With multiple patents pending, the Ionic Disc Bonding Model is a completely new way to help students understand ionic compounds and their formulas. Initial tests with multiple classes of chemistry students show that a single 15-minute training led to a 33–44% improvement in understanding.

Most students look at it once, and suddenly "get it." Not only can the students then physically touch and manipulate different ions, but when they snap together, there is a pleasing clicking sound that amazes students.

Students love the feel, the sound, and the way this model works. More importantly, it just makes sense, and students learn a lot faster, and teachers especially love that.

First comments from general chemistry students:

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Virtual Prototype

More advanced 3D prototype showing how well and how functional this approach is.

Student Survey feedback totals from 5 general chemistry classes

Bar Chart Results from a student survey about the Ionic Bond Disc Model.

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The Ionic Bond Model works with younger students too! Look at what Jae who is only 11 and in the sixth grade said.

"I loved using Mr. Russ’s model kit! It was easy to use, and when I felt challenged, I didn’t want to give up! I wanted to keep trying to make sense of what I was learning. My mom was reminding me that the charge should be zero so all of the pieces should be filled. When I figured out some of the hardest compounds, I was so proud of myself! Even when the time was up, I wanted to keep building models! I love this ionic compound disc model kit! It makes me feel smart! I was able to go back to school and tell my friends and teachers that I learned about chemistry stuff like I was in high school!"

I've seen enough. Click here to get more information!

Mastering Stoichiometry: A Simple Step-by-step Guide

Formation of Calcium Hydroxide

I struggled for years to get students to understand ionic compound ratios so they could get the correct compound formula. I tried everything, but many students never really got it.

Out of desperation I started creating paper models, and then wood, and then wood and paper, and snaps, and Velcro, and and and.... Finally, I had a model that I thought the students would like, and that would make sense to them.

This was Jordan's comment as soon as she saw it:

Jordan's Comment about the new Ionic Bond Disc Model.

LOL, but I knew I had something. Jordan always said her mind!

It still took a few years of engineering, redesign for manufacturing, and huge delays, but the initial feedback has been very positive.

Click Here to Get This Now for a 20% Preorder Discount!

And from a chemistry teacher with decades of experience:

I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the development of this product from its early days. To get to the point: I gave my students a pre-assessment about ions and ionic compounds. We engaged in some simple hands-on activities with limited direction. I gave my students the post-assessment. Within two class periods, students had practically mastered the concept! I mean, students of varying skill levels! It was mind-blowing! As a veteran educator of almost 20 years, I knew that this product was going to be a winner. I’m used to teaching all things about ionic compounds with varying manipulatives such as Legos, index cards, paper cut outs, and other tools that are temporal, easily damaged, and not quite as effective as this tool. The ease of use, versatility, and effective design all make this ionic disc model kit worth every dime! I cannot wait to get my hands on the deluxe kit!

— Dr. Shaneka Bullins

Ionic Bond Disc Model Set Comparison

The Ionic Bond Disc Model is made up of many different ions. The Basic Set includes the necessary number of ions to make any compound using alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and the nonmetal ions.

The Intermediate set adds the most common transitional metals and post-transitional metals as well as several of the polyatomic ions.

The deluxe set adds many more of the polyatomic ions for a complete set.

Monthly

Basic Set

120.00

Preorder Price till 8/31/24: $96.00

Basic Set Ions:

3 Li⁺, 3 Na⁺, 3 K⁺, 3 Rb⁺, 3 Cs⁺
3 Be²⁺, 3 Mg²⁺, 3 Ca²⁺, 3 Sr²⁺, 3 Ba²⁺
2 Al³⁺
3 F⁻, 3 Cl⁻, 3 Br⁻, 3 I⁻
3 O²⁻, 3 S²⁻, 3 Se²⁻
2 N³⁻, 2 P³⁻

57 Ions Total

Take me to the BAsic Set

Intermediate Set

299.00

Preorder Price till 8/31/24: $239.20

Intermediate Set Ions:

3 H⁺, 1 Li⁺, 1 Na⁺, 1 K⁺, 1 Rb⁺, 1 Cs⁺
3 Cu⁺, 3 Ag⁺, 3 Au⁺, 3 NH₄⁺
3 Cu²⁺, 3 Fe²⁺, 3 Pb²⁺, 3 Cr²⁺, 3 Sn²⁺,3 Zn²⁺, 3 Cd²⁺
2 Au³⁺, 2 Fe³⁺, 2 Cr³⁺,
2 Pb⁴⁺, 2 Sn⁴⁺
4 NO₃⁻, 4 HCO₃⁻, 4 OH⁻, 4 MnO₄⁻,4 CN⁻, 4 ClO₃⁻, 4 C₂H₃O₂⁻
3 SO₄²⁻, 3 CrO₄²⁻, 3 Cr₂O₇²⁻, 3 CO₃²⁻,3 C₂O₄²⁻
2 PO₄³⁻

Plus

Basic Set Ions:

3 Li⁺, 3 Na⁺, 3 K⁺, 3 Rb⁺, 3 Cs⁺
3 Be²⁺, 3 Mg²⁺, 3 Ca²⁺, 3 Sr²⁺, 3 Ba²⁺
2 Al³⁺
3 F⁻, 3 Cl⁻, 3 Br⁻, 3 I⁻
3 O²⁻, 3 S²⁻, 3 Se²⁻
2 N³⁻, 2 P³⁻

153 Ions Total

Take me to the intermediate Set

Deluxe Set

599.00

Preorder Price till 8/31/24: $479.20

Deluxe Kit Ions:

4 NO₂⁻, 4 ClO₄⁻, 4 ClO₂⁻, 4 ClO⁻
4 BrO₄⁻, 4 BrO₃⁻, 4 BrO₂⁻, 4 BrO⁻
4 IO₄⁻, 4 IO₃⁻, 4 IO₂⁻, 4 IO⁻
4 H₂PO₄⁻, 4 HSO₄⁻, 4 HS⁻, 4 HCO₂⁻, 4 SCN⁻, 4 CHO₂⁻
3 HPO₄²⁻, 3 S₂O₃²⁻
2 PO₃³⁻

Plus

Intermediate Set Ions:

1 Li⁺, 1 Na⁺, 1 K⁺, 1 Rb⁺, 1 Cs⁺
3 Cu⁺, 3 Ag⁺, 3 Au⁺, 3 NH₄⁺
3 Cu²⁺, 3 Fe²⁺, 3 Pb²⁺, 3 Cr²⁺, 3 Sn²⁺,3 Zn²⁺, 3 Cd²⁺
2 Au³⁺, 2 Fe³⁺, 2 Cr³⁺,
2 Pb⁴⁺, 2 Sn⁴⁺
4 NO₃⁻, 4 HCO₃⁻, 4 OH⁻, 4 MnO₄⁻,4 CN⁻, 4 ClO₃⁻, 4 C₂H₃O₂⁻
3 SO₄²⁻, 3 CrO₄²⁻, 3 Cr₂O₇²⁻, 3 CO₃²⁻,3 C₂O₄²⁻
2 PO₄³⁻

Plus

Basic Set Ions:

3 Li⁺, 3 Na⁺, 3 K⁺, 3 Rb⁺, 3 Cs⁺
3 Be²⁺, 3 Mg²⁺, 3 Ca²⁺, 3 Sr²⁺, 3 Ba²⁺
2 Al³⁺
3 F⁻, 3 Cl⁻, 3 Br⁻, 3 I⁻
3 O²⁻, 3 S²⁻, 3 Se²⁻
2 N³⁻, 2 P³⁻

233 Ions Total

Take me to the deluxe Set

Product Features

In addition to the three sets above, one can also get specific, partial sets to supplement a set for more advanced students, replace missing or damaged pieces, or to get the exact combination of ions that works best for you.

Column 1 Ionic Set (Alkali Metal Ions and Hydrogen Ion)

Do you need to expand one of your Ionic Bond Disc Model sets with some extra ions from column 1 of the periodic table?

Contents include:

3 H+, 3 Li⁺, 3 Na⁺, 3 K⁺, 3 Rb⁺, 3 Cs⁺

Alkali Metal Ions & Hydrogen Ion Link

Alkaline Earth Metal Ions & Aluminum Ion

Do you need to expand one of your Ionic Bond Disc Model sets with some extra ions from column 2 of the periodic table as well extra aluminum ions?

Contents include:

3 Be²⁺, 3 Mg²⁺, 3 Ca²⁺, 3 Sr²⁺, 3 Ba²⁺
2 Al³⁺

Alkaline Earth Metal Ions & Aluminum Ion Link

Transitional and Post-Transitional Metal Ion Set

Do you have students that just “get it” and want to go further? Do you want to expand one of the other kits?

Contents include:

3 Cu⁺, 3 Ag⁺, 3 Au⁺,
3 Cu²⁺, 3 Fe²⁺, 3 Pb²⁺, 3 Cr²⁺, 3 Sn²⁺, 3 Zn²⁺, 3 Cd²⁺
2 Au³⁺, 2 Fe³⁺, 2 Cr³⁺, 2 Pb⁴⁺, 2 Sn⁴⁺

Transitional & Post-Transitional Metal Ion Set Link

Nonmetal Ions Set

Do you need to expand one of your Ionic Bond Disc Model sets with some extra ions from the nonmetal ions?

Contents include:

3 F⁻, 3 Cl⁻, 3 Br⁻, 3 I⁻, 3 H⁻, 3 O²⁻, 3 S²⁻, 3 Se²⁻, 3 N³⁻, 3 P³⁻

Nonmetal Ions Set Link

Polyatomic Ion Set

Do you have students that just “get it” and want to go further with more of the polyatomic ions? Do you want to expand one of the other kits?

Contents include:

4 NO₃⁻, 4 NO₂⁻, 4 HCO₃⁻, 4 OH⁻, 4 MnO₄⁻, 4 CN⁻, 4 C₂H₃O₂⁻
4 H₂PO₄⁻, 4 HSO₄⁻, 4 HS⁻, 4 HCO₂⁻, 4 SCN⁻
4 ClO₄⁻, 4 ClO₃⁻, 4 ClO₂⁻, 4 ClO⁻
4 BrO₄⁻, 4 BrO₃⁻, 4 BrO₂⁻, 4 BrO⁻
4 IO₄⁻, 4 IO₃⁻, 4 IO₂⁻, 4 IO⁻
3 SO₄²⁻, 3 SO₃²⁻, 3 CrO₄²⁻, 3 Cr₂O₇²⁻,
3 CO₃²⁻, 3 C₂O₄²⁻, 3 HPO₄²⁻, 3 S₂O₃²⁻
2 PO₄³⁻, 2 PO₃³⁻
3 NH₄⁺

Polyatomic Ion Set Link