Changing Atom Attributes

Experiment with each of these modes using the cyclohexanone or ammonia molecules you built earlier. 

Total time: 3 minutes

Task A: Add the atomic symbol label to the atoms in cyclohexanone

1. To open the file, select File|Open "cyclohexanone"
2. Select View|Atom Attributes from the menu bar to open the atom attributes dialog box. The options allow you to change the way the atoms and bonds are displayed.
3. Click on the Label tab to display the list of label options.
4. Click on the square next to Atomic Symbol.  A check mark will appear inside, indicating that the option is selected. Click OK. You will see the element letter on each atom.

Note: If you get a white spot after you click OK, click on the Select tool, , and click anywhere in the workspace.  Your cyclohexanone molecule will reappear.

Task B: Add the atom number label to the atoms in cyclohexanone

1. Select View|Atom Attributes from the menu bar .
2. Click on the Label tab to display the list of label options.
3. Click on the square next to Atomic symbol.  The check mark will disappear
4. Click on the square next to Atom Number. A check mark will appear. Click OK.  You will see the element number on each atom.

5. You may need to click on the Select tool, , and click anywhere in the workspace in order to see your molecule.

Task C: Change the shape of the atoms in ammonia

1. To open the file, select File|Open "ammonia"
2. Select View|Atom Attributes and this time click on the Shapes tab. 
3. In the list of options locate the "Scale Spheres such that" section.  The default view is usually scaled to 0.2 times the van der Waals radius. if you set this number to 1.0, you will see the atoms at their true size. You may need to click on the Select tool, , and click anywhere in the workspace in order to see your molecule.
4. Experiment with the different view options.

In the next lesson of this module you will explore ways to view and change the bond attributes in a molecule.