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Student - Element Builder

The document provides instructions for a student to complete an exploration of the element builder simulation. It begins by defining key vocabulary terms and asking prior knowledge questions about the composition of common substances. The student is then directed to use the simulation to investigate the subatomic particles that make up atoms and how they are arranged. The student draws electron dot diagrams, identifies isotopes and radioactive elements, and analyzes how the periodic table is organized based on the number of valence electrons in each element.
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100% found this document useful (1 vote)
221 views5 pages

Student - Element Builder

The document provides instructions for a student to complete an exploration of the element builder simulation. It begins by defining key vocabulary terms and asking prior knowledge questions about the composition of common substances. The student is then directed to use the simulation to investigate the subatomic particles that make up atoms and how they are arranged. The student draws electron dot diagrams, identifies isotopes and radioactive elements, and analyzes how the periodic table is organized based on the number of valence electrons in each element.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: Amanda Date:

Student Exploration: Element Builder


Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.

Vocabulary: atom, atomic number, electron, electron dot diagram, element, energy level, ion, isotope, mass
number, neutron, nucleus, periodic table, proton, radioactive, valence electrons

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

1. What are some of the different substances Pizza dough, tomato sauce, cheese,
that make up a pizza?

2. What substances make up water? Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen

3. What substances make up an iron pot? iron

Elements are pure substances that are made up of one kind of atom. Pizza is not an element because it is a
mixture of many substances. Water is a pure substance, but it contains two kinds of atom: oxygen and
hydrogen. Iron is an element because it is composed of one kind of atom.

Gizmo Warm-up
Atoms are tiny particles of matter that are made up of three particles:
protons, neutrons, and electrons. The Element Builder Gizmo shows
an atom with a single proton. The proton is located in the center of the
atom, called the nucleus.

1. Use the arrow buttons ( ) to add protons, neutrons, and electrons


to the atom. Press Play ( ).

A. Which particles are located Protons and neutrons


in the nucleus?

B. Which particles orbit around Electrons


the nucleus?

C. Turn on Show element Adding a proton


name. What causes the
element name to change?
Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
● Use the arrows to create an atom with two protons,
Subatomic two neutrons, and two electrons.
particles ● Turn on Show element name.

Question: What are the properties of protons, neutrons, and electrons?

1. Observe: Turn on Show element symbol and Element notation. Three


numbers surround the element symbol: the mass number (A), electrical
charge (no number is displayed if the atom is neutral), and the atomic
number (Z).

2. Investigate: Watch how the numbers change as you add or remove particles.

A. Which number is equal to the number of protons in the atom? atomic number

B. How can you calculate an atom's number of neutrons (N)? subtract the number of
protons, or atomic
number, from the mass
number.

C. Which particle (proton, neutron, or electron) has a

Positive charge? Neutrons has no charge

Negative charge? proton has a positive


charge

No charge at all? and the electron has a


negative charge

3. Analyze: An isotope is an alternative form of an element. Each isotope of an element has the same
number of protons, but a different number of neutrons. The isotope is represented by the atomic symbol
and mass number, such as He-4. Some isotopes are stable, while others are radioactive, which means the
atoms decay over time and emit radiation.

A. What are the stable isotopes of carbon? carbon-12,carbon-13

B. What are the stable isotopes of nitrogen? 14N and 15N,

C. List two radioactive isotopes of oxygen: oxygen-13 and oxygen-114

4. Practice: Use the Gizmo to answer the following questions.

A. How many electrons are in a neutral atom of lithium? 3

B. How many neutrons are in an atom of Mg-25? 13


C. What is the mass number of an atom with 5 protons and 7 neutrons? 12

D. When an atom is charged, it is called an ion. How many electrons are in O2-? 2,6

E. How many electrons are in Mg2+? 10

Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:

Electron ● Create a neutral hydrogen atom (1 proton, 0


arrangements neutrons, 1 electron).

Question: How are electrons arranged around the nucleus of an atom?

1. Observe: Add electrons to the atom until you have used all the available electrons. How are the electrons
arranged?

they are not evenly arranged and exist in layers and seem to orbit around

2. Analyze: Electrons are arranged in orbits called energy levels. The Gizmo shows all of the first two energy
levels but only part of the third energy level.

A. How many electrons can fit in the first energy level? 2

B. How many electrons can fit in the second energy level? 8

C. How many electrons fit in the part of the third energy level shown? 8

3. Observe: Click Reset ( ). The electrons in the outermost orbit, called valence electrons, help to create
chemical bonds. Create a lithium atom (3 protons, 4 neutrons, 3 electrons).

How many valence electrons are in a neutral lithium atom? 1

an electron dot diagram. Each dot represents a valence electron. ✏️


4. Diagram: Turn on Show electron dot diagram. The valence electrons of an atom are shown in
Draw the electron dot
diagram for neutral lithium: (Right Click on the element, click “edit”, move the dots around Li)

of the following elements.✏️


5. Practice: Turn off Show electron dot diagram. Use the Gizmo to create a neutral atom of each
Draw the electron dot diagram for each: (Right Click on the
picture, click “edit”, move the dots around the element symbols) When you are finished, turn on Show
electron dot diagram and check your answers.

6. Extend your thinking: Many chemical properties are determined by the number of valence electrons.
Elements with the same number of valence electrons will have similar properties.
Which element has similar properties to lithium? hydrogen and Beryllium? magnesium
sodium

Explain: These have similar properties because they have the same number of valence electrons

Get the Gizmo ready:


Extension:
● Create a neutral hydrogen atom.
The periodic table ● If you have access to a periodic table, open it now.
(Not required.)

Question: The 117 or so known elements are arranged in the periodic table. Why does the periodic
table have the shape it has?

1. Form a hypothesis: Look at the first three rows of the periodic table below.

Why do you think the elements are arranged the way that they are?

I think the elements are arranged with other elements with the same number of valence
electrons or similar chemical properties

2. ✏️Draw diagrams: Either hand draw in the space below or edit using the drawing tool to create an electron

Show electron dot diagram.✏️(Right Click on the picture, click “edit”, move the dots around the element
dot diagram for each of the elements below. Use the Gizmo to help you do this. To check your work, turn on

symbols)

3. Analyze: What do the elements in each column of the periodic table have in common?

They have the same number of valence electrons


4. Draw conclusions: How is the periodic table organized?

by the number of valence electrons

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