Activity #8

Chemistry Web Quest: Atom Builder                                

Online:            http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/build-an-atom

In Class:         Open the folder that says “Chemistry Simulations,” Then open “Build an Atom”

Build an Atom

1. Click the three green “+” signs on the right hand side of the screen
2. Answer the following questions first.  Then build the atom on the computer to check.
1. Look at a Periodic Table and find Beryllium (Be)
2. How many protons are in a neutral Beryllium atom? 4

3. How many neutrons are in a neutral Beryllium atom? 5

4. How many electrons are in a neutral Beryllium atom? 4

5. Build this atom and check that you have built Beryllium.
6. How many valence electrons does Beryllium have? 2

7. What will happen to the charge if you remove the valence electrons?  Check and see. It won’t be neutral anymore.

8. What are charged atoms called? ions

9. Remove one neutron.
10. What word appears in the nucleus when you remove a neutron? unstable

11. What is an atom called when the number of neutrons changes? An isotope

12. What is the new mass of Beryllium? 8

13. Look on the right hand side and write down what it says in the symbol box.  Tell what each number means.

8  Atomic Number
4  Mass Number

+2 Charge

Be Element Symbol

3. Click “Reset All,” and then click the three green “+” signs on the right hand side of the screen.
4. Answer the following questions first.  Then build the atom on the computer to check.
1. Look at a Periodic Table and find Nitrogen (N)
2. How many protons are in a neutral Nitrogen atom? 7

3. How many neutrons are in a neutral Nitrogen atom? 8

4. How many electrons are in a neutral Nitrogen atom? 7

5. Build this atom and check that you have built Nitrogen.
6. How many valence electrons does Nitrogen have? 5

7. As a nonmetal, Nitrogen will gain electrons to have a full valence shell.  How many valence electrons will Nitrogen gain to have a full valence shell?  Add this number of electrons. 3

8. What is the now charge of this Nitrogen ion?  Check and see. -3

9. Look on the right hand side and write down what it says in the symbol box.  Tell what each number means.

15 Atomic Number

7 Mass Number

-3 Charge

N Element Symbol

2. Lesson Plan

Atom Builder Lesson Plan

Online:            http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/build-an-atom

1.       Define the following terms:

a.       Proton: positive charged particle

b.      Neutron: particle with no charge

c.       Electron: particle with a negative charge

d.      Ions: charged atom formed by the loss of gain of electrons

e.      Isotope: when an element has the same number of protons but different amounts of neutrons

f.        Valence electrons: electron that is located in the outermost shell

2.       Find Oxygen (O) on the periodic table. Then use the atom builder to figure out how many protons, neutrons, and electrons are needed to create a stable Oxygen atom.

a.       Protons: 8

b.       Neutrons: 8

c.       Electrons: 8

3.       Using the atom builder, what is the mass number of Oxygen? 16

4.       What is the net charge? 0

5.       What do the symbols stand for?

a.       16: Atomic Number

b.      O: Element Symbol

c.       0: Charge

d.      8: Mass Number

6.       If you take away a proton from the atom, it will still be stable.

a.       True

b.      False

7.       What element has 2 protons, 2 neutrons, and 2 electrons? Use the atom builder to find your answer.  Helium

8.       What element has 5 protons, 5 neutrons, and 5 electrons? Use the atom builder to find your answer. Boron

9.       Now, create your own atom using the atom builder. Once you have finished placing the amount of protons, neutrons, and electrons into the atom write down the following.

a.       Protons:

b.      Neutrons:

c.       Electrons:

d.      Mass Number:

e.      Element: 

3. 3 Standards Met

A.4.3 When investigating a science-related problem, decide what data can be collected to determine the most useful explanations


B.4.1 Use encyclopedias, source books, texts, computers, teachers, parents, other adults, journals, popular press, and various other sources, to help answer science-related questions and plan investigations

 C.4.1 Use the vocabulary of the unifying themes to ask questions about objects, organisms, and events being studied