Abstract
A portable and simple educational tool was prepared for learning Lewis structures in chemistry. This tool consisted of thirteen round magnetic chips (25 mm o.d.) , twenty-five smaller (18×8 mm) and two larger (26×10 mm) square ones indicating an element of an atom, an electron pair or bond, and an ionic balance, respectively, on the front and back sides. All these chips were packed in a mini ziplock bag (5×7 cm) for portable use. More than fifty Lewis structures of molecules and ions in total were possible to be constructed by putting suitable magnetic chips regularly on a whiteboard. When this tool was used in an online chemistry class for first-year students, it was inferred that it helped understanding Lewis structures of chemical species from the result of questionnaires for the students.
