LED chemical structure sculpture

Create a model of a chemical structure using LEDs! Spice them up with 7-segment displays and you get a stunning sculpture!

Basically, you put together LEDs and 7-segment displays in such a way that models a chemical molecule. Each component represents an atom and everything is shaped such that it resembles the actual geometry of the molecule.

They make excellent gifts because they can be very personalized. You can choose a molecule that keenly describes the recipient of the gift, making it more special.

Step 1 Find your molecule

A good molecule should be quite complex and forms intricate structures. Really complex organic molecules work best.

Wikipedia is a good place to find molecules because they have pictures of the actual structure of the molecule as well as a brief description of its properties.

If you are giving this as a gift, choose a molecule that best describes the recepient. For example, the first molecule I made was acetylcholine which I gave to my friend Coline. The second one I did was phenethylamine, a substance dubbed as the "love chemical".

Here are some other suggested molecules
1) serotonin - antidepressant
2) tryptophan - makes you sleepy
3) dopamine - "rewards" and pleasure neurotransmitter

For this instructable we will be constructing the estradiol variant of estrogen, the female hormone

Comments

[DrCoolSanta]

In eightth grade we had a project to show the structure of the allotropes of carbon, graphite and diamond. Had I seen this then, lol Nice

[pizza711]

execellent idea, but would definitely need a resistor. a 9V batt in parallel to those LEDs would definitely exceed the LED's rating. they'd heat up and die sooner or later. but i especially love the phenylethylamine idea though. nice present for someone you'd be courting or someone you like but wouldn't actually want to tell her so you have to make her guess, eh? hmmm. gave me an idea. he he he.:D

[pjax]

i'm quite impressed about the phenylethylamine idea myself. and that's exactly what i did. i let her guess what it is. about the resistor: I kinda forgot about that eh? I bought some but forgot to put them in

[pizza711]

oh, then was she able to figure it out? he he he.:D update: okay. so i made one the other day and gave it this girl. she just loved it... BUT she couldn't figure it out. It's driving her nuts. He he he.:D By the way, I modified the circuit by adding a switch, a 1K resistor and an IC timer for blinking effects. He he he.:D

[pjax]

does she at least have an idea that it's a chemical compound? then try this

if she still can't figure it out, tell her it's "phenethylamine" and it's up to her to figure out its characteristics.

good luck!

ps: is your birthday on july 11?

[pjax]

oh yeah she figured it out in a heartbeat. she's majoring in biology so there :)
at first she said "do i have to use the merck index for this?"
then she mentioned "is this a cholesterol?" she noticed the four rings
then she got a lot more closer "human steroid..."
then finally "estradiol!"

and knowing that someone actually used my idea made this instructable all worth it... even though i didn't win the laser cutter lol

[pizza711]

eh? i'm confused. she guessed estradiol? i thought it was phenylethylamine you gave? oh 711. number on my plate. lol.:D i don't know. i seem to be going nuts over LEDs these days.i've been putting them virtually everywhere, well except in my food. lol:D

[pjax]

the last one I gave was estradiol, the one on the instructable. the person whom i gave phenethylamine did not have a clue either :p

[coolguy]

in addition to resistor you would need to hook them up in parallel, not series or the first will die thereby opening the circuit

[pjax]

you mean hook up the LEDs in parallel? I suppose they already are connected in parallel. check out the third step

[coolguy]

oops. I missed that. Nice ...

[Kiteman]

What an excellent idea! It's a shame that molecular model convention has carbon as a black sphere.

You could make a throwie version of a water molecule - connect two small white LEDs at an angle of 120degrees, add a blue with the LED right at the junction and the electrodes sticking out to connect to the button cell.

Oh, and I'd love to see an image of the working circuit as well.

[pjax]

working circuit... hmm you mean with the battery connected? Unfortunately, I forgot to bring a battery when I was about to give it. Tell you what... I'll ask my friend to take a picture of the sculpture after she figures out that she needs to attach a battery to make it work :)

[Kiteman]

I'd take a bettery round before she adds her own - that clip is begging for a 9V battery, which could make things go pop too quickly to get the picture.

[microman171]

Shouldnt water be two white and one red in the shape of a hidden mickie?? (Micky mouse's ears and head)

[Kiteman]

Yeah, but blue and white is more ... watery. You could stick a load together and call them "ice".

[microman171]

ohhhh I get you now... hahah your right

[canida]

Neat idea! I want to see a picture of it all lit up.

[pjax]

Sorry about that. I kinda forgot to bring a battery when I was taking the last minute pictures. I'll ask my friend to take a picture after she figures out what she needs to do, then I'll post it :)