Introduction to the Atom

Introduction to the Atom

Website: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/build-an-atom/latest/build-an-atom_en.html

1. Explore the Build an Atom simulation for a few minutes, building whatever atoms you choose. Write down 1-3 observations you have about building an atom. Click on the Atom option.

a. Move protons, neutrons, and electrons to the atomic model. Where do the protons ‘stick’? Where do the neutrons ‘stick’ and where do the electrons ‘stick’?

b. Add more electrons and protons and observe what happens with the net charge?

c. Add neutrons and protons, what happens with the mass number? How does the periodic table change?

2. You build an atom that has the following components:

4 protons

5 neutrons

2 electrons

a. Describe in your own words what the atom looks like.

b. What element is this? How do you know?

c. What is the mass number of this atom?

d. What is the charge of this atom?

3. Change the number of electrons to 1, what is the charge now?

a. Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron, Carbon are all different elements.

If you want to change the type of element your atom is, you can either:

(circle)

Add a proton Yes or No

or Add a neutron Yes or No

or Add an electron Yes or No

b. If you want to change the charge of your atom, you can either:

(circle)

Add a proton Yes or No

or Add a neutron Yes or No

or Add an electron Yes or No

c. If you want to change the mass of your atom, you can either:

(circle)

Add a proton Yes or No

or Add a neutron Yes or No

or Add an electron Yes or No

4. Build an atom with a positive net charge, then complete the table below.

Protons
Electrons
Neutrons
Net Charge

5. Build a new atom with a different positive net charge, and then complete the table below.

Protons
Electrons
Neutrons
Net Charge

6. Build an atom with a negative net charge, and then complete the table below.

Protons
Electrons
Neutrons
Net Charge

7. Build a new atom with a different negative net charge, and then complete the table below.

Protons
Electrons
Neutrons
Net Charge

8. In order to have a positive net charge, what must be true about the number of protons and electrons?

a. In order to have a negative net charge, what must be true about the number of protons and electrons?

b. What is the charge of a neutron?

9. Create an atom with a net charge of zero. What do you notice about the number of protons and electrons?

10. 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.

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

	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

12. Explore the simulation until you discover what affects the mass of your atom or ion.

13. Which particles are heavy and which particles are light?

14. What is a rule for determining the mass?

15. 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.

Action	What Changes?	How Does it Change?
Add a Proton	☐ Element
	☐ Charge
	☐ Mass

Action	What Changes?	How Does it Change?
Remove a Neutron	☐ Element
	☐ Charge
	☐ Mass

Action	What Changes?	How Does it Change?
Remove an Electron	☐ Element
	☐ Charge
	☐ Mass

Action	What Changes?	How Does it Change?
Add an Electron	☐ Element
	☐ Charge
	☐ Mass