Read a chemical formula and its ball-and-stick model
Grade 8 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.
Ari draws 3 CO₂ for three carbon dioxide molecules from a big sigh. How many oxygen atoms do 3 CO₂ hold in all?
- 2 oxygen atoms
- 5 oxygen atoms
- 6 oxygen atoms
- 9 oxygen atoms
On the board, Bo sees 2 NH₃, which means two ammonia molecules. How many hydrogen atoms do 2 NH₃ hold in all?
- 8 hydrogen atoms
- 3 hydrogen atoms
- 5 hydrogen atoms
- 6 hydrogen atoms
Esme writes 4 H₂O for four water molecules in a very small puddle. How many oxygen atoms do 4 H₂O hold in all?
- 8 oxygen atoms
- 4 oxygen atoms
- 1 oxygen atom
- 5 oxygen atoms
At camp, Kira's little stove runs on propane. The model has 3 C balls in a row; each end C has 3 H balls, the middle one 2. Which formula matches?
- C₃H₆
- C₈H₃
- C₃H₈
- C₃H₁₀
Luz's butane model has 4 C balls in a row. Each end C has 3 H balls; each middle C has 2. Which formula matches the model?
Ball-and-stick model of butane: a chain of four balls lettered C; each end C is joined to 3 small balls lettered H and each middle C to 2 (13 sticks in all). Ball-and-stick model of butane: a chain of four balls lettered C; each end C is joined to 3 small balls lettered H and each middle C to 2 (13 sticks in all). C C C C H H H H H H H H H H 13 sticks in all - C₄H₁₀
- C₁₀H₄
- C₄H₁₃
- C₄H₈
Milo says a CO₂ molecule has two carbon atoms, because of the 2 in the formula. Agree or disagree?
- Disagree: it has 3 carbon atoms
- Disagree: the 2 counts the oxygen atoms
- Agree: the 2 counts the carbon atoms
- Disagree: it has no carbon, as C has no number
Pia reads 2 O₂ in a book and says it means 2 oxygen atoms in all. Agree or disagree?
- Agree: the big 2 just repeats the small 2
- Agree: one O₂ has 2 atoms
- Disagree: it means 3 oxygen atoms
- Disagree: it means 4 oxygen atoms
Ren checks classmates' models of hydrogen peroxide, H₂O₂. Which model has the right balls?
- 3 balls: 2 lettered H and 1 lettered O
- 2 balls: 1 lettered H and 1 lettered O
- 4 balls: 1 lettered H and 3 lettered O
- 4 balls: 2 lettered H and 2 lettered O
Tala is building ethylene, C₂H₄, to show the class. Which set of balls is right?
- 8 balls: 2 lettered C and 6 lettered H
- 6 balls: 2 lettered C and 4 lettered H
- 6 balls: 4 lettered C and 2 lettered H
- 2 balls: 1 lettered C and 1 lettered H
Zee checks three methane models for the formula CH₄. Which set of balls is right?
- 4 balls, each lettered H
- 2 balls: 1 lettered C and 1 lettered H
- 5 balls: 1 lettered C and 4 lettered H
- 5 balls: 4 lettered C and 1 lettered H