Activity 2

Activity 2: Atom and Atomic Structure

For this activity review the Content Slides (Atoms and Atomic Structure) and complete the activities/questions below.

Make a model of your three favorite elements on the Periodic Chart.  The models must be 3-dimensional and be made out of common objects around your home.  Place photos of your three models with descriptions on your blog. Your models must include the appropriate number and positioning of protons, neutrons and electrons.

	Protons	Neutrons	Electrons
Lithium	3	4	3
Helium	2	2	2
Beryllium	4	5	4

Protons (yellow Starbursts) and neutrons (green Starbursts) go in the nucleus.  Electrons (Double Bubble gum) orbit the nucleus, although they would really be much further away in real life, of course!

Lithium

Helium

Beryllium

Questions:

1. What is the atomic number for each of your models?

                Lithium :               3

                Helium:                 2

                Beryllium:             6

2. What is the atomic mass number for each of your models?

Lithium :               7

                Helium:               4

                Beryllium:           9

3. In your models, which two subatomic particles are equal in number?

The neutrons in Lithium and the Protons and the Electrons in Beryllium

4. How would you make an isotope for one of your models?  What would change with the model?

For helium, I would change the number of neutrons.  This would make the nucleus uneven because there would be more or less of one of the center parts.

5. Considering the overall volume of your element models, what makes up most of the volume of an atom?

                The nucleus, or the protons and neutrons. 

6. For one of your models, show with another image what happens when energy excites an electron.

                The electron would go crazy and move around a lot and maybe separate.

7. Once the electron is excited, what do we typically observe when the electron returns to the ground-state?  

It would just go back to the original state.

8. Why are some elements different colors when they are excited?

They "emit a photon of energy, which may be observed as light."

9. With the Fourth of July coming up quickly, explain how the colors of fireworks arise.

Going along with my idea about the colors when they are excited, I am thinking that this would be because there are different elements in the firework and when they are set off by the fire, they get excited and create different colors.

10.  Explain the overall organizational structure of the periodic table.

There are families, or groups, which are vertical columns that contain elements with similar chemical properties. Then there are periods, which are the horizontal rows that contain elements in a different range such as metallic to non metallic. The elements are also organized by atomic number and mass.

11. List two example elements for each of these groups or classes: Alkali Metals, Alkaline Earth, Halogens, Noble Gases, Transition Metals, Non-Metals, and Metalloids.

Alkali Metals:  hydrogen and lithium

Alkaline Earth:  beryllium and magnesium

Halogens:  fluorine and chlorine

Noble Gases:  helium and neon

Transition Metals:  sodium and copper

Non-Metals:  sulfur and bromine

Metalloids:  silicon and arsenic