Question

Describe the difference between a ball-and-stick model and a space-filling model of a compound.

Answer 1

A space-filling model shows the relative amount of space each atom takes up. In other words, a space-filling model can show relative sizes of atoms. However, unlike ball-and-stick or structural models, space-filling models do not show bond lengths clearly. Bonds are not really like sticks in a ball-and-stick model.