The following ball-and-stick molecular model is a representation of thalidomide, a drug that causes birth defects when taken by expectant mothers but is valuable for its use against leprosy. The lines indicate only the connections between atoms, not whether the bonds are single, double, or triple. (Red = O, gray = C, blue = N, ivory = H). Give the formula of thalidomide, and indicate the positions of multiple bonds and lone pairs.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the different types of atoms in the molecular model: Red (Oxygen), Gray (Carbon), Blue (Nitrogen), and Ivory (Hydrogen).
2. Count the number of each type of atom in the model: Oxygen (Red), Carbon (Gray), Nitrogen (Blue), and Hydrogen (Ivory).
3. Determine the molecular formula by combining the counts of each type of atom.
4. Identify the positions of multiple bonds by looking for double or triple lines between atoms in the model.
5. Indicate the positions of lone pairs on atoms, typically on oxygen and nitrogen, based on their usual valence electron configurations.

Key Concepts

Molecular Formula

The molecular formula of a compound indicates the types and numbers of atoms present in a molecule. For thalidomide, the formula can be derived from the ball-and-stick model by counting the atoms represented by different colors: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O). This formula provides essential information about the composition of the molecule, which is crucial for understanding its chemical properties and reactivity.

Bond Types

In chemistry, bonds between atoms can be classified as single, double, or triple bonds, which indicate the number of shared electron pairs between atoms. The ball-and-stick model visually represents these connections, although the question specifies that the lines do not indicate bond types. Understanding bond types is essential for predicting molecular behavior, stability, and interactions with other molecules.

Lone Pairs

Lone pairs are pairs of valence electrons that are not involved in bonding and are localized on a single atom. In the context of thalidomide, identifying lone pairs is important for understanding the molecule's geometry and reactivity. These electron pairs can influence the shape of the molecule and its interactions with other substances, which is critical in pharmacology and drug design.