M&M ATOMS
An edible atomic lab
Bell Work
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On page 13 of your INB, title the page M&M Atom
Lab & Notes
Clear everything else off your desk, except your
INB.
Headphones and cell phones should be stored
away, not visible or in use!
Lab Safety
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Normally, we do not eat and drink in the classroom
on lab days.
Today, it is okay to eat your M&M’s – BUT you have
to wait until we finish the lab!
What is MATTER? – Copy into INB
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Matter – anything that has mass and takes up space
Examples: desk, table, you, a dog, a plant
What is an ATOM? – Copy into INB
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Atom – the smallest basic unit of matter; everything
is made up of atoms!
Atoms are made of subatomic particles – the
smaller parts of an atom (atoms are a system!!!)
 Electrons
– negative sub-atomic particles
 Protons – positive sub-atomic particles
 Neutrons – neutral sub-atomic particles
What does an ATOM look like?
Copy into INB
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Atoms have a nucleus in their center.
 You
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can find protons and neutrons in the nucleus
Atoms have outer rings surrounding their center.
 You
can find electrons in the rings
How do I know how many sub-atomic
particles an ATOM has?
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Every element on the periodic table has its own
unique atom structure.
Every atom exists on the Periodic Table of Elements.
You can find what the atoms of each element look
like by learning to read the Periodic Table.
How do I read the PERIODIC TABLE? –
Copy into INB
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Each square on the periodic table represents a
different element & each element has a different
atom structure.
Atomic Number/Mass Number – the
number of protons in the atom; same as
the number of electrons
Chemical Symbol – the abbreviation of the
element
Element Name
Atomic Mass – how many protons and
neutrons (added together) are in the atom
PRACTICE
How many protons does oxygen have? 8 (the atomic number)
How many electrons does oxygen have? 8 (also the atomic number)
How many neutrons does oxygen have? 8 (the atomic mass – the
atomic number)
Atomic Number/Mass Number – the
number of protons in the atom; same as
the number of electrons
Chemical Symbol – the abbreviation of the
element
Element Name
Atomic Mass – how many protons and
neutrons (added together) are in the atom
PRACTICE WITH M&M’s!
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Now try and create Oxygen using M&M’s!
Pick one color to represent protons, one color to
represent neutrons, and one color to represent
electrons.
Put 8 protons and 8 neutrons in the nucleus (center).
Fill the electron rings with 8 electrons!
 Only
says!
add as many electrons to each ring as the paper
Did yours look like this?
Now Try This!
Now Try This!
Now Try This!
What is an ION? – Copy into INB
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Ion – an atom that has gained or lost one or more
electrons, but has the same number of protons and
neutrons
Create a Helium ion by taking away one of
Helium’s electrons. This ion is called H+1 because it
now has more protons than electrons, so it has a
positive charge!
Now Try This – Create a Boron atom!
Now Try This – Create a Boron ion!
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Take away one electron – B+1
Now Try This! – Create a Carbon atom
Now Try This! – Create a Carbon ion
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Add two electrons – C-2
Now Eat Up!
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Eat your M&M’s and then please throw away your
cup!
Get started on your homework for tonight!
Describing Atoms worksheet & parent signature on
Unit 1 Grade Summary are due Monday!