Introduction to Electronics Activity 2

by: Emily Moore, Ariel Paul, Trish Loeblein, Kathy Perkins | PhET

*The simulation is at the bottom of this page
*A downloadable template is available at the bottom of this page.

Build an Atom

Learning Objectives:

Draw models that show atoms or ions.
Use information about the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons to
Identify an element and its position on the periodic table
Draw models of atoms
Determine if the model is for a atom or an ion.
Predict how changing the number protons, neutrons, or electrons will change the element, the charge, and the mass of an atom or ion.

Directions:

Explore the Build an Atom simulation with your partner (about 5 minutes). As you explore, talk about what you find with your partner.

Using Build an Atom, talk with your partner as you play with the parts of atoms to find:

What parts go in the center of the atom? _________________________________________

You can call the center of the atom, the nucleus. Most atoms in our environment have a stable nucleus.

Play around, and write down three examples of atoms that have a stable nucleus and include a drawing of your nucleus.

	Number of particles in your nucleus:	Draw your nucleus	What element is it?
1.	Protons: __ Neutrons:__
2.	Protons: __ Neutrons:__
3.	Protons: __ Neutrons:__

Everything around us is made up of different elements. The air has Oxygen (O) and Nitrogen (N). Plants and people have lots of Carbon (C). Helium (He) is in balloons. Hydrogen (H) is in water.

Play until you discover which particle (or particles) determines the name of the element you build. What did you discover?

___________________________________________________________________________

Test your idea by identifying the element for the 3 cases.

	Particles	What Element?	What Determines the Element?
1.	Protons: 6 Neutrons: 6 Electrons: 6		☐ Proton ☐ Neutron ☐ Electron
2.	Protons: 7 Neutrons: 6 Electrons: 6		☐ Proton ☐ Neutron ☐ Electron
3.	Protons: 6 Neutrons: 7 Electrons: 7		☐ Proton ☐ Neutron ☐ Electron

Play until you discover what affects the charge of your atom or ion.
What is a rule for making…

A atom neutral (one with 0 extra charge)?

______________________________________________________________________________

A +ion (positive ion, one with extra positive charge)? ______________________________________________________________________________

A – ion (negative ion, one with extra negative charge)? ______________________________________________________________________________

Show a neutral atom, a positive ion, and a negative ion. (These examples should be consistent with the rules you discovered.) All of your examples should also have a stable nucleus.

	Number of Particles?	Draw Your Atom or Ion	What is the Charge?
Neutral	Protons: __ Neutrons:__ Electrons:__
+ Ion	Protons: __ Neutrons:__ Electrons:__
– Ion	Protons: __ Neutrons:__ Electrons:__

Play until you discover what affects the mass of your atom or ion.

Which particles are heavy and which particles are light? _________________________________________________________________________________

What is a rule for determining the mass?

_________________________________________________________________________________

Using all of your rules, figure out what changes for each of these actions to an atom or ion. You can test your ideas with the simulation. If you have new ideas, rewrite your rules.