Activity 2: Atom and Atomic Structure

Instructions:
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.

Above picture and video show the element Helium

Helium model includes: 2 red Electrons, 2 yellow Protons, and 2 blue Neutrons.

Above picture and video show the element Lithium

Lithium model includes: 3 red Electrons, 3 yellow Protons, and 3 blue Neutrons.

Above picture and video show the element Carbon

Carbon model includes: 3 red Electrons, 3 yellow Protons, and 3 blue Neutrons.

Questions:

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

a)    Helium – 2

b)    Lithium – 3

c)    Carbon – 6

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

a)    Helium – 4 amu

b)    Lithium – 6.941 amu

c)    Carbon – 12.0107 amu

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

a)    In each model, there are an equal number of protons and electrons.

b)    In each model, all subatomic particles are equal in number, this is not true for all elements on the periodic table.

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

• To create an Isotope for one of my models, I would either remove or add a blue marshmallow because they are the neutrons.
• The model would become heavier or lighter depending on whether or not a neutron was subtracted or added in the model.

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

• Empty space makes up most of the volume of an atom.

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

• Image and video below are of an excited Helium atom. One of the electrons jumped from the lowest level to a higher level.

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

• When a electron becomes excited, it leaves it's grounded state and moves to the excited state. When the electron becomes unexcited, it goes back to its grounded state and a dash of light or energy photon is visible at this time. To see example of states, please refer to image below.

8. Why are some elements different colors when they are excited? Hint: when electrons are excited (by something like heat from an explosive) they move up to another orbital and when they fall back they release the energy in the form of light. 

• The color of the light emitted depends on the energy of the photons emit, which are in turn is determined by the energy required to move electrons from one orbital to another.

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

• To create different colors in fireworks, different elements and combinations of elements are put into fireworks. When a firework is lit, the atoms in the elements become excited and then relax creating letting off different lights through the photon energy.

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

• The periodic table is organized into groups (columns) and periods (rows). Groups contain elements with similar chemical properties. Elements in a period demonstrate a range of properties from metallic (left), to nonmetallic (right). 

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 - Lithium (Li) & Sodium (Na)
• Alkaline Earth - Beryllium (Be) & Magnesium (Mg)
• Halogens - Fluorine (F) & Chlorine (Cl)
• Noble Gasses - Helium (He) & Neon (Ne)
• Transition Metals - Scandium (Sc) & Titanium (Ti)
• Non-Metals - Hydrogen (H) & Carbon (C)
• Metalloids - Boron (B) & Silicon (Si)