Final answer:
A ball-and-stick model is best for visualizing the structure of a glucose molecule, clearly showing the connections between carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. A space-filling model can also be used to visualize the relative sizes and spatial occupation of atoms in the molecule.
Step-by-step explanation:
A scientist looking to develop a model of a glucose molecule to visualize the positioning of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms would benefit most from using a ball-and-stick model. This type of model effectively represents the three-dimensional structure of molecules, allowing visualization of how each of the six carbon atoms form the backbone of glucose, with connections to hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
The ball-and-stick model uses 'balls' to represent atoms according to their element, with 'sticks' indicating the bonds between them. For the purpose of clarity and teaching, it offers a good balance between visibility of the atoms and the understanding of the molecular structure.
Alternatively, space-filling models could also be appropriate if the goal is to understand the relative sizes of these atoms within the molecule and the spatial fill they achieve when bonded. This model uses spheres that correspond to the relative sizes of atoms, though it may obscure some bonds due to overlapping.
Each type of model has its own strengths, so the choice between a ball-and-stick model and a space-filling model would depend on whether prioritizing the visibility of bonds or the physical space each atom occupies within the molecule is more important to one's learning objectives.