walls

organic compound organic compound organic compound on earth (33% of all plant matter). Paper made from (33% of all plant matter). Paper made from (33% of all plant matter). Paper made from (33% of all plant matter). Paper made from

trees and plants is also mostly trees and plants is also mostly trees and plants is also mostly cellulose. cellulose.

Did you know ? Did you know ? Did you know ? Chewing gums contain polymers that make them chewy.

used in tires and sneakers.

linked end-to-end. They are essential for plants and animals to grow. Most plants andmicroorganisms can make the 20 “standard” amino acids, but animals must get some essential amino acids from

Did you know ? Chewing gums contain polymers that make them chewy.

used in tires and sneakers.

Here’s how you can find out how much polymer is in a piece of gum: Here’s how you can find out how much polymer is in a piece of gum: 1) Weigh a piece of gum. 2) Chew until it loses its flavor. 3) Weigh it again. 1) Weigh a piece of gum. 2) Chew until it loses its flavor. 3) Weigh it again. 1) Weigh a piece of gum. 2) Chew until it loses its flavor. 3) Weigh it again.

This is the amount of polymer in the gum. The difference in weiThis is the amount of polymer in the gum. The difference in weight is the amount of ght is the amount of sugar and flavoring. You can calculate the percent of polymer by dividing the weight sugar and flavoring. You can calculate the percent of polymer by dividing the weight sugar and flavoring. You can calculate the percent of polymer by dividing the weight

after chewing by the weight before and multiplying by 100. after chewing by the weight before and multiplying by 100. sugar and flavoring. You can calculate the percent of polymer by dividing the weight sugar and flavoring. You can calculate the percent of polymer by dividing the weight

after chewing by the weight before and multiplying by 100. after chewing by the weight before and multiplying by 100.

DNA is a macromolecule found in the nucleus of living cells that carries genetic information that is copied and passed on from cell to cell and generation to generation. This information, necessary for a living organism to grow and function, is contained in segments of DNA called genes. DNA is made of two long polymer chains that twist together to form a double helix. Each of these polymer chains is made of simpler units called nucle-otides, which contains one of four different bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). These bases pair up and form bonds between the two strands of the helix. Adenine only bonds with thymine, and cytosine only bonds with guanine. These base pairs are often pictured as rungs in a twisted helical ladder.The sequences of these base pairs in DNA strands are the keys to the genetic code of all life. Long sequences contain coded instructions which are used by cells to make different proteins that are involved in the many different functions necessary for life.

DNA: The Atomic Code of All Life(Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

TEST YOURSELF:1. How many chromosomes does a human cell have?

2. What is the Y chromosome?3. How many different types of atoms do you think are in DNA?

Answers: 1) Each human cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes for a total of 46. Half of each pair comes from each parent. 2) The male chromosomes. 3) Only 5 - hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus

DNA Facts: • Chromosomes are tightly twisted coils of DNA wrapped around protein structures. • Each chromosome contains just a single strand of DNA. • The average human cell contains over 2 meters of DNA. • If you took all the DNA in the human body and stretched it out, it would would reach to the Sun and back over 50 times !

Hydrogen is the simplest, lightest and most abundant element in the universe. It is estimated that 90% of the universe by weight is composed of hydrogen. Most stars are composed mainly of hydrogen.

Nitrogen makes up 78% of Earth’s atmosphere .

Oxygen makes up 21% of Earth’s atmosphere and about 65% of the mass of the human body.

It is the third most abundant element in the universe.

Argon is inert and does not bond with other elements.It makes up almost 1% of Earth’s atmosphere.

Can you find our characters in the Periodic Table ?

oes not bond with other elements.most 1% of Earth’s atmosphere.

Phosphorus

HHydrogen

1HeHelium

2

LiLithium

3Be

Beryllium

4

NaSodium

11Mg

Magnesium

12

BBoron

5C

Carbon

6N

Nitrogen

7O

Oxygen

8F

Fluorine

9NeNeon

10

AlAluminium

13Si

Silicon

14P15

SSulfur

16Cl

Chlorine

17ArArgon

18

KPotassium

19CaCalcium

20Sc

Scandium

21Ti

Titanium

22V

Vanadium

23Cr

Chromium

24Mn

Manganese

25FeIron

26CoCobalt

27NiNickel

28CuCopper

29Zn

ZincGaGallium

3130Ge

Germanium

32AsArsenic

33Se

Selenium

34Br

Bromine

35Kr

Krypton

36

RbRubidium

37Y

Yttrium

39Sr

Strontium

38Zr

Zirconium

40NbNiobium

41Mo

Molybdenum

42Tc

Technetium

43

BaBarium

56Hf

Hafnium

72

RaRadium

88Rf

Rutherfordium

104Db

Dubnium

105Sg

Seaborgium

106

AuGold

79Hg

Mercury

80Tl

Thallium

81PbLead

82Bi

Bismuth

83Po

Polonium

84

RuRuthenium

44Rh

Rhodium

45Pd

Palladium

46AgSilver

47Cd

Cadmium

48In

Indium

49Sn

Tin

50Sb

Antimony

51Te

Tellurium

52I

Iodine

53XeXenon

54

Ac89

CsCaesium

55

FrFrancium

87

La57

TaTantalum

73W

Tungsten

74Re

Rhenium

75Os

Osmium

76Ir

Iridium

77Pt

Platinum

78At

Astantine

85RnRadon

86

BhBohrium

107Hs

Hassium

108Mt

Meitnerium

109Ds

Darmstadtium

110Rg

Roentgenium

111UubUnunbium

112Uuq

Ununquadium

113UuqUnunquadium

114UupUnunpentium

115UuhUnunhexium

116UusUnunseptium

117UuoUnunoctium

118Lanthanum

Actinium

Inert Gases

Nonmetals

Metals

Metalloids

LuLutetium

71

LrLawrencium

103ThThorium

90Pa

Protactinium

91U

Uranium

92Np

Neptunium

93Pu

Plutonium

94Am

Americium

95CmCurium

96Bk

Berkelium

97Cf

Californium

98Es

Einsteninium

99FmFermium

100Md

Mendelevium

101No

Nobelium

102

CeCerium

58Pr

Praseodymium

59Nd

Neodymium

60Pm

Promethium

61Sm

Samarium

62Eu

Europium

63Gd

Gadolinium

64Tb

Terbium

65Dy

Dysprosium

66Ho

Holmium

67Er

Erbium

68TmThulium

69Yb

Ytterbium

70Rare Earth Metals

Carbon is present in all known lifeforms. There are nearly ten million known

carbon compounds.

mosphere body. ant se.

Inert Gase

78% ere .

27 28 29 30

Metalloid

Scientists have discovered that there are 92 different kinds of atoms that occur in Nature, and have organized them based on their properties into thePeriodic Table of the Elements.

Chemical elements are pure substances made of only one kind of atom, like hydrogen, oxygen, carbon or gold.

0102030405060708090

100

before after

% C

ORRE

CT A

NSW

ERS

Kids

Kids

Teen

s

Teen

s

Adults

Adults

• 63% gave the show a rating of 10 out of 10!

- Alexandra Barnett, Executive Director,Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland, CA

• Total percentages of correct answers increased significantly for every age group after the show.

• Percentage of correct answers for younger viewers more than doubled.

Standards:The following science standards specified for grades 5-8 in the National Science Education Standards (National Research Council, 1995) are addressed in this guide and Molecules to the MAX !

Physical Science• Properties of objects and materials. • All matter is made up of atoms. • Atoms and molecules are perpetually in motion. The greater the temperature, the faster the motion.• Atoms may join together to form well-defined molecules.• Interactions among atoms and/or molecules result in chemical reactions.• The atoms of any one element are different from the atoms of other elements.• There are more than 100 elements. Elements combine in a multitude of ways to produce compounds that account for all living and nonliving substances.

Earth and Space Science • Water, which covers the majority of the earth's surface, circulates through the crust, oceans, and atmosphere in what is known as the "water cycle."• The atmosphere is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and trace gases that include water vapor. The atmosphere has different properties at different elevations.• Clouds, formed by the condensation of water vapor, affect weather and climate.

Life Science• All organisms are composed of cells—the fundamental unit of life. • Hereditary information is contained in genes, located in the chromosomes of each cell.

“Molecularium has gotten rave reviews from teachers and from the public! We were skeptical at first, as it seemed like a lot of content for the age range of the cartoon format, but everyone learns something new in this fast paced show with its memorable songs and characters.”

Results:An independent assessment of the pilot show from 1200 audience respondents (ages 6 to 69) found:

For more information and a complete Teacher’s Resource Guide, please visit: www.molecularium.com