ItÕs Elemental, Dear Watson
(Click here for the Word version of the Capture Sheet)

        

Everything around us is made of atoms. Watch a 'Brain Pop' movie to learn a bit about atoms.

 

Most objects are mixtures or compounds of different types of atoms, but some common items consist of only a single type of atom.  For example, what elements are in these common items?

 

Pennies were once made of just one element — copper.  Today, zinc is also a major component of pennies. If we could look very closely at a copper penny, we would see that every atom is the same.

So, what's an element?  

Atomic Models   

Warm up with a  'Brain Pop' movie about atomic models.  Then complete the interactive atomic model activity below.

Move your cursor over the different parts of this atomic model to see labels and information about the subatomic particles.  Then complete this table on part 5 of your capture sheet.

 

Parts of an Atom

Location

Mass

Charge

Electron

 

 

 

Proton

 

 

 

Neutron

 

 

 

 

Build Atoms Yourself     

        

One way to find out about the structure of something is to take it apart. Another way is to construct the item from its parts. This interactive model will allow you to build atoms of different elements from a collection of subatomic particles. Drag protons, neutrons, and electrons into the model to create various atoms. Record the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons for balanced atoms of each element indicated on part 6 of your capture sheet.

               

Element Name and Symbol

Element Diagram

Protons

Neutrons

Electrons

Carbon

 

C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hydrogen

 

H

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helium 

 

He

 

 

 

 

 

Lithium

 

Li

 

 

 

 

 

Beryllium

 

Be

 

 

 

 

 

Boron

 

B

 

 

 

 

 

Nitrogen

 

N

 

 

 

 

 

Oxygen

 

O

 

 

 

 

 

                 

Applying BohrÕs Atomic Model

 

Use BohrÕs Atomic Model to help you answer the following questions on part 7 of your capture sheet.

 

a.  How many electrons are in the

K layer

L layer

M layer

N layer

 

b.  Which particle controls what element an atom is?

 

c.  What do you get when you change the number of neutrons in the nucleus?

d.  What controls the "weight" of an atom?

 

e.   Try to cluster the electrons together or move them into another level. Describe the behavior of the model electrons.

 

f.  What do you get if the number of protons and electrons in your model is not equal?

 
 

 

D. Fischer
Modified:  October 6, 2008

 

Image from:  http://members.shaw.ca/len92/electricity.htm